Registration “CLOSING” for June 26, 2024 Seabrook Island Birders: Half-Day summer camp for kids on feathers and their owners.

Registration for this event is closing on June 19, 2024


Time: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: Oyster Catcher Community Center (2241 Oyster Catcher Ct, Johns Island, SC 29455)
Min Attendance: 6 Max Attendance: 12
Cost: Free per attendee registered by SIB Members, $10 per attendee registered by non-SIB Members

Program Description:

This summer Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) is offering something new!  Will you have a child between the ages of 8-15 with you on Seabrook Island this summer who might like to learn more about feathers AND BIRDS??  Jane Settle, a retired marine biologist and teacher, avid naturalist, and SIB Shorebird Steward will be offering a fun and informative one-morning camp experience! 

This fun time will be filled with activities, inside and outside.  Participants will learn about both feathers ( structure and function) and the birds that “wear them”! Participants will investigate preserved feathers (collected with USFWS permit) with hand magnifiers, draw and color their own pictures of them, play word games, as well as take a walk about and make observations outside along our nearby boardwalks, weather permitting.

Minimum attendance to hold a camp day is 6 and maximum attendance is 12. 

If you are not yet a 2024 SIB member, you can become a member for only $15 by following the instructions on our website: https://seabrookislandbirders.org/contact/join-sib/.

Registration NOW OPEN for June 26, July 17 and July 24, 2024 Seabrook Island Birders: Half-Day summer camp for kids on feathers and their owners.

Please note registration for June 26 is below our minimum of 6, let your friends know


Time: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: Oyster Catcher Community Center (2241 Oyster Catcher Ct, Johns Island, SC 29455)
Min Attendance: 6 Max Attendance: 12
Cost: Free per attendee registered by SIB Members, $10 per attendee registered by non-SIB Members

Program Description:

This summer Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) is offering something new!  Will you have a child between the ages of 8-15 with you on Seabrook Island this summer who might like to learn more about feathers AND BIRDS??  Jane Settle, a retired marine biologist and teacher, avid naturalist, and SIB Shorebird Steward will be offering a fun and informative one-morning camp experience! 

This fun time will be filled with activities, inside and outside.  Participants will learn about both feathers ( structure and function) and the birds that “wear them”! Participants will investigate preserved feathers (collected with USFWS permit) with hand magnifiers, draw and color their own pictures of them, play word games, as well as take a walk about and make observations outside along our nearby boardwalks, weather permitting.

Minimum attendance to hold a camp day is 6 and maximum attendance is 12. 

If you are not yet a 2024 SIB member, you can become a member for only $15 by following the instructions on our website: https://seabrookislandbirders.org/contact/join-sib/.

Registration Open for June 26, 2024 Seabrook Island Birders: Half-Day summer camp for kids on feathers and their owners.

Registration for July 17 and 24 camps coming in early June.

When: Wednesday June 26, 2024 (Please note date correction from prior announcement)
Time: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Where: Oyster Catcher Community Center (2241 Oyster Catcher Ct, Johns Island, SC 29455)
Max Attendance: 12
Cost: Free per attendee registered by SIB Members, $10 per attendee registered by non-SIB Members

Program Description:

This summer Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) is offering something new!  Will you have a child between the ages of 8-15 with you on Seabrook Island this summer who might like to learn more about feathers AND BIRDS??  Jane Settle, a retired marine biologist and teacher, avid naturalist, and SIB Shorebird Steward will be offering a fun and informative one-morning camp experience! 

This fun time will be filled with activities, inside and outside.  Participants will learn about both feathers ( structure and function) and the birds that “wear them”! Participants will investigate preserved feathers (collected with USFWS permit) with hand magnifiers, draw and color their own pictures of them, play word games, as well as take a walk about and make observations outside along our nearby boardwalks, weather permitting.

Minimum attendance to hold a camp day is 6 and maximum attendance is 12. 

If you are not yet a 2024 SIB member, you can become a member for only $15 by following the instructions on our website: https://seabrookislandbirders.org/contact/join-sib/.

NEW offering from Seabrook Island Birders: Half-Day summer camp for kids on feathers and their owners.

This summer Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) is offering something new!  Will you have a child or a grandchild between the ages of 8-15 with you on Seabrook Island this summer who might like to learn more about feathers AND BIRDS??  Jane Settle, a retired marine biologist and teacher, avid naturalist, and SIB Shorebird Steward will be offering a fun and informative one-morning camp experience! 

This fun time will be filled with activities, inside and outside.  Participants will learn about both feathers ( structure and function) and the birds that “wear them”! Participants will investigate preserved feathers (collected with USFWS permit) with hand magnifiers, draw and color their own pictures of them, play word games, as well as take a walk about and make observations outside along our nearby boardwalks.

Camp will be held at Oyster Catcher Community Center.

These half day camps will be held from 8:30am -12:30pm and will potentially be repeated on each of the following 3 dates:

  • Wednesday June 25, 2024
  • Wednesday July 17, 2024
  • Wednesday July 24, 2024

Minimum attendance to hold a camp day is 6 and Maximum attendance is 12.  Registration for the workshops will be open shortly.

Play Wingspan

If you like birds and enjoy playing games, we’ve got great news for you! Several members of Seabrook Island Birders (SIB) have become obsessed with the game Wingspan. It is available both as a physical board game as well as an electronic game you can play on many devices, including iOS, Android, Nintendo, XBox, etc.

I’ve always said the creator of the game Wingspan must be a genius! It seems complicated to learn at first, but once you understand the basic concepts, it isn’t difficult at all and gives you a chance to learn more about ornithology and birds you know and don’t know! Wingspan is from designer Elizabeth Hargrave, illustrated by Natilia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, and published by Stonemaier Games.

The board has three habitats Forest, Grassland and Wetland. These habitats serve as a place for your birds to be played, as well as unique actions you take. The original version of the game has 170 bird cards, each with its common and scientific name, habitat(s) it lives, food it requires, number of eggs, type of nest, length of wingspan, point value, trivia about bird and, if any, special powers. The European Expansion includes an additional 81 bird cards. The Oceania Expansion has 95 bird cards. And finally, the Asia Expansion has 90 bird cards. Each expansion offers additional enhancements to the game. (note: The electronic version currently has only the European version available to add.)

On each turn, you will take 1 of 4 actions:

  • Play a bird from your hand on one of the three habitats, paying the required food and egg fees
  • Gain food via a birdfeeder dice tower and activate forest bird powers
  • Lay eggs using marbled egg miniatures in several colors and activate grassland bird powers
  • Draw bird cards from hundreds of unique bird cards and activate wetland bird powers

Each of the four rounds will have a bonus card. Each person will collect 1 or more end of game bonus cards. The more you play the more you can test your strategies, or just play and have fun!

The game can be played with 1-5 players, both in a fun easy manner or in a more competitive manner.

Joleen was the first to learn the game in early 2020. But it was in 2022 that a group of our SIB members began gathering monthly for a friendly game, with snacks and good conversation. Before I left for summer in Maine, I purchased the iOS version for my iPhone and iPad. While in Maine, I have played the board game a few times with my wife Flo, my sister and our nieces. As the summer got busy and family started return to homes, we began playing the on-line version. Like with the board game, you can play by yourself or up to five others. In fact, you can play against the AI Computer, people on-line or with friends and family. Each person must own the software and have a userid.

Playing Wingspan: Nancy Brown, Flo Foley, Eileen Mercer, Joleen Ardaiolo, Melanie Jerome & Judy Morr

In the past couple weeks, I’ve been playing one or more games every day. Sometimes against two computers; with Flo; with Joleen & Melanie; and even now against other on-line competitors. We normally play the version that allows up to 72 hours to take a turn, that way you can play when you have free time.

I’ve really enjoyed playing Wingspan on-line as it keeps me connected with family and with my birding friends while I’m away for the summer! The physical board game can be bought at your favorite game retailers, both on-line or in stores. The full-AI version of Wingspan is available from MonsterCouch (SteamSwitchXboxiOS, and Android). 

Watch the trailer below for a preview about the game.

If you are interested to join us in either the in-person or virtual game playing of Wingspan, make a comment on this blog or send us an email.

Article submitted by Nancy Brown
Photos from Stonemaier Games (https://store.stonemaiergames.com/products/wingspan)