Reflecting on Fall for Wildlife
Much to our delight, Fall for Wildlife sold out six weeks before the event! On Saturday, Oct. 26, we welcomed over 200 guests—a wonderful mix of community members new to Nemours, conservation and research partners, and, of course, our longtime supporters.
The program kicked off with Jerry Schultz, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who warmly welcomed everyone and introduced Dr. Andrew Bridges, our President & CEO. Dr. Bridges opened with a description of Nemours’ innovative new programs and 2024 accomplishments, and a heartfelt message of gratitude for all those who make this important work possible.
Dr. Maria Whitehead, Vice President and Director of Land for the Southeast at the Open Space Institute and a member of the Nemours Wildlife Foundation Board of Directors, continued this message with a moving keynote speech describing the value of connecting to the land, growing youth engagement in conservation, and translating it to landscape scale conservation impacts.
After the program, guests enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by Lowcountry Produce, reconnected with our staff and partners at presentation tables sharing various ongoing projects, and took a short property tour on an open-air wagon.
A huge thank you to our wildlife research and education collaborators who generously traveled to Nemours to demonstrate the exciting work they are conducting on the property:
- Local conservation icon and Coastal Kingdom host Tony Mills, along with his apprentices Forest Bridges and June Bridges, showcased C.O.A.S.T.A.L. Kids, an immersive nature-education program created by Nemours Wildlife Foundation and Spring Island Trust for Lowcountry children.
- Dr. Lydia O’Halloran from Clemson University College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences, along with graduate student Gafar Agunbiade, shared insights into monitoring ecosystem service delivery in silvopasture systems.
- Miriam Boucher, from the Clemson University James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center and the first fellowship recipient at Nemours, explained her research on regional alligator diet and contaminants of emerging concern.
- Our inaugural Education & Outreach Intern, Alaina Broomall, shared newly developed youth educational materials, and also served as a tour guide for the open-air wagon tour around the property.
- Finally, our Research Intern, Michael Bellinger, presented his work on wildlife and habitat monitoring.
Paul Nurnberg Photography
A special shout-out to our incredible vendors who made the event possible: Lowcountry Produce (catering and coffee bar), At Your Service (bartending), The Cluster Shucks (band), Nurnberg Photography, Wimbee Creek Farms (florals), Amazing Event Rentals (tent and rentals), and JLK Events & Coastal Entertainment (audio-visual services).
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As a nonprofit, donations are vital to advancing our mission: promoting conservation and human well-being in the ACE Basin and beyond through collaborative scientific research, leadership development, management demonstration, and experiential education. If you feel inspired to support our mission, donations of any size are greatly appreciated.
