How can I visit Sapelo Island ?
You may access Sapelo Island as the official guest of a state agency or as the personal guest of an island resident.  State facilities on Sapelo Island include units within the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (WRD, SINERR, and Lodge park) and the University of Georgia Marine Institute.  Island residents include employees of the Georgia DNR, the University of Georgia, and residents of the Hog Hammock Community.

Who can be an official guest of the Marine Institute?
We accept requests from official university classes and researchers (faculty and graduate students) with a reasonable need for access to Sapelo Island for education or research.  If the UGA Marine Institute is not the most appropriate avenue for access to Sapelo Island you have many other options.

> SAPELO ISLAND VISITOR CENTER

How do I request access to Sapelo Island as an official Marine Institute guest?
Researchers who would like to use Sapelo Island for research and College or University Faculty wishing to bring a class for field based instruction should contact the Marine Institute Main Office (912-485-2221) or email us at ugami@uga.edu to arrange for housing, to book passage on the DNR passenger ferry, and to complete other essential paper work. 

Field Courses: Generally any course in and loosely associated with the natural sciences is acceptable, given space is available. We do respectfully request a paragraph stating how access to Sapelo Island uniquely meets the needs of the course and a brief course description, mainly as a record of how Sapelo is used. Many things limit access to Sapelo Island and we respectfully ask for your understanding and patience in these matters.

Research Access: Researchers (faculty and graduate) should send in a research prospectus.  Please see the document  MEMORANDUM on research access to Sapelo Island.  Our intent is not to evaluate the merit of your project but rather ensure fair and equal access only.

Students: requests for housing and space should originate in writing from the major professor.  

Please submit these additional materials to Jon Garbisch the Program Coordinator: sapelo@uga.edu, email format is acceptable for any of this. Jon is also available before your trip and while you are on island to provide information on current and previous Sapelo Island based research programs, help you better utilize Sapelo Island as an outdoor class room, and help in the field if you are unfamiliar with the Island. Jon can also provide tours of the Marine Institute and the island with an emphasis on Marine Institute research and island natural history, as well as a variety of other interpretive resource. Most times (unless otherwise arranged) Jon will meet you at the ferry on the Sapelo side when you arrive.

The Marine Institute mission and you as a visitor.
The research collections and public displays of a museum of natural history are a good analogy to understanding some aspects of Sapelo Island.  The island and surrounding marsh is in many ways a large research and education collection and this is in essence something of what R. J. Reynolds Jr. intended over half a century ago.  Like a traditional museum any one who can demonstrate a reasonable research or educational need will be granted access.  With granting of this privilege you will have access to a unique collection of research materials which cover a broad spectrum of the sciences.  The University of Georgia Marine Institute and the Georgia DNR are the collection managers, curators, docents, educators, and research staff in this museum.  Scientific ethics and good sense dictate several general rules of use.  It can seem odd to say at first but hundreds, hopefully thousands of years from now students and researchers will also want access, your actions today will affect their results; act accordingly.  Treat everything here with respect and forethought - the laboratory is NOT the lab building itself, which holds a few books, computers, and desks, but rather the laboratory is the entire island.  All of your actions affect the results of current and future research - respect peoples research space both in the buildings and outside and respect the rights of future visitors.  Simply put, be courteous and use good sense, and your research and learning experience on Sapelo Island will be enjoyable and productive.  Work hard, be safe, have a great time, and learn a lot.

Thank you for spending some time here at this web site.  All of us at the Marine Institute really do appreciate your help in keeping Sapelo Island and the Marine Institute such a great place to visit and to live.

Jon Garbisch
Educational Program Specialist

Please send any questions or corrections (critiques are very welcome) to: sapelo@uga.edu