Get muddy with us as we volunteer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ Oyster Recycling and Enhancement program (SCDNR SCORE) to restore oyster reefs along the Beaufort River!
What to expect
While reef builds are a blast, they are labor intensive! Expect to get muddy and wet, be in the sun, and get some exercise. Volunteers should be capable of and enjoy working in soft pluff mud while lifting and passing up to 40-pound bags of oyster shell and wire cages.
We will meet at the Parris Island Boat Ramp (off-base) located at 21 Marina Blvd to sign volunteer waivers, meet SCDNR’s oyster restoration crew, learn about the importance of oyster reefs to our coastal environment, and hear the game plan for the day. Following the briefing, we will load the material onto the boats and head out to the site for the restoration.
What to wear/bring
- Closed-toe shoes. Rainboots/ muck boots are recommended. If you do not have boots, old sneakers will work. No sandals!
- Clothes you don’t mind getting muddy or stained.
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Reusable water bottle – there will be a water cooler to refill.
- I recommend leaving a set of clean clothes in your car to change into after the build
Registration required as there is limited space, and we need an accurate headcount for the boats.
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Please note, this is challenging, but rewarding, work. If this is not within your wheelhouse, please check out our other volunteer and event opportunities here!
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Should we need to cancel due to weather, an email will be sent the evening prior to the event. If registration is full, please send me an email at rachelh@scccl.org and I will put you on the waitlist. If you need to back out before the event, please let me know, so I can fill your spot.
Support for this work is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience grant with support from NOAA in which we were awarded with SCDNR and partners $1.2 million for oyster restoration in the Beaufort region. Read more about that award here.