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C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids

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Cultivating Outdoor Adventures and Scientific Thinking through Active Learning

C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is an immersive nature-education mini-series created by Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Spring Island Trust. Thanks to both organizations’ generous donors, THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED FOR FREE! Our mission is to provide the children of the Lowcountry with fun and engaging hands-on nature experiences inspiring lifetimes of muddy boots, outdoor joy, and conservation advocacy.

C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids join naturalists for three half-days of adventure in early June. Together we delve into the diversity of habitats and animals throughout the Lowcountry. Each day focuses on a different theme from reptiles & amphibians to bird biology to saltmarsh ecosystems. We explore, we learn, we get a little (or a lot) muddy, and most importantly we have fun!

Need more information, see our parent handbook or look over frequently asked questions. Still have a question, then Heather Kraus, the Education & Outreach Coordinator at Nemours Wildlife Foundation, has you covered. Reach out to Heather at hkraus@nemourswildlife.org.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Children aged 7 through 12 are welcome to become C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids. One session of C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is for children aged 7 to 9. Another session of C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is for children aged 10 to 12.

Note: Children must be of proper age at time of the C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids program.

C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is held during the first two weeks in June. Three half-day adventures take place on consecutive weekdays: Tuesday-Thursday.

Session one for children aged 7 to 9 runs the first week of June.
Exact dates for summer 2026 are June 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

Session two for children aged 10 to 12 runs the second week of June.
Exact dates for summer 2026 are June 9th, 10th, and 11th.

Sessions run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Morning drop-off is from 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM. Afternoon pickup is from 1:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is a partnership between Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Spring Island Trust. Thus, the location of each day’s adventure alternates between Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Spring Island Trust. The location for each day’s adventure is as follows:

Tuesday: Spring Island Trust
Wednesday: Nemours Wildlife Foundation
Thursday: Spring Island Trust

Both Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Spring Island Trust are located about 30 minutes from Beaufort. Nemours Wildlife Foundation is on the way towards Charleston, while Spring Island Trust is on the way towards Bluffton. See the parent handbook for more information about each location. 

Participation is FREE. We encourage anyone with interested children to apply for a spot in the program.

Our program maintains a 1:5 staff to participant ratio or lower. By maintaining a 1:5 staff to participant ratio and keeping class sizes small (sessions capped at 16 participants), we ensure every C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kid has high quality hands-on experiences.

There is a limited waitlist. If you would like to join the waitlist for a filled session of C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids, please email Heather Kraus at hkraus@nemourswildlife.org. If a participant can no longer attend, we will offer the spot to the next child on the waitlist. Parents will be contacted via email if a space opens up.

Waitlist additions will be done through email only, please do not call our offices to try and sign up for C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids. Thank you!

It is best if participants are present for the full day, every day of C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids, so that the group can bond, and participants don’t miss any of the adventure. We will spend much of the day outdoors, investigating our natural world. Participants need to arrive early enough to board our adventure vehicles. If your child will be late or must be picked up early, please notify staff.

We have found kids are happiest and adjust more quickly when parents leave promptly after drop-off. Program staff have fun activities planned to engage the kids immediately in their new surroundings. Having parents present after drop-off can often make it more difficult to get kids involved in games and projects.

No. Participants should bring a hearty, non-perishable, waste-free lunch and snack that can be enjoyed outdoors. There is no refrigeration for lunches; include a freezer pack if needed. Please make note of any allergies your camper has in their Health Form. Additionally, an Allergy Action Plan will need to be completed that provides guidance in prevention and outlines steps to take in case of exposure.

Children who take medications must be able to take their own medications with limited assistance. All medications must be labeled and accompanied by an Administration of Medication Authorization Form (provided upon request). Medications will be held in a secure location during the day, except for emergency medications which may be carried by the child with parent authorization.

How to Register!

Registration for C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids is now open! At this time, you can click the links below and complete the registration form. Once capacity is reached, you can join the waitlist by emailing Heather Kraus at hkraus@nemourswildlife.org

REGISTER NOW: Children Aged 7-9
REGISTER NOW: Children aged 10-12

GERALD H. SCHULZE

Chairman

STEPHEN CLEMENTS, PH.D.

Wildlife Scientist

MARIAH WHITEHEAD, PH.D.

Board Member

She is currently the Vice President and Senior Director of Land at the Open Space Institute, where she has been instrumental in shaping strategic conservation priorities, climate resilience efforts, and freshwater protection programs in the Southeastern United States. Prior to her current appointment, she was involved in various conservation initiatives including piloting The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience 2.0 program and contributing to the NOAA Climate Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Coastal Habitats. In addition, she is
trained as a Conservation Coach in the Conservation Standards strategic planning process, a skillset and distinction she shares with our President and CEO. However, she asserts that her most significant role is parenting three daughters, and her favorite activity is spending time with her family in the outdoors. 

JOHN WILLIAMSON, III

Board Member

COLDEN R. BATTEY, JR.

Board Member

Colden has been a partner in the law firm of Harvey & Battey since 1963. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Battey served as chairman of Beaufort County Council for 8 years; he is a past president of the Beaufort County Bar Association, past director of the South Carolina Bar Association and of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association. He currently serves as the president of the Open Land Trust board of directors.

ALEX SHUFORD

Treasurer

Alex loves the Lowcountry and has long had an interest in conservation. He is a retired Vice President with South State Bank and brings great experience in financial management, marketing and non-profit organization to the Trust. He currently serves on the Finance and Investment Committee of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and on the Board of the Open Land Trust as Treasurer. He is also a past president of the University of South Carolina Alumni Association and a past member of the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees. Alex has two grown sons whose families all enjoy the beautiful Lowcountry and coastal South Carolina.

KEVIN E. DUKES

Vice Chairman

PEACHIE WASHINGTON
Hospitality Specialist
JESSE DREW
Land Stewardship Specialist
BUBBA ERWIN
Land Stewardship Specialist
JUSTIN RICKENBAKER
Land Stewardship Specialist
ROBERT KITLER
Land Stewardship Specialist
SARA MILLER
Donor Relations & Development Coordinator

Sara is truly looking forward to meeting with our generous and growing number of enthusiastic supporters who share our commitment to conservation. Her responsibilities include communicating news and project updates to our constituents, organizing donor stewardship efforts and events, and assisting supporters with their philanthropic goals. She lives in Beaufort with her two dogs, Kona and Kiwi. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, indulging in fresh local seafood, getting together with her local sorority alumnae group, participating in beach/trash cleanups, and exploring state parks.  

KIMBERLY LARSEN, M.B.A.

Business Administrator

Kimberly lives in Seabrook with her husband, Eric, and their three dogs, Dingo, Kanga, and Bilby. The Larsens are longtime residents of Beaufort County and in their spare time, they enjoy spending time exploring South Carolina’s state parks and relaxing on the local beaches.

HEATHER KRAUS, M.SC.

Education & Outreach Coordinator

BEAU BAUER, M.SC.

Wildlife Biologist
Certified Wildlife Biologist®

ANDREW S. BRIDGES, PH.D.

President & C.E.O.