Paddle with a naturalist for sunset and full moonrise on Banks Lake 2025-11-05

Hahira, Georgia, November 4, 2025 — Join experienced naturalist and swamp guide Chris “Turtleman” Adams for a leisurely Sunset and Full Moon Paddle on our mini-Okefenokee just west of Lakeland, Georgia. There may be bats. That’s at 4:45 PM this Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Chris Adams, aka Turtleman, is a very experienced naturalist and former guide at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. He has often paddled with us at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge. He runs the Wiregrass Ecological and Cultural Project, bringing awareness to the heart of the Deep South and showcasing its natural & cultural communities. You’ll enjoy his insights.

This Outing is honoring Veterans, who get free entry.

Gather 4:45 PM, launch 5:15 PM, moonrise 5:39 PM, sunset 5:41 PM, end 6:45 PM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025

We will put in and take out at Banks Lake Boat Ramp, 307 Georgia 122, Lakeland, GA 31635, in Lanier County, on the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT). GPS: 31.034824, -83.096725

[Paddle with naturalist and swamp guide Chris Turtleman Adams, Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Sunset, and maybe bats at Banks Lake 2025-11-05]
Paddle with naturalist and swamp guide Chris Turtleman Adams, Full Beaver Moon Paddle, Sunset, and maybe bats at Banks Lake 2025-11-05

Bring your own canoe or kayak if you have it.
Thanks to Lanier County and Banks Lake Outdoors for free boat rental for these WWALS Full Moon Paddles.
To reserve a kayak or canoe, please use this eventbrite ticket:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kayak-canoe-reservation-for-banks-lake-full-beaver-moon-2025-11-05-tickets-1747169754769

Bring the usual personal flotation device, boat, paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit.
Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup.
Please follow Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash, avoiding damage to vegetation, and respecting wildlife.

[Setting off into the setting sun, 2023-11-27 --jsq for WWALS]
Setting off into the setting sun, 2023-11-27 –jsq for WWALS

Safety: Be on time. If you miss the safety briefing, you cannot paddle with us.
Each person in a boat, no matter how young or old, must wear a PFD.
You must have a light for your boat or some type of light to have on yourself (glow sticks work well, or head lamp, flashlight, etc.) so other boaters can see you in the dark. It will be totally dark after sunset.
A whistle is not required, but it’s a good idea in the dark.
And please do not shine bright white lights in people’s eyes! Full dark adaptation can take more than 20 minutes, and a bright light can ruin it in seconds. A red lens is helpful if we’re fortunate to get close enough to watch bats emerging from tree roost.

[Light and dark adaptation chinnu (slide 13)]
Light and dark adaptation chinnu (slide 13) –Bidhuna Raj

This outing is free to WWALS members, and $10 (ten dollars) for non-members. Please prepay the $10 online:
https://wwals.net/outings
Or bring cash to the outing. Credit card payments may or may not be available.

We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations

[Sunset, 2023-11-27 --Kimberly Godden Tanner for WWALS]
Sunset, 2023-11-27 –Kimberly Godden Tanner for WWALS

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/24528265903512478/
https://www.meetup.com/withlacoochee-alapaha-suwannee-rivers-wwals-outings/events/311449515/

Duration: 2 hours

Paddle: 2 miles, 1.5 hours.

Host: Chris Adams

Backup: in case of bad weather or high or low water is: Cancel

[Heading back, 2025-10-06 --jsq for WWALS]
Heading back, 2025-10-06 –jsq for WWALS

More: For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS outings web page, https://wwals.net/outings/. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.

Contact: Janet Martin
WWALS Membership Director and Outings Committee Co-Chair
janetwwals@gmail.com
229-630-0541
WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS)
PO Box 88, Hahira, GA 31632

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