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Field trip shirts worn by some awesome teachers!

Dead or Molt? When exploring the beach and you come across what you may think is a dead crab it could actually be a molt or shed of the crab’s exoskeleton. Well, is it stinky or goopy? It is most likely dead, however, if the critter shell in question opens from the back side, is…

Baby alligator with its camo stripes! Recently the bossman, Shane, was leading a family fun day and came across this awesome juvenile American alligator. Juvenile alligators have black and yellow stripes for camouflage.  Eventually gators loose their stripes and turn a dark blackish/green. Alligators prefer a freshwater habitat BUT will use the salt marsh for…

It’s time for our monthly blog about citizen science projects! Citizen science is a form of data collection that the public of all ages can participate in. It usually involves the collection of data and recording it or entering it into a database for different organizations. A list of citizen science projects will be listed & linked below! With the changing of spring to summer comes a new field work season. Different animals are migrating back to our coasts for the summer months. There are a couple species that you can partake in citizen science data collection by reporting your sightings of these animals to the SC Department of Natural Resources. (These can be reported year round but are typically found in SC during the warmer months!) Some of the species include  Diamondback Terrapins         Reporting information…

Echinoderms are a unique group of invertebrates that includes sea stars, sand dollars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and more. Echinodermata is the phylum and the word breaks down to mean hedgehog-like skin. They are usually known for their radially symmetry, tubular feet, and their water vascular systems! Two echinoderms recently found on Capers island were…

Because we’ve been finding a lot of cannon ball jellies washing up on Capers Island we wanted to highlight a fascinating oceanic partnership between long-nose spider crabs and cannonball jellies (aka the ultimate passenger princesses!!). While these creatures may seem worlds apart in appearance and behavior, they have found a remarkable way to coexist in…

Recently one of our naturalists has been leading small groups of people seining! Seine netting, also known simply as seining, involves the use of a large, rectangular net with floats along the top edge and weights along the bottom. This setup allows the net to be deployed in the water, forming a barrier that can…

Whether you’re a seasoned beachcomber or a curious wanderer, prepare to be captivated by the discovery of these two remarkable finds by students during school group field trips. From mysterious relics of the past to whimsical treasures shaped by nature’s artistry, the beach holds endless wonders waiting to be discovered and we love when students…

🌟 Exciting Announcement! 🌟 Sunset over the IWC!

As a refresher we’d like to talk a little about citizen science and then highlight a workshop some of our staff participated in. Citizen science is a form of data collection that the public of all ages can participate in. It usually involves the collection of data and recording it or entering it into a…

 A sea hare’s name might sound funny, but did you know its the ocean’s Easter bunny! She hides unique eggs in different spaces And once they hatch, they reveal beautiful sea creatures faces!                                     Sea hare!

Spring is spranging down here in the low country and with that we’ve been finding some interesting critters on Capers Island! In addition to the pollen arriving we have seen cannon ball jellies arriving—this usually indicates to us warmer water (and hopefully sea turtles!) are on the way.  The first species we’d like to highlight…