Untamed Lowcountry: An itinerary for wild fun this summer

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Boneyard Beach on Capers Island shows the natural erosion of barrier islands.

As the pontoon boat passed the last wake marker and turned into the wind towards Capers Island, guide Robert Hopkins, with Barrier Island Eco Tours, held the enrapt audience of 44 in the palm of his hand tighter than the crusher claw of a stone crab, which incidentally, can bear down with a force of over 700 pounds. I know that, because Hopkins pulled one out of a crab trap 15 minutes later, much to the delight (translation: screaming) of the kids onboard. He pointed out oyster catchers in the marshes, nesting pelicans, egrets and great white … wait for it … herons. But the adventure had just begun. Pods of dolphins looped in and out of the water, waving us goodbye.

A nature guide holds a jellyfish during an eco tour to Capers Island.

Once on Capers, a 12-minute trek to the boneyard beach left everything to the imagination as sun-bleached trees formed haunting silhouettes on the otherwise desolate sand. Tiny waves fiercely lapped the shore. You were immediately transformed to a place where only wild things can live, because that's exactly where they do. An adventure just 45 minutes door-to-door from the Isle of Palms.

Call it a staycation or just checking out your own backyard, exploring barrier islands and learning about this place we are lucky to call home is a great way to keep your kids from muttering those dreaded words "I’m bored" this summer. Because once you get them interested in all that the Lowcountry has to offer, who knows, they might see it as a gateway to even more homegrown adventures.

Birds of Prey at The Avian Conservation Center

The Center for Birds for Prey in Awendaw features 14 different owl species.

thecenterforbirdsofprey.org

10:30 a.m. Flight Demonstration

1 p.m. Tour of the Owl Wood

2 p.m. Owls in Flight Demonstration

*Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

"People who come here are constantly amazed by how many wild birds they see," said Stephen Schabel, VP Director for The Avian Conservation Center, located in Awendaw. But now he's not just talking about the raptors they house and train but those that fly freely over the land and the trees around them. "We live in a destination for eco-tourists. There are tens of thousands of protected acres between the national wildlife refuge, forest, and private conservation easements on properties all around us. What could be better than getting families out to explore the very places that others travel from around the world to see."

Kids get to see large birds up close at the Birds of Prey at The Avian Conservation Center in Awendaw.

The center provides flight demonstrations where you can see birds of prey and owls up close. The center also features 14 different owl species - from tiny to some of the largest in the world. "All our programs focus on conservation issues birds face as well as natural history and what we do to encourage healthy and wildlife populations."

But education can easily start at home. "The great thing about birds is that they are all around us," explained Schabel. "I tell kids to start in their own backyard and learn about what they see daily. Which birds eat berries, which nest where? Check out the plants you need in your garden to feed plant-eating birds or smaller mammals like mice and voles that larger birds eat."

A trip to the center can spark all kinds of conversations and new activities for your children.

Coastal Expeditions

coastalexpeditions.com

Bulls Island Beach Drop

Boneyard Beach Sunrise Expeditions

Bulls Island Ferry

Discover shells and other marine life along the beach on Capers Island.

Katie Morrison is the Director of Education at Coastal Expeditions, and she admitted that she grew up on Folly Beach not knowing much about Bulls Island. She explained that the island is part of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, an area of over 67,000 acres of protected classified wilderness. "Bulls Island gives the public much-needed access to come experience and learn why these places are so important and what it does for our eco-systems."

Like Schabel, Morrison said the tours attract groups from all over who are extremely into nature. "If you are a birder, we have 298 species on the island." She lists migratory birds like red knots, piping plover and painted buntings, and raptors such as American kestrels, osprey, and bald eagles. Bulls Island also has the largest dense population of alligators north of the Everglades, as well as other animals such as bobcats, coyotes, raccoons and otters.

She stressed that the guides are there not only to enhance the learning experience, but to keep all trekkers safe. "We want you to get out in nature and also learn how to act in it and respond to animals that are near you," Morrison said.

Coastal Expeditions takes kids to Bulls Island to explore nature during its summer camps.

Using storytelling to convey facts, and games and activities to engage kids, the guides encourage curiosity, and you can too. Knowledge is power and armed with some exciting facts from a day trip to Bulls Island, there's nothing to stop you from turning an ordinary beach day into an adventure for your children.

During the summer, Coastal Expeditions also hosts camps at Shem Creek to teach kids about tides and the features of the coastline. The rest of the year, they also offer half-day and full-day adventures to Bulls Island on school holidays.

Barrier Island Eco Tours

nature-tours.com

Capers Island Wildlife Exploration

Blue Crabbing

Charleston Sunset Dolphin Tour

Private family fun day charter also available

While Bulls is a national refuge, Capers has been protected by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources since 1975. Robert Hopkins, a long-time teacher and naturalist, explained that the island is "the southern bookend of 60 miles of protected coastline, making it the ultimate eco-tour destination."

Kids explore tide pools during a nature outing.

He calls the exploration trips a "recreationally educational wandering through the salt marsh looking at critters and creatures and barrier islands and their features." With an approach to engage his guests in the magic of nature versus just observing it, his objective is to inspire them to take that experience back home with them.

"For elementary and middle school aged kids, the idea of nature up close, even holding it, is appealing and exciting," said Hopkins.

Also worth noting, Capers Island does allow overnight camping but Bulls Island does not.

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