Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act at Congaree

Date: August 22, 2014
Contact: Lauren Gurniewicz, 803-647-3969

Join park rangers and volunteers on Saturday, September 6 to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act with special programs. All programs are free and begin at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.

The Wilderness Act, signed into law on September 3, 1964, established the highest level of conservation protection for federal lands. Over 21,000 acres (82% of park lands) have been designated as wilderness at Congaree. The park provides a unique opportunity to explore wilderness near a state capital and the park's 2.4 mile boardwalk makes the wilderness easily accessible.

Guided Programs, Saturday, September 6

9:00 am Wilderness Canoe Tour (Reservations Required)
Paddle along Cedar Creek in the Congaree Wilderness with a park ranger and volunteer naturalist. Canoes, paddles and life jackets provided. Limited to 16 participants. Reservations can only be made online at https://cong-canoe-tours.eventbrite.com.

9:30 am Nature Discovery Walk
Join a volunteer naturalist for a leisurely walk to look for plants and animals found along the boardwalk in the Congaree Wilderness.

11:00 am Artist-in-Residence Wilderness Exploration
Join Artist-in-Residence Mary Gilkerson for a casual walk in the park to learn how to observe the wilderness landscape and create a work of art. Bring a sketchpad, pencils and camera, if you'd like!

2:00 pm Wilderness Tree Trek
Stroll along the boardwalk with a park ranger to see towering trees and hear more about what makes the Congaree Wilderness special.

"Wilderness really is closer than you think," said Superintendent Tracy Stakely. "The wilderness at Congaree provides exceptional opportunities for solitude and recreation close to a major metropolitan area. Visitors can get away from it all by observing wildlife, birding, hiking, camping, paddling and more. I encourage visitors from all walks of life to join park rangers and volunteers as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act," Stakely said.