Webcam pointed at Dewees Island Impoundment

Facing Southwest

Webcam pointed at Dewees Island Chapel Pond

Facing Northwest

Webcam pointed at Birdfeeder Cam

Facing Southeast

Typically this is focused on birdfeeders with hummingbirds, painted buntings and many other birds.
For now, removed the big feeders. The camera is pointed at the Dewees Impoundment

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD4PhsoI-9ccRidVznUc3GQ

Current Weather Conditions on Dewees Island

Located on rooftop deck about 48 feet above Mean Sea Level

https://deweesrealestate.com/weather/

[conditions note: data reported here seems stale compared to other reports we’re receiving.  They say Dewees has received almost 10” of rain.  Here’s a screenshot

If you want your own weather station, try Davis Instruments Vantage Vue.

At the moment, all eyes are on hurricane Dorian. I get asked a lot of questions about hurricanes, and normally when we’re prepping to leave or hunker down, everything is so frantic that I don’t have a chance to write about things. As the track moves a little north, this post may be abbreviated.  We’re a big fan of Channel 2 news, and here’s their latest track:

Dewees has to plan ahead for storms, and we usually evacuate before the other islands do. When we managed rentals, visitors were often confused about why there would be a voluntary evacuation order so early. I had a few minutes to chat with David Dew, the island manager, as we prepared for Florence last year, and he can sum up the entire evacuation timeline with central point: the crane. The ferries are the highway to the island, and essential to protect. In order to protect them in a potentially catastrophic storm, they need to be pulled from the water at the boatyard by a large crane. The crane needs to be scheduled in advance, and once the winds pick up, even in advance of the “real” storm, the crane can no longer safely work the boats. So everything works backwards from that date. We’re not being hysterical; we’re being strategic.

Even if an evacuation isn’t necessary, there are a number of things everyone can do to make their homes more hurricane-ready.

OUTSIDE CLEANUP

Basically, anything on porches or in garages can become a projectile.  Birdfeeders, wicker furniture, porch swings, potted plants, fishing gear, and bicycles need to be stored.  If you don’t pick up all that stuff, you can find yourself with a situation like this:

or this:

It usually takes us an hour or two to get all the stuff inside, and we often roll up the rugs and push everything all together.

SHUTTERS:

Hurricane protection, like fire protection, is an essential part of the design process when you are building a home on the island.  There are a LOT of different options people use on the island.

Bahama Shutters

Bahama Shutters provide shade during the summer months and can be lowered and locked to protect those windows. These are always attached to the windows and can be pulled in and secured from the inside. Before getting new windows, Huyler house had bahama shutters.

Corrugated Shutters

Corrugated shutters come in metal and polycarbonate, and are usually panels that slide into a top track.

The panels are usually stored in a box on the deck, and are the size that one person can slide the top into the track and then secure the bottom with bolts and wing nuts.

One advantage of the polycarbonate is that they let light through, so if it’s a high window you can often leave them up for the whole season.

They can also cover doors:

Rolldown shutters

Rolldown shutters are usually mounted on the outside of the house and can be operated manually from inside or outside the house, depending on the particular setup. Some are electric and some can even be operated remotely.

Custom Wood Shutters

Some houses have custom wood shutters that make closing up fairly simple as the shutters are attached to the house and only need closing.

Fabric Shutters

One different kind of storm protection that is relatively easy to store and lightweight is hurricane fabric. These are panels that get stored inside and mounted over windows and doors.

These are secured with pegs and wing nuts.

Hurricane proof glass

Homes with hurricane proof glass are easier to close up: lock the windows and doors and head on out. They are more expensive up front though.

Plywood

Plywood is one choice: pros are price; cons are storage and difficulty of installation. This home along the waterway uses plywood to board up:

Go ‘way hurricane cookies

When I first moved to the lowcountry, I was totally addicted to a Post and Courier Column called Good Morning Lowcountry. When they took out the column, I canceled the paper subscription, though we still read it online. But I digress. Island friend Harriet McLeod was the writer of that column, and you can still get copies of her columns in her book Good Morning Lowcountry, Lessons from the South Carolina Swamp. It is totally worth the read Here is an article about the reactions in the P&C newsroom when Harriett delivered the cookies.Last year, Harriett put a set of her famous hurricane cookies into our auction for the Lake Timicau project, but then she was out of town when Florence started bearing down on us. Rich with caramel, chocolate, and a little gris-gris, these cookies have magical properties to ward off storms. The mantle of baking them fell to me, so I threw them together as we got ready to evacuate last year. Well, the first batch of 2019 has been baked, folks, and I am happy to bake the second in the morning. Here’s hoping that storm fizzles on out.

Here’s a shot of me delivering the warm cookies to people securing their homes last year.

An evening at Big Bend Dock

I walk across the long, narrow dock toward what can only be considered an island edge, the intermediary zone between civilization and creation. I sit down on the dock’s wooden bench and take a deep breath. I am on the boundary between here and elsewhere. Peering ahead, I feel as if I am both a resident perceiving the beyond and an outsider experiencing the island from within. And yet, at the edge, sense supersedes the need to form perspective. To think too hard is to waste a timeless moment where I and the world around me can simply be.

I look up as the clouds wisp rapidly through the air, swift as the salt marsh ripples below. They shadow a pale peachy sky, which dependably dims in the routine absence of its glowing source.

The warm glimmer reflects from the tidewater, completing a near symmetry of the landscape. Even the chiseled wood of Big Bend Dock glows a soft pink. The smooth darkening expanse of marsh grasses contrasts with the sky, the tide, and even the large slab of two-by-fours upon which my feet rest. 

Lights flicker in the distance – headlights cross bridges, houses hunker down on the horizon line, and towers flash red – but they are all so far away. They are night lights for Dewees, seen only from the island edge.

The wind whips from my left and across my body with force and power, yet care and prudence. It is a warm chill that lifts me from within myself, taking with it all distasteful energy, removing the thoughts that are unwelcome in such an atmosphere. The wind is fair. It does not injure nor disturb. It is neither angry nor vengeful. It simply gusts away the grime – a vacuum for the soul.

The air smells of salt and life. One whiff is enough to become part of the air and everything around. The sturdy dock. The tidal creek. The clouds and cordgrass, now the same silhouette shade against the pale evening sky and water.

But just as I am a part of this maritime microcosm, sounds all around alert me that it is also apart from me. It is something else much greater, much stronger, and much more harmonious. I hear it all. I hear cicadas singing amongst the palmettos, a sweet symphony of whispers. The high-tide ripples slosh soundly against the wooden framework of the dock. The pop of the pluff mud and fiddler pitter patter play percussion in the evening orchestra. An avian shriek pitches in an operatic melody in the distance. And above all else I hear the wind as it softly whispers into my ear, “It’s okay…I am here, and so are you.”

Jared Crain was a summer intern this summer. He is finishing up his degree at Berry College this fall.

We are winding down the last few weeks of summer, but there’s still great stuff to do.  You can print an entire list of August summer programs here.  You can also download the Dewees App, which will have all of these programs in it.  If you want to use the app through a desktop OR a non-ios device, click here. Sorry for the slight delay in getting them online.

Dewees Island Summer Programs 

August 2019 

Friday August 2 Ancient Dunes Gazebo 8:30 am	Turtle Team  Debrief and recap	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for beach games.
Friday August 2 9:00 am Ancient Dunes Gazebo	Beach Games	Join us as we use search the beach for treasures from the deep and use dip and seine nets to explore the tide pools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here. Wear shoes & clothes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats and plenty of water. Sign up here.
Friday August 2 6:30	Art Show Sun Moon and Stars	This collective exhibit has many items from owners personal collections as well as some for sale.  Come check out our sun, moon and Stars Art.
Monday  August 5 9:30 Crabbing Dock		This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Register here.
Tuesday  August 6 9:30 Ferry Dock	Family Nature Program: Mammal Safari	What mammals are on the island and what clues do they leave behind?  How can we tell if that’s coyote fur or something else? What do the wildlife cameras show us? Fun for all ages. Register here.
Thursday August 8 10:30 Huyler House	Nature Shadow Box	Join Casey as you explore Dewees Habitats and make a nature treasure to take home. Register here
Friday August 9 Ancient Dunes Gazebo	Turtle Team Meeting and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday August 9 Ancient Dunes Gazebo	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use search the beach for treasures from the deep and use dip and seine nets to explore the tide pools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here. Wear shoes & clothes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats and plenty of water. Register here.
Monday August 12	Crabbing and Insider Tips Crabbing Dock	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Register here.
Tuesday August 13 9:30 Ferry Dock	Family Nature Adventure: Dock Dudes	Learn about mysterious aquatic life forms just under our feet through the use of hand nets and microscopes. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Register here.
Thursday August 15 Landings Building	Howling at the Moon	Meet Jared, our coyote intern, for this fascinating presentation on coyote vocalization and what we can learn from them. We’ll start at 8:30 at the landings building. Please reserve your (free) spot. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0b4caaa929a02-howling1
Friday August 16 Ancient Dunes Gazebo 8:30	Turtle Team Debrief and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday August 16 9:00 am	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Sign up here.
Friday August 16	Intern Presentations and Happy Hour	Join us at Huyler House as we learn about the summer experiences of Alexa, Hollis, and Jared and celebrate their accomplishments.  Sponsored by the Dewees Island Conservancy and the Environmental Resources Board. Bring your own beverages.

The state of South Carolina is experiencing a record breaking sea turtle nesting season, as every beach sets new high records of nests on their beaches. The season started early, with the first loggerhead nest laid in April, and here on Dewees we got our first nest on May 3, found by Carey Sullivan and her boot camp buddies from Northern Virginia.

The Post and Courier described it as running out of room on the beach. last week, Channel 4 news posted about the sea turtle nesting record breaking year in the state. It looks like Georgia and North Carolina are also breaking their all time records. Our previous nest record is 21 nests, from both 2006 and 2016. We are now at nest 27 on Dewees, smashing our all time record of 21, which was tied at 21 in 2016.

There is also a curious uptick this year on the number of day nesting turtles.  On the morning of June 25 we  got a call that there was a turtle nesting on the beach.  In 16 years, I have never seen that (though I followed one around the beach one night hoping she would nest about 10 years ago.) One managed to get to the north end when the turtle was still on the beach. Technically, I was walking the south beach but Reggie was doing it for me by drone.  That aerial perspective shows just how far up the beach she dragged herself.

Interestingly, she stopped to dig a hole, but for some reason, that didn’t work for her and she didn’t nest.

When we got to the beach, the turtle was in the process of finishing laying eggs. The amount of visible effort she put forth was impressive.  She was in very soft sand right against a dead tree.  Each time she dropped an egg,  her entire body arched and relaxed. We live streamed the whole thing, but here is a video with the sea turtle nesting highlights. It is taken with a BIG zoom on my little canon camera: everyone stayed well back out of her way.

Our first nests have begun hatching.

Here is a video of a couple of tiny hatchlings heading to the sea from our first nest.

Once a nest hatches, we will go in 72 hours later to see the hatch success rates. These dates are publicized in the Dewees Turtle Team’s facebook page and on various boards around the island.

There are still opportunities to walk for the turtle team: sign up here:

We’ve got a lot going on this summer!  It’s easy to register for programs (none of them cost anything) but it helps the environmental staff plan if you sign up in advance.  July is somehow here already, and we’re headed into the biggest week on the island.  Here is the July Program Schedule. Download the Dewees App on any ios device to keep in touch, OR bookmark this link on your computer, tablet, or phone.

If you’d like to print or download your own copy of the July Program Schedule, click here for the online version.

Dewees Island Summer Programs 

Monday July 1 Crabbing Dock 9:30 am	Crabbing and Insider Tips	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Register for your free spot here.
Tuesday July 2 8:30 am	Turtle Team  Debrief and recap	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for beach games. No sign up necessary.
Tuesday July 2 9:00 am	Beach Games	Wear your swimsuit and join us at Ancient Dunes for some fun games. Sign up here.
Thursday July 4 11:00	Golf Cart parade	We’ll meet at the fire station at 11:00 and follow the fire truck around the island, finishing up at the Huyler House for an ice cream social.  No sign up necessary.
Thursday July 4 9:30	Fireworks	No, we don’t have fireworks here.  But you can see mainland fireworks (Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, IOP) from the Landings Building porch, the main dock, the ferry, and the rice trunk.  No fireworks or open flames (or sparklers) allowed on Dewees.
Friday July 5 9:30	Bubber and Jan’s Beach fun run and Brunch	No watches allowed: you’ll need to predict your 1 mile time.  Meet at Needlerush walk at 9:30 (be there early) for the run and then a fun post race brunch at Bubber and Jan’s at lot 13.  Prizes and fun abound. No sign up necessary.
Friday July 5 5:30 pm Huyler House	Art Opening	Come check out our new exhibit: Danielle Cather Cohen’s “A Dance with Color.” Her art is already featured in one of Dewees island’s newest homes.  Light Hors d’oeuvres and Prosecco provided.
Saturday July 6 Mid-afternoon	Sand Art Contest	Come use the natural materials on the beach to build a sand castle/creation.   You can start whenever you like: Judging is at 5:00.
Monday July 8	Crabbing and Insider Tips	This fun, family friendly program at the crabbing dock introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Sign up here.
Tuesday July 9 9:30	That Summer Glow: Bioluminescence	Learn about what bioluminescence is and how underwater creatures use their “glow”.  Meet at the Landings Building.  Sign up here.
Friday July 12 8:30	Turtle Team  Meeting and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday July 12	Intertidal Investigations	Join us at Ancient Dunes Gazebo as we use search the beach for treasures from the deep and use dip and seine nets to explore the tide pools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here. Wear shoes & clothes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats and plenty of water. Sign up here.
Friday July 12	Fish Printing	Come to the Huyler House picnic area at 10:00 am and make a fishy design to take home.  Bring your own white t-shirt.
Friday July 12 8:30 pm	Howling at the moon	Meet Jared, our coyote intern, at the Landings Building for this fascinating presentation on coyote vocalization and what we can learn from them. We’ll start at 8:30 at the landings building. Please reserve your (free) spot by signing up here.Space limited!
Monday July 15	Crabbing and Insider Tips	This fun program at the crabbing dock introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time! Sign up here.
Tuesday July 16 9:30 am	Moon Launch  Discovery	It is the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon.  Meet at Huyler House to learn about the moon and this historic event through hands on activities. Sign up here.
Thursday July 18	Shell ID and crafts	Meet at 10:30 am at Huyler House to learn how to ID the most common shells found on Dewees Island and make a craft to take home with Hollis & Jamie. Sign up here.
Friday July 19 8:30 am	Turtle Team  Meeting and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday July 19 8:30	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Reserve your (free) spot here.
Monday, July 21 9:30	Crabbing and Dewees Insider tips	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock!  Register Here:
Tuesday, July 23 9:30 Ferry Dock	Family Nature Program: Squirts, Stars, Spiders, and Seaweed	Learn about mysterious aquatic life forms just under our feet through the use of hand nets and microscopes. Hat and sunscreen recommended. Sign up here.
Tuesday, July 23	Guided Canoe Paddle	Spend the afternoon paddling Old House Lagoon with the Dewees Conservancy Interns.  Learn about local plants and animals as you view the island from a different perspective.  Basic paddling instruction provided. This is a moderate intensity level paddle due to potential wind speed and temperature; kids must be 10 years or older due to duration of paddle. Space is very limited.  Must RSVP with Lori and receive confirmation to attend. Bring sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of water. To RSVP please call/text 843-568-3994.
Thursday July 25 10:30 am	Scavenger Hunt	This scavenger hunt is going old school.  Meet at Huyler House to learn how to find your way without the use of your smartphone or gps with Alexa, on of our Conservancy turtle interns. Sign up here.
Friday July 26	Turtle Team  Meeting and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday,  July 26	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats.   Sign up here.
Monday, July 29	Crabbing and Insider Tips	This fun, family friendly program at the crabbing dock introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Sign up Here.
Tuesday July 30	Family Nature Adventures: Water Wonders	Become a nature detective as we explore water through hands on activities and experiments. Join us at Ancient Dunes Gazebo.  Register here.
Wednesday, July 31 Ancient Dunes Gazebo	Black Moon Constellations	There is a new moon tonight, which makes it perfect for checking out the night sky.  Come learn about planets, stars, constellations and more with Jared, one of our summer interns. Sign up here.

We have a lot of fun things on the June program schedule: You can use the app to register (new version for IOS; android or laptop go here and bookmark) for these and see what’s happening soon: or you can download or print your own version here.   Our official kickoff is tomorrow morning~ please join us at Ancient Dunes Walk for a beachfront pot luck breakfast at 8:30.

Monday June 3   Crabbing Dock	Crabbing and Insider Tips   Crabbing Dock	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock!  Sign up here
Monday June 3   9:00	Spectacles of the Night Sky	There is a new moon tonight, which makes it perfect for checking out the night sky.  Come learn about planets, stars, constellations and more with Jared, one of our summer interns. Sign up here.
Tuesday June 4	Critter Feeding at the Nature Center	Come check out our residents of the nature center.  Meet Petunia the Burrfish, our five horseshoe crabs, and Squirt.  Help feed the critters while learning what they eat, and watching how they eat.
Friday June 7   8:30	Beach Breakfast   Turtle Meeting	It’s officially the first day of summer vacation in Charleston County. Let’s kick it off right with an oceanfront pot luck (come anyway if you didn’t bring something).  What’s happening on the turtle team? Where are the nests and how do we protect them? Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing at Ancient Dunes Gazebo.
Friday June 7   9:00	Tide Pool Investigation   Ancient Dunes	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Sign up here.
Monday, June 10   9:30	Crabbing and Insider Tips   Crabbing Dock	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Sign up Here.
Tuesday, June 11   9:30	Family Nature Program: Reptiles	Join us to learn about many of the reptiles that call the island home.  Sliders and gators and terrapin, oh my! Where do they hide? What do they eat? Which tracks are theirs?  Come get up close and personal with some of our wild and nature center residents. Sign up here.
Friday June 14   8:30	Turtle Team Meeting and Update	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday June 14	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Sign up here:
Friday June 14	Howling at the Moon	Meet Jared, our coyote intern, for this fascinating presentation on coyote vocalization and what we can learn from them. We’ll start at 8:30 at the landings building.  Sign up here.
Monday June 17	Crabbing and Insider Tips   Crabbing Dock	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Register Here:
Tuesday June 18	Family Nature Adventures: Pollinator Week	This week, we’re learning about the pollinators we find on the island: what butterflies, bees, birds, moths, and bats are here and how we can encourage them. Sign up here:
Friday June 21	Turtle team Debrief   Ancient Dunes Gazebo	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday June 21	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Sign up here:
Monday June 24	Crabbing and Insider Tips   Crabbing Dock	This fun, family friendly program introduces you to tips and tricks for crabbing sustainably, catching bait, and other insider tips to have a great vacation on the island.  Highly recommended for first time guests and repeat visitors, you’ll have a great time learning and crabbing on the dock! Register Here:
Tuesday June 25	Family Nature Adventures: Field sign safari: Mammals   Huyler House downstairs	What mammals are on the island and what clues do they leave behind?  How can we tell if that’s coyote fur or something else? What do the wildlife cameras show us? Fun for all ages. Sign up here:
Friday June 28	Turtle Team Debrief	What’s happening on the turtle team?  Where are the nests and how do we protect them?  Which turtles have been seen on our shores and what are the field signs? Join us for our weekly short briefing (Coffee and snacks welcome) at Ancient Dunes Gazebo. Stick around afterwards for the Intertidal Investigation Program.
Friday June 28	Intertidal Investigations	Join us as we use dip and seine nets to explore the tidepools and swash zone to find out what creatures live here.  Wear shoes that can get wet, sunscreen, and hats. Sign up here:
Friday June 28	Spectacles of the Night Sky:   Ancient Dunes Gazebo	There is a new moon tonight, which makes it perfect for checking out the night sky.  Come learn about planets, stars, constellations and more with Jared, one of our summer interns. Sign up here.

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Summer Interns Arrive

Our official summer season kicks off with summer interns arriving on island.  We have five this year, and began training and orientation this week.  We have three different positions all working together.  Our new position is that of a coyote intern.  He will be doing programs and gathering information about coyotes on the island and also working with our wildlife cameras.  Two interns are part of a hospitality partnership with Dunes Properties.  They assist first time guests, provide orientation and educational programs, and serve as a liaison between the rentals and the community.  Our remaining two wildlife interns are part of a partnership with Cape Romain and their sea turtle protection program, and they split their time between here and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Let me introduce you to them:

Casey Jenkins, Hospitality

Casey was born and raised in Little River, SC. She began her life on a salt marsh, so the climate and wildlife of Dewees just feel like home to her. Nature and wildlife were always a passion for her, and she dreamed of being a zookeeper as a child. She’s also interested in sustainability. When she began studying at the University of South Carolina, however, she was an elementary education major. Now, after a bit of soul searching, she is a proud Tourism Management student and wants to pursue tourism careers that help make travel more sustainable for everybody involved. 

Casey still gets excited every time she sees an alligator of dolphin, even if it’s the millionth one she’s seen that day. And she helped me rescue a stranded loon this morning, so she’s already in wildlife mode!

Jamie Ostendarp, Hospitality

Jamie grew up in Charlotte but has spent the last four years studying Hospitality and Tourism management at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. As a child, she grew up visiting the Charleston area with family, but this is her first summer at Dewees. Jamie enjoys swimming in the ocean, playing games on the beach or just sitting down and getting lost in a book! She loves meeting new people so if you see her around, don’t be afraid to say hello!

Jared Crain, Wildlife (Coyotes)

Training

Get to Know them: