Organizations – Tidelines

Seabrookers for a Greener Environment

Residents of Seabrook are actively engaged in various initiatives to foster a more sustainable environment, largely supported by the Seabrook Island Property Owners’ Association (SIPOA). Here are a few notable efforts:

Composting

Composting recycles organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, into nutrient-rich soil, reducing landfill waste and promoting a healthier environment. It diverts organic materials from landfills, minimizing overflow and preventing methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas generated when organic waste decomposes anaerobically. SIPOA supports composting by providing a collection site at the trash and recycling center. Residents can bring compostable items to the designated area, where two containers are emptied on Tuesdays and Fridays. The collected materials are transported to the Charleston County compost facility for processing. For more information on SIPOA’s Compost Program, click here.

Starting a Garden

Starting a garden is a great way to promote biodiversity and connect with nature, providing fresh produce while supporting local ecosystems by attracting beneficial insects and wildlife. SIPOA established a community garden in 1996, offering residents a protected space to grow flowers and vegetables. Due to the recent expansion aimed at encouraging greater participation, nearly 100 residents are actively cultivating plants in the garden.

June at the Charleston Museum

There is always something interesting happening at the Charleston Museum! Here is what is planned for June.

Seabrookers Committed to Protecting Our Environment

This article is second in a series showcasing how Seabrookers are actively working to protect and enrich our natural environment.

Bee Cause: Protecting the Bees

Seabrook Island, a certified Audubon Sanctuary, is home to diverse wildlife, including birds, sea turtles, dolphins, and bees. While bees are often considered pests, they play a crucial role in our ecosystem serving as vital pollinators that contribute to the reproduction of many flowering plants. By transferring pollen from one bloom to another, bees enhance biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems, ensuring that plants thrive and provide habitats for numerous other species. As key players in agriculture, their decline poses significant risks not only to food security but also to the overall balance of our natural environment, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these essential pollinators.

We are fortunate to have an apiary on our island with a dozen managed colonies, maintained by three beekeepers: Karen Babb, Jean Phillips, and Valerie Doane. Our island’s apiary, Bee Cause, features Italian honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica), which are known for their gentleness and excellent honey production.

Benefit Concert with Bill Murray and Jan Vogler

A Special Benefit Concert at Middleton Place
June 1, 2026
7:30-10:00 pm

Enjoy a one-night-only evening with New Worlds, featuring Bill Murray, Jan Vogler, and friends, presented beneath a tent under the Oaks at Middleton Place.

Blending classical music, literature, and storytelling, New Worlds is a dynamic, engaging performance that is both thoughtful and deeply moving. This Charleston premiere brings together acclaimed actor and writer Bill Murray and renowned cellist Jan Vogler in a program that has been performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Set within an intimate, open-air environment, this rare appearance offers a unique opportunity to experience world-class artists in a unique setting.

This special evening is a benefit concert supporting the urgent stabilization and restoration of the historic Chapel and Spring House at Middleton Place.

Click here to learn more about the program and to purchase tickets.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: Middleton Place)

Upcoming Events at Brookgreen Gardens

Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith
May 27-August 22, 2026

Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith showcases vibrant glass sculptures that capture nature’s beauty. The pieces shine by day with intricate colors and details, and on select summer evenings are illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere.

Daytime admission is included with the general admission ticket to the Gardens, while evening visits require a separate event ticket to Summer Light: Art by Night, Wednesday and Saturday evenings, May 27 – August 22.

Click here for more information.

Society of Animal Artists Exhibition:
May 9-July 26, 2026

Society of Animal Artists Exhibition brings together work focused on wildlife and close observation of the natural world, showing how Anna Hyatt Huntington’s influence shaped the directions of contemporary animal art.

This juried exhibition, featuring many of today’s leading sculptors and painters, pays tribute to her remarkable legacy and celebrates the 150th anniversary of her birth.

Click here for more information.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, and is open to the public daily.

-Submitted by Brookgreen Gardens

(Image credit: Brookgreen Gardens)

Johns Island Library May Happenings

John’s Island Library, located at 3531 Maybank Highway, is a branch of Charleston County Public Library (CCPL). The library not only contains books, newspapers, music, and movies, but it also has a meeting room that you can reserve, computers you can use, and a plethora of activities for young and old.

Highlights of May events are:

Stop Motion Animation Class for Teens – May 4
Photo Editing Basics for All Ages – May 6
Paint a Flowerpot for Children – May 8
Pokemon Trading Day – May 9
Lego Club for Tweens – May 16
Sea Islands Book Club for Adults- May 19
Read With a Therapy Dog – May 30
Storytime for Children – various dates

These are just a few of the exciting classes that are being offered. Click here to see other available events.

–Tidelines Editors

(Image credit: ccpl.org)

May at the Charleston Museum

There is always something interesting happening at the Charleston Museum! Here is what they have planned for May.

SIAG Memorial Day Arts and Crafts Event May 23

The Seabrook Island Artist Guild (SIAG) is proud to present its Memorial Day Weekend Art and Craft Show—an exceptional opportunity to explore and experience the creativity of talented local artists and craftsmen.

Join us on Saturday, May 23, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm for a day of art, inspiration, and community. In the event of inclement weather, the show will be held on Sunday, May 24, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. A weather decision will be made one to two days before the event.

This year’s event will be held on the green in front of the Seabrook Island Real Estate Company, located at 1002 Landfall Way, just outside the gate. This convenient and welcoming location makes it easy for our neighbors from Kiawah Island and Johns Island to join us for this special event.

Tour de Green Space

This past Sunday, on a beautiful afternoon, the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy (SIGSC), in partnership with SIPOA, organized an enjoyable bike ride and Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) tour highlighting several of our preserved green spaces. The tour kicked off with a detailed map of the 8-mile bike route. The SIPOA Safety and Security Committee generously provided bells for the bicyclists to enhance their safety and enjoyment.

Participants explored 11 designated sites, each marked by green and white flags that highlighted the extent of conservation efforts on Seabrook Island. At every stop, dedicated volunteers provided insightful overviews of these preserved areas. Attendees collected stickers at each location to track their progress throughout the tour. Continue to see pictures of the event.

Tour de Green Space Sunday, April 26

The Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy (SIGSC), in partnership with SIPOA, invites you to a delightful bike ride and LSV (Low-Speed Vehicle) tour this Sunday, April 26, from 2:00-5:00 pm. Check-in and a bike safety discussion will begin at 1:30 pm at the Lake House. We hope you can join us in this fun challenge to discover as many conservation sites as you can.

The tour will conclude at the Lake House for refreshments and exciting prizes!

Please invite your friends and family for what promises to be a joyful Sunday afternoon filled with exploration and camaraderie. We look forward to sharing this wonderful experience with you!

To learn more about Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy and how you can help, please visit our website at www.sigsc.net.

-Submitted by: Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy

Swim Across America on Kiawah June 6

Hundreds of swimmers and volunteers are getting ready to dive in and make waves to fight cancer at the 10th Annual Swim Across America (SAA) – Charleston-Kiawah open water swim on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Night Heron Park, on Kiawah Island. The event raises crucial funds for cancer research at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Swimmers of all ages and skill levels are invited to take part in the annual Swim Across America – Charleston-Kiawah open water swim. Participants can swim a 1/2-mile or 1.5-mile open water swim, or participate in a same-day pool swim. For those not able to be there in-person, a SAA My Way virtual option is available.

For registration and volunteer opportunities (volunteer on the land or water), or to support the swim with a tax-deductible donation, click here.

Kirk Deeter Book Presentation and Signing April 18

Kirk Deeter, author of The Fisheable Feast, will talk Saturday April 18 in the Pavilion at Johns Island Presbyterian Church from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Whether you are a world-traveling angler or someone dreaming of taking a first trip, you will appreciate the complete joy of fly fishing portrayed in this book. Deeter is the editor-in-chief of Trout magazine and the former editor-at-large for Field & Stream. He has written stories on fishing from all fifty states and twenty-eight other countries around the world (and counting).

He will sign books following the presentation.