"After the Bell" the official podcast of Savannah - Chatham County Public School System

Producer Dee Daniels interviews Christina Maldonado, director of Oatland Island Wildlife Center, about her 30-year education career and path from district science specialist to director.

Maldonado shares Oatland’s history—from a 1927 railroad conductors’ retirement home to a 1941 U.S. Public Health Service research facility (including invention of the fly strip), then its 1974 agreement to be operated by Savannah-Chatham schools and full transfer in 2004.

She explains the mission to foster appreciation of wildlife through education, conservation, and discovery, featuring only native plants and animals. Oatland spans 100 acres with over two miles of trails, about 40 species and 100 animals that cannot survive in the wild, and nearly 30 staff. They offer field trips, camps, toddler Tuesdays, Citizen Saturdays, author events, volunteer opportunities, and membership and donation ways to support animal care and enrichment.

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Meet the Production Team behind "After the Bell"

FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:40 Oatland Memories and Impact

01:14 Christina Path to Director

02:34 Oatland History Timeline

04:52 Mission and Native Wildlife Focus

05:57 Animals and Rescue Stories

08:05 Trails Habitats and Visitor Experience

10:00 Behind the Scenes Team

11:23 School Programs and Community Partners

13:05 Field Trips and Partners

14:05 Year Round Programs

14:36 Camps and Toddler Tuesdays

15:25 New March Reading Event

17:12 Why People Visit

18:42 Citizen Saturdays Explained

19:11 Youth OWL Program

21:15 Volunteers Make It Work

21:52 How to Support Oatland

23:48 Closing Thanks and Links