GUIDEPOSTS
Our High School LEAP Interns Have Jumped Into Action This Summer!
by Morgan Korecki
Coastal Expeditions Outdoor School Educator
July 14, 2025
The sun is shining, the summer is flying, and we are majorly stoked to have our newest cohort of high school interns as part of the Coastal Expeditions team this summer through our LEAP internship program!
Our Lowcountry Environmental Appreciation Program (also known as LEAP) immerses high school students in the Lowcountry ecosystems they call home and works to encourage a love for the world around us—while also introducing local high schoolers to various career opportunities in biology, conservation, and education.
Meet our high school interns! From left to right: Tahj, Giovanni, Lilly, and Michelle
So far this summer, our 2025 high school intern cohort has had the opportunity to work alongside experienced Coastal Expeditions naturalists and captains to learn the ins and outs of what a career in environmental education looks like—and the summer is just getting started!
From assisting with kids’ camps to adventuring out on kayaking expeditions and boating around the Lowcountry to wild places such as Morris Island and Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, our cohort has been gaining valuable experience and knowledge while also having fun along the way!
“My favorite program to shadow so far has been summer camp. I love getting to know the kids, swimming and playing in the water- and being a part of all the fun!”
-2025 Intern Lilly, a rising senior at Goose Creek High School
Becoming comfortable and confident on the water is a huge facet of this program – interns participate in an “Intro to Kayaking” day to become acquainted with kayaking and water sport safety!
Along with these on-site shadowing and learning experiences, our interns have also spent time with community partners such as Charleston Waterkeeper, the South Carolina Aquarium, and the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, learning about the work they do in the community. From going behind the scenes to learn about animal husbandry with SCA to posting up with Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network to educate visitors about dolphin behavior on Kiawah Island, our interns have stayed busy learning in the summer sun.
We’re looking forward to the rest of the summer with our interns as they continue to grow their knowledge base, build confidence on the water, and make lasting connections in the environmental conservation community. If you have the opportunity to meet them on a kayak tour or boat excursion, say hello and ask them how their summer is going!
Interns got the chance to go “behind-the-scenes” at the South Carolina Aquarium to learn about animal husbandry and feeding styles for the 5,000+ animals that call the aquarium home, including Caretta the Loggerhead sea turtle!
This summer internship is funded through the Coastal Expeditions Foundation. A special thank you to our LEAP program partner Freeman Trust and to our environmental community partners for helping us create an unforgettable summer experience!
