Savannah

The Annual Sheep to Shawl Festival will be held at Oatland Island Education Center's "Heritage Homesite" on March 8 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This springtime event features the shearing of the Oatland sheep by members of The Fiber Guild of the Savannah. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in many activities including carding, spinning and weaving. The Guild will offer a chance to win a one-of-a-kind hand woven shoulder wrap in a raffle to be held at 4 p.m. The Oatland sheep will be shorn at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and a special Alpaca shearing will take place at 12:30 p.m.

Children's crafts, 1800's demonstrations, storytelling by Mr. Nabawi, pony rides, hay rides and barnyard animal feeding will be held throughout the day while the sounds of old time music echo through the unfolding spring forest. Oatland's "Native Animal Nature Trail" will be open, and food concessions will be available. Admission is only $3 per person ages 4 years and up. For more information call (912) 898-3980 or visit Oatland's web site at: www.oatlandisland.org for a complete schedule of activities.

Oatland Island Education Center is a unique facility operated by the Savannah-Chatham County School system. It encompasses a total of 175 acres of salt marsh and maritime forest habitat with a 1-mile walking trail and over 60 animals indigenous to Georgia. Some of these animals like the eastern timber wolf and Florida panther are considered endangered species. The Center is used as a field trip site for elementary students and is also open to the public Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and most Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Center is located 5 miles east of Savannah off Islands Expressway at 711 Sandtown Road.