June Theme: Oaks of the Bluff

The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy hosts a monthly photo contest for residents and guests. We want to see what you’ve seen while enjoying your time at the Bluff! Each month will celebrate a different, Conservancy-related theme. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Photos must be submitted to info@pbconservancy.org to participate.

How are the photos judged?

Conservancy educator, Aaron, will review each submission to ensure the photos meet all requirements. Approved entries will be sent to the Conservancy team to be judged in a blind judging.

Prizes: Each month, the 1st place winner will receive a prize from the Conservancy. Our top three participants will also receive raffle tickets (3 tickets for first place, 2 tickets for second place, and 1 ticket for third place) that will go into a pot for the chance to win a pair of Burn Fest tickets. The drawing will occur following the last Brown Bag Lunch of October 2021.

Rules:

1. Submitting a photo to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy photo contest gives the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy permission to use the photo for posts, publications, products, and advertising.
2. Each participant may submit one photo per month related to that month’s theme. The photo does not need to be taken within that month.
3. All images must be taken at Palmetto Bluff.
4. All photos must have complete information attached, including subjects, dates, and locations.
5. Animal and plant photographs must be wild; no captive animals or planted specimens.
6. The animal must be alive, and the photo be taken under natural conditions and in an ethical manner that places the welfare of the subject above the photographer’s desire to obtain an image.

Oyster reefs are crucial to the health of Lowcountry salt marshes and create complex, three-dimensional shelter for large and small organisms. It is often difficult to document all the creatures that use this habitat, but through environmental DNA (eDNA) we can reveal the true diversity of organisms living on an oyster reef. Dr. Mercer Brugler, Associate Professor at USCB, will explain how eDNA can show changes in species composition on reefs based on whether they are harvested, where they are located within a river, and as reefs age.

Hey junior naturalists! Are you ready to run, hop, and fly into the world of mammals? Join our educational program as we search rodent traps, look at the chompers on mammal skulls, play some squirrely games, and more!

Face masks, closed-toe shoes, and rubber boots required.

Max Capacity: 10 junior naturalists

Ages: 6-12

Reservations required. $100 per child.

Send Registration Forms to: info@pbconservancy.org

Registration Form: https://form.jotform.com/211194106572046

Hey junior naturalists! Who’s ready to soar into the world of birds and plants? We will check out the wide array of bird beaks, buzz around like hummingbirds, and grow like a weed during this fruitful and educational day.

Face masks, closed-toe shoes, and long pants required.

Max Capacity: 10 junior naturalists

Ages: 6-12

Reservations required. $100 per child.

Send Registration Forms to: info@pbconservancy.org

Registration Form: https://form.jotform.com/211194106572046

Bryan Frazier is a Marine Biologist for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and studies shark populations along the Carolina coast. Join us in taking a dive into the life history of sharks, learn what species are here, and how researchers study these elegant and powerful creatures.

July Theme: Critters with Shells

The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy hosts a monthly photo contest for residents and guests. We want to see what you’ve seen while enjoying your time at the Bluff! Each month will celebrate a different, Conservancy-related theme. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Photos must be submitted to info@pbconservancy.org to participate.

How are the photos judged?

Conservancy educator, Aaron, will review each submission to ensure the photos meet all requirements. Approved entries will be sent to the Conservancy team to be judged in a blind judging.

Prizes: Each month, the 1st place winner will receive a prize from the Conservancy. Our top three participants will also receive raffle tickets (3 tickets for first place, 2 tickets for second place, and 1 ticket for third place) that will go into a pot for the chance to win a pair of Burn Fest tickets. The drawing will occur following the last Brown Bag Lunch of October 2021.

Rules:

1. Submitting a photo to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy photo contest gives the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy permission to use the photo for posts, publications, products, and advertising.
2. Each participant may submit one photo per month related to that month’s theme. The photo does not need to be taken within that month.
3. All images must be taken at Palmetto Bluff.
4. All photos must have complete information attached, including subjects, dates, and locations.
5. Animal and plant photographs must be wild; no captive animals or planted specimens.
6. The animal must be alive, and the photo be taken under natural conditions and in an ethical manner that places the welfare of the subject above the photographer’s desire to obtain an image.

Do you need volunteer hours or just want to get your hands dirty? Aaron Palmieri, Conservancy Educator, will be spending the morning tending to the pollinator garden in Moreland Village. We will be weeding the garden beds and checking if any plants need some TLC.

Face Masks, gardening gloves, closed-toe shoes, and long pants required.

Reservations required.

Captain Amber has spent her life in and along the May River, and her ecotours highlight the love and knowledge she holds for the salt marsh. Join us as we explore the May River and other tidal estuaries while Captain Amber teaches us about the creatures that call these waters home.

Face masks, Closed-toed shoes, and long pants required.

Max Capacity: 12 people

$65 fee. Reservations required through info@pbconservancy.org.

Amber Kuehn is the leader of the Hilton Head Island sea turtle patrol. Beginning May 1^st, her team of volunteers conduct nightly surveys along the island’s 15-miles of beach in search of turtle activity. Join us as Amber gives an update on the 2020 and 2021 sea turtle nesting season and everything involved in their efforts.

What turtles live at Palmetto Bluff? Let’s find out! Join the Conservancy as we check turtle traps throughout the Bluff, identify what we catch, and discuss the features and adaptations that make these reptiles so cool!

Closed-toed shoes and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Max capacity: 8 people. Reservations required.

RSVP at: info@pbconservancy.org.

Captain Amber has spent her life in and along the May River, and her ecotours highlight the love and knowledge she holds for the salt marsh. Join us as we explore the May River and other tidal estuaries while Captain Amber teaches us about the creatures that call these waters home.

Closed-toed shoes and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Max Capacity: 12 people

$65 fee. Reservations required through info@pbconservancy.org.

Ever wonder how many species of turtles live in South Carolina? What species you can find around your home? Or the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? Join SCDNR State Herpetologist, Andrew Grosse as he reviews the turtles of South Carolina, including what habitats they live in and tips on how to identify them.

Click on the following link (or copy and paste into your browser) to watch through zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6QB0jXmdRXGsY7CsvXlwWQ

Hey Junior Naturalists! Are you ready to spend the day as an amphibian? We’ll have a bouncing good time looking for frogs, learning about amphibian skin, and hopping from game to game. Prepare to get wet!

Bathing suits, towels, and closed-toe shoes required.

Max Capacity: 10 junior naturalists

Ages: 6-12

Reservations required. $100 per child.

Send Registration Forms to: info@pbconservancy.org

Registration Form: https://form.jotform.com/211194106572046

Hey Junior Naturalists! What’s all the buzz about insects? Come find out as we migrate like monarchs and zip around like dragonflies. Then we will switch gears and dive into the world of the salt marsh. We’ll throw cast nets off the dock, shake it up with biodegradables, and witness the power of water.

Extra clothes, closed-toe shoes, and long pants required.

Max Capacity: 10 junior naturalists

Ages: 6-12

Reservations required. $100 per child.

Send Registration Forms to: info@pbconservancy.org

Registration Form: https://form.jotform.com/211194106572046

Captain Amber has spent her life in and along the May River, and her ecotours highlight the love and knowledge she holds for the salt marsh. Join us as we explore the May River and other tidal estuaries while Captain Amber teaches us about the creatures that call these waters home.

Closed-toed shoes and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Max Capacity: 12 people

$65 fee. Reservations required through info@pbconservancy.org.

Captain Amber has spent her life in and along the May River, and her ecotours highlight the love and knowledge she holds for the salt marsh. Join us as we explore the May River and other tidal estuaries while Captain Amber teaches us about the creatures that call these waters home.

Closed-toed shoes and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Max Capacity: 12 people

$65 fee. Reservations required through info@pbconservancy.org.

What goes bump in the night? Join the Conservancy as we head out into the woods to look and listen for nocturnal wildlife residing at Palmetto Bluff. We will listen for bats using ultrasonic bat detectors, check light trap for insects, and even meet with Conservancy staff conducting bat research!

Head lamps, closed-toed shoes, long pants required.

To protect bats, face masks required while at the netting site.

Max Capacity: 12 people

Reservations required through info@pbconservancy.org.

August Theme: Snakes, Lizards, & Turtles of the Bluff

The Palmetto Bluff Conservancy hosts a monthly photo contest for residents and guests. We want to see what you’ve seen while enjoying your time at the Bluff! Each month will celebrate a different, Conservancy-related theme. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Photos must be submitted to info@pbconservancy.org to participate.

How are the photos judged?

Conservancy educator, Aaron, will review each submission to ensure the photos meet all requirements. Approved entries will be sent to the Conservancy team to be judged in a blind judging.

Prizes: Each month, the 1st place winner will receive a prize from the Conservancy. Our top three participants will also receive raffle tickets (3 tickets for first place, 2 tickets for second place, and 1 ticket for third place) that will go into a pot for the chance to win a pair of Burn Fest tickets. The drawing will occur following the last Brown Bag Lunch of October 2021.

Rules:

1. Submitting a photo to the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy photo contest gives the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy permission to use the photo for posts, publications, products, and advertising.
2. Each participant may submit one photo per month related to that month’s theme. The photo does not need to be taken within that month.
3. All images must be taken at Palmetto Bluff.
4. All photos must have complete information attached, including subjects, dates, and locations.
5. Animal and plant photographs must be wild; no captive animals or planted specimens.
6. The animal must be alive, and the photo be taken under natural conditions and in an ethical manner that places the welfare of the subject above the photographer’s desire to obtain an image.

The Conservancy loves snakes, and we wish to share this admiration with you! Join us as we walk the Headwaters Nature Trail and search for these legless reptiles under fallen branches, bark, and coverboards. What’s a coverboard? Come find out!

Closed-toed shoes and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Max Capacity: 8 people

Reservations required.

RSVP at: info@pbconservancy.org.

Do you need volunteer hours or just want to get your hands dirty? Aaron Palmieri, Conservancy Educator, will be spending the morning tending to the pollinator garden in Moreland Village. We will be weeding the garden beds and checking if any plants need some TLC.

Gardening gloves, closed-toe shoes, and long pants required.

Face masks are not required for vaccinated participants.

Reservations required.

RSVP at: info@pbconservancy.org