Great Events and Education at the Coast

Teens Dive into Coastal Learning

Thanks to a connection made by Southeast Coastal Ambassador Ann Stewart, the Federation welcomed students and host families from the Cyprus Friendship Program (CFP) for a hands-on coastal experience. CFP organizer Jon Berger—a long-time U.S. foreign service professional and former advisor at Camp Lejeune’s Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) joined the visit and helped link global perspectives to local coastal challenges.

During the program, participants explored the estuary, conducted a marine debris cleanup, and participated in interactive activities that highlighted nature-based solutions—from living shorelines and oyster habitats to Smart Yards practices that reduce stormwater pollution. Longtime member Mary Baggett and other host families teamed up with our staff to make the day welcoming, educational, and action-oriented.

The experience gave these emerging leaders a chance to see how community-driven restoration and practical at-home solutions can protect water quality and build resilience—lessons they’ll carry back to their communities.

Special thanks to Ann Stewart, Jon Berger, Mary Baggett, and all of the CFP students and hosts for making this coastal learning exchange possible.

Engineering Meets Nature: Ardurra Tours Our Livingshoreline

In July, the Federation had the pleasure of hosting a team from Ardurra, a dynamic national firm specializing in engineering and design, particularly in municipal bulkhead and seawall projects. The visit was part of a continuing education initiative that featured a living shoreline tour at Morris Landing Clean Water Preserve. Guided by Coastal Education Coordinator Bonnie Mitchell and Coastal Specialist Georgia Busch, the Ardurra team explored various shoreline phases, engaged in discussions about design and permitting processes, and reviewed the performance results of living shorelines in terms of erosion control, habitat enhancement, and water quality.ant oyster heritage. Light refreshments and beverages will be provided.

Why it matters:

As communities increasingly prioritize resilience, living shorelines emerge as a powerful solution. They work harmoniously with natural processes to dissipate wave energy, stabilize shorelines, and enhance habitats, all while complementing conventional engineering methods.

What’s next:

We’re excited to continue our partnership with Ardurra. Future collaborations will include additional teams visiting active construction sites and working together to expand their portfolio of living shoreline projects.

Save the Coast, Become a Member!

Did you know that almost half of the Coastal Federation’s annual budget comes from gifts from people just like you? Your membership helps support our efforts to protect and restore our invaluable North Carolina coast, and right now is the perfect time to join us! If you sign up to become a member before September 27 (or refer a friend), you’ll be entered into our raffle for a chance to win an amazing weekend getaway.

You could win:

Weekend stay for two with breakfast at the Aloft Wilmington at Coastline Center
$100 gift certificate to PinPoint Restaurant

Refer a Friend!

After you join (or if you’re already a member), use this form to send an e-card to a friend inviting them to join the Federation. For each ecard you send before 5:00 pm EST on Sept. 27, 2025, you’ll get one entry into the raffle. and, Hunter, and their dogs, Lola, a Chihuahua mix, and Cardi, a “Philippine Street dog”. She and Hunter were married on April 19th in Surf City. As an active-duty Marine, Hunter is preparing for a deployment. Outside of work, Britta enjoys running, then, when peace is offered, quiet time at home with her family.

Join Today!

A Night to Remember: Two Fantastic Events

Have you secured your tickets to the coastal event of the year yet? There is still time to save on early bird pricing for the Taste of the Coast Celebration. This year’s event is set to take place at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on the beautiful Morehead City waterfront on September 20.

The celebration will feature great food, drinks, local oysters, live music, and a silent auction! Get your tickets today and use the discount code EARLY by 5:00 pm on August 15 to save 10%.
Earlier in the evening, there will be another special event to honor and recognize our coastal champions during the Federation’s annual Pelican Awards. We hope you’ll make plans to celebrate this year’s recipients. For more information about the event, please visit our website.

Wetlands Need Your Help

Nearly two million acres of wetlands in North Carolina have recently been put at risk, thanks to a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that eliminated federal protections of this critical part of our ecosystem. Wetlands provide habitat for a huge number of species, improve water quality, and protect our communities from flooding and hurricane impacts.

The Coastal Federation is advocating for stronger protections for wetlands right now by:

Submitting comment letters to the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Publishing articles in Coastal Review and sharing content with other news sources,
Raising awareness through public engagement campaigns, and
Encouraging people to speak up by attending public hearings and contacting their representatives.

We urgently need your support for this campaign. Please give today to help protect our wetlands!

Give Today!

Join Us for Conversations and Good Times

We’re getting set for the next Green Drinks speaker series in Morehead City on August 21, and are excited to announce our next speaker will be Keith Rittmaster.

Keith is the Natural Science Curator at the NC Maritime Museum and Director of Bonehenge Whale Center. He has worked as a marine mammal scientist on research projects in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, Cook Inlet, Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico, and the northwest Atlantic Ocean. In 1985, Keith, with colleagues, began a long-term photo-identification study of the bottlenose dolphins near Beaufort, NC, to investigate residency, migration, associations, reproduction, and mortality. Keith also responds to reports of dead, dying, and entangled marine mammals as part of the NC Marine Mammal Stranding Network in the region that is directed by his wife, Vicky Thayer. Both Keith and Vicky are members of the Atlantic Large Whale Disentanglement Network and initiated the NC Monofilament Recovery and Recycling program to address the conservation issue of protected marine wildlife becoming entangled in discarded fishing line/nets. They also study, prepare, and rearticulate cetacean skeletons for research, education, and display.

We hope to see you at the Rooftop Bar Jack’s on the Waterfront, at 5:30 on August 21, to learn more about Keith and his work.

Learn More!