On May 9th, friends and neighbors gathered to celebrate the completion of a new wildlife boardwalk signage project – an initiative that brings education, conservation, and community engagement together in a meaningful way.

Susan Culler Soden gave a presentation to those in attendance.

This project would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work, and passion of so many individuals. First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to our incredible committee, the driving force behind this initiative: Brandy Embrey Graphic Design & TP; Mark Andrews, Shorebird Stewards and Seabrook Island Birders; Cindy O’Neill, SIPOA Board Member and I for the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. Special thanks goes to Camp Duquet of SCDNR for the background files used on all the signs. Your commitment, enthusiasm, and expertise have brought this vision to life, ensuring that every detail was carefully planned and executed for the benefit of our community and the natural world we cherish.

What began as a few individuals asking how the worn out wildlife boardwalk signs could be replaced, turned into a project that eventually involved three Seabrook Island wildlife groups working together with the Town of Seabrook Island and the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association to finance, design, create and install three new signs on three separate boardwalks – Boardwalks 1, 7 and 9. A rough estimate of individuals directly involved in the project is 47 – it TRULY took a village!

Susan thanked all of the organization representatives who helped with bringing this project to fruition:

TOSI (12 representatives)

• Mayor Bruce Kleinman
• Community Promotion & Engagement Committee
• Environment & Wildlife Committee
• Abby Grooms, Communications & Events Manager

SIPOA (20+ representatives)

• Heather Paton, Executive Director, for acting as our banker
• Cindy O’Neill and Tom Johnson, SIPOA board members. A special shout-out to Tom Johnson for getting us through the State permitting process.
• Environmental Committee
• Steve Hirsch, Director of Engineering & Facilities Management, and his maintenance crew for their guidance through the process and for installing the signs.
• Rhiannon Schalaudek and Kristen Riedmayer, SIPOA Communications
• Joyce Phillips, Amenities & Activities Committee

Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network

• Laura Rust, Founder & Executive Director

Turtle Patrol (4 representatives)

• Jane Magioncalda, SCDNR permit holder & head
• Bill Nelson, Treasurer
• Brandy Embrey
• Wendy Holschuh

Seabrook Island Birders (3 representatives)

• Bob Mercer, President
• Claudia Porter, Treasurer
• Gina Sanders, Communications

A special thanks goes to our talented photographers, who have captured the essence of our local wildlife and with such brilliance. Our committee knew that great photographs of our Seabrook Island wildlife were a critical element. Your stunning images bring life to our signs, transforming them into powerful tools for education and appreciation. Because of you, visitors will not only read about the beauty of Seabrook Island, they will see it in its most breathtaking form.

Our photographers are: Mark Andrews, Glen Cox, Jeff Davis, Joseph Ficarra, Maureen Healy, Patricia Schaeffer, and Susan Culler Soden.

Together, we have created something truly special – a place where people can learn and connect with nature in ways that inspire and inform. These signs are more than just structures; they are a testament to the power of collaboration and community spirit.

So today, let us celebrate not only the completion of this project, but also the incredible people who made it happen. Thank you all for your hard work, passion, and dedication. You have helped build something that will serve as a lasting reminder of the importance of conservation, education, and collaboration within our community.

Submitted by Susan Culler Soden
Photos by Jeff Davis