This past weekend I had the privilege of working for an ecotourism booth in Marion Square during the South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, often abbreviated as SEWE. During SEWE, many organizations based around wildlife rehabilitation, ecotourism, and government funded ecological projects set up booths and host events pertaining to nature. Some important organizations to note are the Center for Birds of prey, Coastal Expeditions, and many rescue societies for dogs. It is a place for nature lovers.

Coastal Expeditions is a kayak ecotour company that specializes in environmental education and community outreach. During my time working with this company, they have completed many projects including the Save Crab Bank project and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Project. The Save Crab Bank project benefits nesting shore birds who are at risk of habitat loss due to hazardous weather patterns and harsh erosion from the disrupted longshore drift in Charleston Harbor. Crab bank is one of the largest bird rookeries on the South Carolina coast and an important nesting sight for Brown Pelicans, Black Skimmers, Terns, and twelve other bird species. The funds raised for this cause went to renourishment of the small island so that birds can nest there once again. The Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge Sea Turtle Project benefits the sea turtle volunteer team and Cape Romain employees during the summer.

Working for this booth required community outreach and talking to people about the various projects Coastal is partnered with. I learned what impacts ecotourism can have on the local economy and how it can touch the lives of many people, inside and outside a community. There were people constantly coming up and asking about the projects and camps and telling us how much they enjoyed being outside with the company. It was very cool to see how much a community cares for its ecosystem and surroundings.

SEWE was very empowering to work because there were so many people from different backgrounds working together for a common cause of conservation and environmental knowledge. Seeing all the booths and events centered around nature really puts things into perspective. Definitely worth going.