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Volume 21 • Issue 8
Town Council is all in for Camp St. Christopher
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September 19, 2025
An undeveloped area of Seabrook Island. Photo by Theresa Stratford
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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amp St. Christopher has been a staple of the Seabrook Island community since 1938. As a devoted neighbor to Seabrook Island residents, Camp St. Christopher continues to make environmental education and spiritual encounters through nature a top priority. Year-round, over 10,000 campers enjoy learning about the surrounding nature through the Barrier Island Environmental Education Program. Seeing the value of Camp St. Christopher, the Seabrook Island Town Council recently awarded them grant money in support of the program they offer to the community. The first sum of money was $230. This sum will go towards purchasing a rain barrel for educational purposes. Rev. Laura Rezac was on hand to discuss the grant request. She said, “This is for a new program we are beginning at St. Christopher. We have heard time and time again from different local community members and Seabrook Island residents that they have never even been on the property. We have heard from some of them that they didn’t feel welcome. We want to change that. We are neighbors of all Seabrook Island residents, and we want that community sense. We want people to know they are welcome here. We decided to take advantage of the opportunity that we have when people are here on campus during the sustainability workshop to teach about more sustainable practices in their everyday lives. So, for the first workshop on October 7, this grant would cover the cost of a rain barrel. This would be a demonstration tool, and then we would offer it to one of the participants.” Rezac went on to say that they would advertise and welcome residents to foster a better community relationship and educate about sustainable practices. The plan for Camp St. Christopher is to host a different workshop every month, inviting Seabrook Island residents each time. Other workshops are planned for topics like invasive species removal and pollinator gardens, for example. “We’ll need different materials and different items that will support each workshop,” she added, mentioning that they will apply for future grants to support those efforts, as well. Camp St. Christopher was up for another grant with the Town, and this one was for $2,430. Rezac said the (Continued on page 3) purpose of this separate grant was
Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy receives grant money BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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ith build-out on Seabrook Island always looming in the back of residents’ minds, green space has always had the possibility of becoming nonexistent. That’s why, back in 2000, the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association decided to start a 501c3 charitable organization solely dedicated to identifying, for potential acquisition, highly visible properties that preserve substantial green space and wildlife habitat. Properties may be acquired through charitable donations, bargain
sales, or traditional purchase procedures. The Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy is now governed by a board of directors, composed of Seabrook Island property owners who volunteer to serve for a three-year term. Since its incorporation, the Conservancy has acquired, by donation or purchase, an estimated 32+ acres of land. In addition to preserving land on Seabrook, they also promote environmentally friendly practices through speakers, publications, and (Continued on page 5) advocacy.
Mayor suggests collaboration to neighboring developments BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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n an attempt to start some dialogue with three neighboring property owners, Seabrook Island Mayor Bruce Kleinman penned a letter to the owners of record asking for periodic “check-ins.” In the August 26 Seabrook Island Town Council Meeting, Kleinman discussed the gist of his letter and why he felt it necessary to write it. He said he was driven to write the letter due to the upcoming plans to start the Seabrook Island Road drainage project, which
could affect neighboring developments. He also mentioned in the letter that the Town’s long-term planning would be impacted by future developments from neighboring properties. The Seabrook Island Road drainage project would be substantial, and the Town hopes to have permits in place by the end of the year. In the letter, Kleinman suggested that the owners begin seeking permits for encroachment onto Seabrook Island (Continued on page 3)