Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb2016

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roasts. “The idea for this collection started from a walk on
Morris Island on a hot summer day. I find so much beauty
in the colors, textures and shapes of shells.”
SEWE wouldn’t be complete without a man who has
made a budding career out of helping others discover
the limitless joy that our local waterways and uncharted
paths provide. Chris Crolley, of Coastal Expeditions, has
been hailed by Garden & Gun as one of the state’s most
knowledgeable naturalists. With a curious nature and an
unrelenting desire to learn more about our ever-changing
ecosystem, Crolley and his team of guides make the out-
doors accessible to all. Built on adventure and fueled by
fun, Coastal Expeditions takes exploration to another tier.
“By February, our guides are ready for the temperatures
to warm so that the spring season can begin,” said Kari
Crolley, Chris’ wife, who also happens to be a skilled plant
pathologist and horticulturist. “While the SEWE week-
end always seems to be the coldest weekend of the year, it
signals to everyone that it won’t be long before they are out
on the creeks leading kayak tours every day.”
At SEWE, Coastal Expeditions plans to display a whole
collection of various finds that only the Lowcountry can
provide. In their interactive tent, participants can get up-
close-and-personal with discoveries that one would find on
display in a natural history museum.
“As naturalists, we enjoy being able to interact with
guests at SEWE, so we fill our tent with Lowcountry trea-
sures like skulls, shark teeth and fossils for people to pick
up and investigate,” said Crolley. “Our guides are ready
to talk one-on-one about the expeditions that we lead to
help them plan an outing with us or on their own. It’s an
interactive tent that just gets better every year!”
During SEWE, Coastal Expeditions will have sched-
uled excursions to Bulls Island, a local landmark known
for its hauntingly beautiful trees, unique variations of
shells and 293 species of birds.
“It’s a gratifying experience to be the person to take a
group down a saltwater creek for the first time and watch
their emotions as nature unfolds in front of them,” said
Crolley. “We simply get them to the right place, while the
fields of spartina, Spanish moss, overhanging oaks, bottle-
nose dolphins, black skimmers and the sun setting over the
marsh do the real work.”
Get wild this winter. With fine art, dog retrieving com-
petitions at Brittlebank Park, chef demos at Marion Square
and live animal presentations by famed conservationist
Jack Hanna, this is one event you’re not going to want to
let slip away. SEWE is scheduled for Feb. 12, 13 and 14.
Tickets are available online at .