Summer Solstice Celebration-2023

On Saturday, June 24, 2023, Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges, in partnership with the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) and the Florida Paddling Trails Association (FPTA), will celebrate Summer Solstice at Shell Mound.

Activities include guided archaeology walks, a guided and space-limited archaeo-kayak tour, and a seaside talk on the pier. The event is free to the public. Registration is required for the kayak tour. Register using this Eventbrite link. All spaces are filled.

Find a map of the Refuge here and of Shell Mound here.

Land-based events, held rain or shine:

1:00     Gather at the Shell Mound parking lot, Some may need to park at the Dennis Creek trailhead parking lot. Friends, FPAN, and FPTA will have information tables set up.

             Welcome by Refuge Manager Andrew Gude on the Shell Mound fishing pier.

              Seaside Talk by Dr. Ken Sassaman on the Shell Mound fishing pier.

2:00    Shell Mound walking tour -- The first group departs, guided by Dr. Ginessa Mahar.

2:15    Shell Mound walking tour -- The second group departs, guided by Dr. Ken Sassaman.

3:00  Information tables -- The Friends, FPAN, and FPTA will have volunteers at their tables to talk with participants after the seaside talk and the guided walks.

Kayak Tour -- a space-limited event
Participants in the kayak tour must register using this Eventbrite link. They
will need to provide their own kayaks and equipment. They must wear a PFD at all times while on the water.

3:00     Kayakers registered for the guided kayak tour gather at the Shell Mound boat ramp with their kayaks and PFDs, which all paddlers are required to wear at all times on the water during the tour.

3:15     Registered kayakers depart for the tour, guided by FPAN archaeo-kayakers and Friends president and archaeo-kayaker, Ginessa Mahar.

6:00     Kayakers return to Shell Mound boat ramp.

If this tour must be cancelled for weather-related safety reasons,  kayakers will be notified via Eventbrite.

To see photos and read about earlier Solstice events, visit the blog posts about the 2022 Winter Solstice celebration and  the 2021 Summer Solstice celebration.