January 2024 Festivals and Events at Charleston County Parks
January 2024 Festivals & Events
Off Road Duathlon
Saturday, Jan. 13, 8:30 a.m. race start
Laurel Hill County Park
Traverse the scenic trails of Laurel Hill County Park during the Off Road Duathlon, presented in partnership with Anne Moore Endurance Coaching. This three-part beginner-friendly course begins with a 2-mile run, then includes a 7-mile bike, and finishes with another 2-mile run. The bike leg is best suited for knobby, wide-tired bikes. A transition area will be used for set-up between legs. Finisher medals will be given out, and awards will be given to the top three male/female finishers overall and age group, and first place masters. Participants ages 14-15 can register but must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Pre-registration is required and ends on Wednesday, Jan. 10. On-site registration is not available. This race is open to bikers and runners of all levels, including beginners. Accessible parking is not available. Accessible port-a-let at the event site. All trails are of a natural, unimproved surface.
Fee: $55
Ages: 14 and up
https://ccprc.com/3263/Off-Road-Duathlon
Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Palmetto Islands County Park
Kids of all ages are invited to join us for the greatest, tiniest building project ever! Fairy houses are made from non-living, natural items, such as twigs and leaves, and the fairies of Palmetto Islands County Park once again need your help to build their abodes. This year’s festival celebrates fairies, gnomes, nature discovery, creative expression, and family fun. Highlights include the chance to build a fairy house, story time, and a kid’s nature craft. Children are encouraged to come dressed as a fairy or gnome for extra fun. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Face painting will also be available for an additional fee. A limited number of building permits are available and pre-registration is required to reserve your spot. On-site registration will not be available. All family members must register in order to attend the festival.
January 2024 Programs
Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw
Ongoing on Wednesdays and Saturdays: Jan. 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 and 31, 28, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Advance registration is required. Join us on one or more of our regular bird walks. Our trek through many distinct habitats will allow us to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms.
Fee: $9 per person
Developing Your Craft
Saturday & Sunday, Jan. 6 & 7, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 2-day session
James Island County Park – Edisto Hall
A Cross-Discipline Development Opportunity for ACA IT/ITEs. Join us for an engaging, evidence-based, cross-discipline development opportunity for ACA instructor trainers, instructor trainer educators, and IT candidates centered on teaching and learning. Over two days, we’ll explore content to help ITEs support IT development and for ITs to support instructor development. While based on current educational and coaching theory, the scope focuses on what practitioners need in their everyday professional context, with plenty of opportunity for IT/ITEs to bring these concepts to life in various craft in sheltered water.
Fee: $100
Ages 16 and up
Lighthouse Inlet Bird Walk
Friday, Jan. 12, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
This walk focuses on the incredibly diverse northeast end of Folly Island. Once the home of a Coast Guard station, this Heritage Preserve protects maritime forest, beach, dune, and marsh habitats for wildlife. This site is a leader in the number of bird species seen in South Carolina. At this time of year, we hope to see a variety of seabirds, sea ducks, and shorebirds such as Northern Gannet, Black Scoters, Piping Plover, and much more. What to expect: This program is open to birders of all levels, including beginners. No accessible parking available. No restrooms or water fountains available. The Park includes paved surface that leads to natural, unimproved surface out to a sandy beach. The program route is out and back and is approximately one-mile-long total. For additional details, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Fee: $9
Ages 12 and up (chaperone required for ages 15 and under)
The Super Tour: Laurel Hill, McLeod, and Caw Caw
Sat., Jan. 13, 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
McLeod Plantation Historic Site – Welcome Center
The production of bricks, rice, and cotton left an indelible footprint on the Lowcountry. Three locations provide the stories: Laurel Hill, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, and McLeod Plantation Historic Site. On this inaugural Super Tour, Charleston County Park staff will weave the histories and stories of each site. Transportation is provided and space is limited to fourteen participants. The tour begins and ends at McLeod Plantation Historic Site. What to expect: Participants will travel to three Charleston County Parks on an activity bus. Both McLeod Plantation Historic Site and the Caw Caw Interpretive Center have accessible bathrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables where the tour begins and ends. All destinations have flat trails made of natural surfaces and benches along the trail route. Laurel Hill County Park does not have restrooms or water fountains. The tour will consist of periods of sitting, periods of slow walking, and periods of standing.
Fee: $25
Ages 12 and up
Drawn to Nature: Eagle-Eyed Birders
Sat., Jan. 13, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
McLeod Plantation Historic Site – Welcome Center
What do science and art have in common? Observation and appreciation! Soar over to the Caw Caw Interpretive Center to learn about our local birds of prey. Take a hike through former rice fields, gain skills to enhance your eagle-eye, and create a birdy masterpiece to take home. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a loop and benches are available along the trail route. The program speed is moderately slow to medium. A portion of this program will be spent sitting.
Fee: $7
Ages 8 – 12 years
Kids on the Go: Mountain Bike
Sat., Jan. 13, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
North Trail at Wannamaker County Park
Let the kids go! Join us for introductory bike skills, trail etiquette and a guided ride at the North Trail.
Fee: $25
Ages 10 – 15 years.
Micro-Naturalist 101
Thurs., Jan. 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
An introduction to exploring and documenting the microscopic world around us, this class will be taught by Dr. Dave Eslinger, an oceanographer specializing in plankton dynamics. The goal of this training is to equip students with knowledge and skills to begin exploring the microscopic environment much as they do the macroscopic environment. Topics to be covered include: the basics of using a light microscope, manipulating your light to improve what you see, preparing slides, collecting samples, general taxonomy of microbes, and how to document with photography. We will explore a variety of micro-habitats with field collections around Caw Caw Interpretive Center. For additional information and to register, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Fee: $50
Ages 18 and up
Owl Prowl
Saturday, Jan. 20, 5 – 7 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Owls have long captivated humans with their majestic appearance and enchanting sounds. This evening excursion will give you a greater understanding of the nocturnal predators that may be found in your backyard, the sounds they make, and the adaptations that aid them in successfully navigating the natural world. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, accessible water fountains, and accessible picnic tables are available at this location. The program route is a flat, loop and benches are available along the trail route. The program speed is moderately slow and will require periods of standing and gazing upwards.
Fee: $9
Ages 12 and up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under.
Gullah Burial Practices
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
McLeod Plantation Historic Site – Welcome Center
Gullah spiritual practices have a long and rich history. Activities at funerals or a “homegoing” have special meanings that extend back to West Africa. Join us as we explore the meaning behind the burial practices and traditions. Participants will take a brief tour through the cemetery; the terrain is challenging. Boots, bug spray and long sleeves will be helpful, as well as a water bottle. What to expect: Accessible parking, accessible restrooms, and accessible water fountains are available at the Welcome Center. A portion of the tour will take place in a densely vegetated cemetery with narrow, uneven trails made of natural, unpaved surfaces. The tour pace is slow and requires periods of standing, bending over, and squatting. Fee: $10
Ages 16 and up
Sunset Moonrise Beach Walk
Thursday, Jan. 25, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Folly Beach County Park – Dunes House
Join a naturalist for a leisurely walk on the beach to admire the southwest end of Folly Island during the twilight hours. We will watch the sunset and the full moon rise while we look for animals that call the edge of America home this time of year. Accessible parking is available and accessible restrooms and water fountains are available near the Dunes House where the program begins and ends. An accessible route to a natural sandy beach is present and beach wheelchairs are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis. For additional information, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
Fee: $9
Ages 12 and up.
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Tides and Currents
Thursday, Jan. 25, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Commission Board Room at CCPRC Headquarters
Will you get stuck in pluff mud or breeze along to your destination? Understanding tides and currents can make a significant difference in your paddling day. This course will help you prepare for your next adventure on the water.
Fee: $25
Ages 16 and up
Junior Naturalist: Naturally Nocturnal
Saturday, Jan. 27, 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Bring your curiosity and engage all of your senses while exploring natural habitats at your county parks! Led by Charleston County Park’s Education staff, the multi-seasonal Junior Naturalist program series offers a wide variety of fun and educational nature-based activities focused around a central theme. Children who attend 8 classes earn the title of a Certified Junior Naturalist! Discover Caw Caw’s wildlife when the moon rises and the sun sets. Learn about nocturnal animals in a fun way! What to expect: Accessible parking, restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables are available at the Welcome Center where the program begins and ends. The park includes natural, unpaved trails that are mostly flat. The program route is a loop and benches are available. The program speed is moderately slow to medium.
Fee: $7
Ages 8 -12 years.
Kids on the Go: Archery
Sat., Jan. 27, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
James Island County Park – Outdoor Zone
Let the kids go! Join us for introductory archery skills, etiquette, and practice on the range. Ages 10-15
Fee: $257
Ages 10 – 15 years.
Coastal Navigation
Sat., Jan. 27, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Commission Board Room at CCPRC Headquarters
This course introduces you to all aspects of coastal navigation. The basics of maps and charts, compasses, aids to navigation, declination/variation, and rules of the nautical road will be covered. You will also learn more advanced navigational skills such as dead reckoning, range lines, fixes, following bearings, triangulation, and compensating for the current. Sea kayakers and other coastal travelers will enjoy learning from these informative classes. Gain confidence and skills to feel at ease knowing where you are and how to get to where you want to go.
Fee: $50
Ages 16 and up
Youth Sports
Johns Island Youth Basketball Clinic Ages 7 -12
Basketball Gymnasium at St John’s High School
Sat, Jan. 20, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Participants will learn the basic fundamentals of basketball along with skill development. Clinic emphasis will be on ball handling, shooting, passing, footwork, and many more. Space is limited, sign up now!
Fee: $15
Ages 8 – 12 years
Johns Island Open Gym Recreation
RR Complex at Haut Gap Middle School
Tues., Jan. 2 – Wed., Jan. 31, 5 – 8 p.m. Daily EXCEPT not Mondays, 5-Week session.
Supervised open gym and facilities for community recreation, fitness, and basketball free play. A chaperone is required for ages 13 and under. Check in and out required for all participants by CCPRC staff on duty.
Fee: FREE
Ages ANY
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McClellanville Open Gym Recreation
Basketball Gymnasium at Lincoln High School
Tues., Jan. 2 – Wed., Jan. 31, 5 – 8 p.m. Daily EXCEPT not Mondays, 5-Week session.
Supervised open gym and facilities for community recreation, fitness, and basketball free play. A chaperone is required for ages 13 and under. Check in and out required for all participants by CCPRC staff on duty.
Fee: FREE
Ages ANY
Schroder Open Gym Recreation
RR Complex at Schroder Community Center
Tues., Jan. 2 – Wed., Jan. 31, 7 – 10 p.m. Daily EXCEPT not Mondays, 5-Week session.
Supervised open gym and facilities for community recreation, fitness, and basketball free play. A chaperone is required for ages 13 and under. Check in and out required for all participants by CCPRC staff on duty.
Fee: FREE
Ages ANY
Monthly Skateboarding Lessons
Entrance at SK8 Charleston
Tues., Jan. 2 – Wed., Jan. 31, 5 – 8 p.m. Daily EXCEPT not Mondays, 5-Week session.
Fee: FREE
Ages ANY
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