Okefenokee Adventure
Friday, December 8, 2023 - Sunday, December 10, 2023
Private chefs preparing world-class meals. Live music around the campfire. The best guides in the business. This is how we Okefenokee.
Camping across the Okefenokee Swamp is one of the most incredible wilderness experiences in the United States and no one does it like Giving Kitchen. Giving Kitchen’s Okefenokee Adventure is 10 person, two-night, three-day trip through the Okefenokee Swamp (rain or shine). You’ll be camping and exploring one of the wildest and most beautiful places in the nation while enjoying incredible food from the creative forces behind The Deer and The Dove and Muss & Turner’s, beer tastings from Creature Comforts Brewing Company, and live (and unplugged) music from artist Hunter Morris.
Every paddle stroke is breathtaking, every meal is memorable. This is the best Okefenokee trip ever.
Please note: while this is a “wilderness experience,” the rugged outdoor purist would turn up their nose at our preparations. This is camping at its most luxurious and includes many of the comforts of home. After a day in the swamp, a few drinks, and a delicious chef-prepared meal, don’t be surprised if a dance breaks out under the stars, string lights, and around the campfire. This is serious nature and serious fun.
About Our Okefenokee Hosts:
Naturalist: Cathy Sakas is Georgia’s greatest living naturalist and an accomplished Okefenokee guide. She’s led more than 300 trips through the Okefenokee and will work directly with the auction winners to plan the best trip possible, based on skill level and interests. GK Executive Director Bryan Schroeder and Cathy have led trips together across Georgia to great renown and find great joy hosting Okefenokee adventures together.
Live Music: Hunter Morris of Hunter Morris & Blue Blood is one of Athens, Georgia’s finest musical artists, who just so happens to have grown up paddling, fishing, and enjoying the great outdoors. At the time of this publication, Hunter is working on perfecting his swamp hollers.
Guides and Chefs: Assisting Cathy will be Bryan Schroeder (Giving Kitchen), Todd Mussman (Muss & Turner’s, Local Three, and MTH Pizza), Terry Koval (The Deer and The Dove, B-Side), Dan Reingold (Creature Comforts Brewing Company), Geoff Bulpitt (Magic Man Productions) and Scott Taylor (Three Rivers Outdoors). Todd and Terry will prepare a menu with the auction winners and cook each meal to perfection; Dan will bring craft beer to pair and share. Scott will bring the boats, paddles, and serious “river-man” vibes.
Fine print: This trip starts on Friday, December 8th at 9 am at Stephen C. Foster State Park. We suggest camping with the leadership team near the swamp or getting a hotel in Waycross or Valdosta on Thursday, December 7th. Giving Kitchen will handle Okefenokee permits, guiding, canoe equipment, food, drink, and all logistics support for the adventure in the Okefenokee.
Guests are expected to bring their own tents, sleeping bags, and individual gear. Giving Kitchen crew will supply a thorough list of needs and can access some gear to borrow from outside resources. The trip is tentatively scheduled to include camping on Floyd’s Island and Mixon’s Hammock, two islands in the Okefenokee.