Tidelands Nature Center opened in the summer of 2000, as an addtion to the Jekyll Island 4-H Center. The Jekyll 4-H Center is a residential marine environmental education program facility operated by Cooperative Extension. The Jekyll program has provided a hands-on learning experience for students throughout Georgia and the southeast for the past 15years. The Jekyll 4-H Center serves over 10,000 students annually. (Between  four 4-H environmental education program sites in Georgia, we serve over 41, 000 students annually). Tidelands Nature Center enables 4-H to reach a wider audience by providing our programs to the general public and day use groups. Visitors have an opportunity to learn about various barrier island ecosystems through a combination of exhibits and programs.

Since opening, several programs have been implemented. School programs include; invertebrate studies, environmental issues, beach, forest, and marsh ecology. Visitors have the opportunity to view fish, sea turtles, alligators, hermit crabs, and other animals native to Georgia's coast.  In addition, Tidelands offers nature walks and marsh kayak tours for individuals and families. To date, over 15,000 individuals have participated in Tidelands activities.