Sea Turtle Camp Team

Kasey grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, where living near the Jersey Shore meant year-round beach trips were practically a way of life (yes, even when the boardwalk was closed and the seagulls ruled the town). Spending so much time by the water sparked a deep love for marine life and coastal ecosystems, and it quickly became clear she was destined to turn that passion into a lifelong career.

In 2008, Kasey traded in snowy winters for salty breezes and headed south to North Carolina, enrolling at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) to study Marine Biology. While earning her degree, she jumped headfirst into hands-on experience, volunteering and interning at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. After graduation, she continued to expand her skills as an environmental educator through an internship with the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Service and Aquarium, where her passion for teaching others about the natural world truly took off. Always hungry to learn more (and never one to shy away from a good challenge), Kasey returned to UNCW to earn a Master’s in Environmental Science and Coastal Management.

Since then, her wide-ranging experiences across marine and environmental science fields have only strengthened her commitment to connecting people with the world around them. In 2019, she stepped into her current role, where she gets to do what she loves most—sharing the wonders of the ocean with new audiences every day.

When she’s not inspiring others to care about the coast, you can usually find Kasey at the beach with a good book, catching up with family and friends, or adventuring around Wilmington with her husband. She’s thrilled to have made her way back to the North Carolina coast—and she’s not shy about admitting she’s pretty happy to swap those frigid New Jersey winters for Wilmington’s much gentler version of “cold.”

Bailey grew up year-round on Fire Island, New York. She spent her entire childhood on the sands of the tiny barrier island, always doing her part educating visitors, local communities, and other parties about her hometowns’ wildlife, history, and environmental issues. She has deep love and respect for the ocean and all it offers. Her goal is to help others feel the same by educating them about the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems.

In 2016, Bailey ventured to St. Augustine, Florida, to receive her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a minor in Spanish at Flagler College. She was an active member of the college’s sustainability club and always volunteered within the community. During her final semester, Bailey interned at Anastasia State Park and gained abundant experience working with Florida’s wildlife, especially with sea turtles! After graduating in 2020, she completed a 50-week AmeriCorps service term through Conservation Legacy, serving as the Community Volunteer Ambassador for Fire Island National Seashore. During this time, her interest in conservation, community outreach, and environmental education grew stronger. She is currently enhancing her outdoor teaching skills and science/nature content knowledge through the North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate program.

Bailey spends her free time surfing, painting, hiking, cooking, practicing yoga, and exploring nature. She loves to travel and encourages individuals to travel sustainably and support local communities!

Jeb was raised on a farm in rural Virginia, where he grew up racing motocross and spending his childhood outdoors. In high school, he played football and lacrosse, but spent most of his time as a pole vaulter for the track team. He would spend his summers in Virginia Beach with his family, where he learned how to surf at 8 years old.

Jeb moved to Wilmington in 2018, where he received a bachelor’s in environmental science and started teaching surf lessons on Wrightsville Beach. During his summers in school, he would spend every day in the water, either surfing or teaching others how to surf. Surfing has allowed Jeb to travel to some amazing destinations, with surf trips in Florida, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Canary Islands, and even Iceland. He now spends his free time either surfing, riding dirt bikes, or with his puppy named Boots.

Grant is a middle school Science and English teacher from Frederick, Maryland. Before stepping into the classroom, he gained experience as a Starbucks barista, RV salesman, and financial advisor. Though he grew up surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, his passion has always been for the ocean and marine ecosystems.

He discovered scuba diving at 16 and has since explored some of the Caribbean’s top dive sites, including those in Jamaica, Curaçao, the Bahamas, Antigua, and Barbados.

Outside of work, Grant loves discovering new coffee shops and restaurants, attending music festivals, and brainstorming ways to make beach life a full-time reality.

Malcolm hails from Jacksonville, NC, and lives for all things ocean. From dazzling coral reefs to quirky sea creatures, if it swims, he’s into it. At home, he cares for an impressive 260-gallon saltwater tank—basically his personal slice of the sea. Malcolm dreams of becoming a marine biologist and has a gift for making marine life come alive for kids through fun facts, big laughs, and unforgettable adventures. Whether he’s leading beach games or dropping cool ocean knowledge, Malcolm’s here to make this summer camp the splashiest one yet!

Makena is a passionate photographer with a deep love for the beach and a lifelong connection to the ocean. Growing up near the coast, Makena developed an early appreciation for the natural beauty of the shoreline, which has become the heart of their creative work. Specializing in capturing the energy and movement of the surf, Makena combines a keen eye for detail with a laid-back, yet professional approach. Whether it’s the perfect wave, the thrill of a surfer catching air, or the golden hues of a beach sunset, Makena strives to tell a story through every shot, immersing themselves in the surf culture while sharing its essence with others. Excited to bring their skills to the summer surf camp, Makena is eager to document the unforgettable moments of adventure, camaraderie, and nature that define life by the sea

Daisy is an adventurous Florida native with a passion for the ocean, outdoor fun, and working with kids. She’s spent the last few years guiding snorkel tours in Hawaii, lifeguarding, and traveling whenever she gets the chance. Daisy brings high energy, a big smile, and a love for creating meaningful memories to everything she does.

Born in North Carolina, Andrew has spent the last decade working as a chef in renowned restaurants around the world, from New York to Paris to Bangkok and many stops in between.  As a child, Andrew spent his summers visiting his grandparents in Sneads Ferry, where his grandmother first taught him how to cook and instilled in him his love for cooking and his appreciation of the bounty of North Carolina’s oceans and seasonal produce. Throughout his travels and experiences, his love for the North Carolina coast endured.  Inspired by a desire to share his passion and appreciation, Andrew always strives to work in tandem with the many farmers and fisherman that call North Carolina home.  He believes in the importance of sustainability especially as it relates to food and coastal regions, and that belief can be found in how he cooks and sources his food.  In his free time, Andrew loves spending time on the beach, reading, and sharing a good meal with loved ones.

Cassidy Stadtfeld is from Massachusetts, a recent graduate from the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Cassidy was a double major in Environmental Conservation/Sustainability, along with Marine Estuarine, Freshwater, Biology, and a minor in Business Administration. Her love for the marine environment began as a child, but further developed after taking a marine mammals course on the island of Appledore. She loves traveling to different places in or outside the country. Her most recent adventure took her to Iceland where she gained a deeper understanding of Icelandic culture in relation to the marine environment.

Cassidy has worked in multiple labs at UNH studying the big and small wonders of the ocean. She has conducted research pertaining to plankton, fish, and marine mammals. In her free time when she is not in the lab or conducting a seal survey, she enjoys scuba diving, hiking, skiing, or lounging in a hammock reading a book. Cassidy is very excited to share her passion for marine life with campers and faculty, exploring the hidden world that lies beneath!

Drake V.B. is from Idaho living in many locations in his adolescence years. His love for animals/nature started at a young age. He knew he wanted to teach people about ecology and all that this planet has to offer. He worked as a zoo teen in Boise which drove him to get a Bachelors at the University of Idaho in Ecology/Conservation Biology with an emphasis in aquatics. He later got an education degree from Lewis-Clark State College as well to become an outstanding teacher! This area of study has brought him to working as a marine instructor in South Carolina and the Florida Keys as well. His love for marine life blossomed over his passion for stingrays and the overlooked fish species! In his personal time, Drake loves to explore national/state parks (especially the everglades), surf, create art, and sing/play his instruments! Drake is extremely excited to educate the next generation of marine biologists and hopes they are excited too!

Cora Skaggs is from Kansas City, Missouri, and is currently studying Marine Science with a minor in Spanish at Boston University. Her passion for the ocean began during an incredible summer camp in Jamaica, where she got her Open Water Diving Certification and discovered her love for marine ecosystems. Recently, she spent a semester studying abroad in the Galápagos Islands, gaining hands-on experience assisting with research projects across the islands. While living here for several months, she was able to learn to surf, participate in numerous dives, and discovered her love for marine conservation- specifically for cartilaginous fishes. Cora enjoys anything that relates to the outdoors such as snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, and so much more. She’s excited to inspire campers to love and protect the marine world, and help them uncover a passion for conservation through hands-on activities and fun adventures!

Amanda is from Westchester, NY, where her love for animals and the ocean grew early on. She graduated as a marine science major at the University of Delaware, where she conducted an undergraduate thesis using Baited Remote Underwater Video Surveillance to study marine ecosystems in the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.

At UD, Amanda served as treasurer of Club SCUBA. She also studied abroad in New Zealand and Tanzania, focusing on coastal geology and wildlife photography as a tool for social change.

Her passion for education flourished during an internship with Delaware Sea Grant, where she led K-12 and teacher workshops, presented marine science research, and created microplastic-focused presentations. Amanda is excited to share her passion for the ocean with campers, hoping to inspire them just as she was inspired as a camper herself.

Sophie just graduated from the university of New Hampshire majoring in environmental science with a minor in marine biology. She grew up in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay where her love for the outdoors began, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding and most recently getting her advanced scuba certification. She loves all things outdoors as well as traveling, photography and anything crafty or art related.
Sophie studied abroad in New Zealand where she learned about ecology and environmental perspectives, spending time in a Marae and learning the environmental perspective of Te Ao Māuri. There she also worked on a research project studying Hochstetter frogs. Her work continued with oysters as an oyster restoration intern on the Chesapeake and then at UNH where she worked in a lab on campus studying microbe communities.

She is excited to share her love for the environment and the water with campers and help to learn all we can about our amazing ecosystems!

Kayla is originally from Michigan, spent a few years living in Florida, but now lives in Tennessee. She grew up on a farm and learned the value of hands-on work from a young age. She has always had a passion for animals, specifically marine life, and teaching. She initially attended Florida Southern College for Marine Biology but has since grown into a passion for education. Kayla will soon graduate from Western Governors University with a Bachelors in Secondary Education in Biology. Her love for marine life was fueled from a young age, as a previous Sea Turtle Camp camper, Kayla is looking forward to finally getting the chance to be on the other side and spend the summer creating more everlasting memories she made as a camper herself! Kayla also got the opportunity to attend a SCUBA camp in the British Virgin Islands, where she spent two weeks diving multiple times a day practicing underwater observations and learning the beginnings of what marine research can look like. At home, Kayla enjoys hiking with her dogs and showing horses. Kayla is excited to combine her two passions this summer and create everlasting memories through hands on educational experiences.

Brett has lived in Maryland, Texas, and Florida, but growing up near the coast fostered a deep love for the ocean from an early age. He now resides in Clermont, Florida, and is pursuing his studies at the University of Tampa.

His passion for SCUBA diving and marine sciences began at a summer camp in the Florida Keys, where he became captivated by the ocean and its wonders. This enthusiasm led him to major in Marine Science–Biology with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Tampa. He is an active member of the university’s SCUBA and Snorkel Club, as well as TriBeta, the biological honor society. Additionally, Brett volunteers as a diver at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where he has gained invaluable hands-on experience.

In his free time, Brett enjoys spending time at the beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, playing games, and exploring the outdoors. He also loves traveling the world and experiencing new things.

Aidan grew up in Hanover, New Hampshire, where his love for the outdoors was shaped by countless hikes through the White Mountains. Now a senior at the University of Vermont, he’s studying Wildlife and Fisheries Biology while also competing on the track and field team as a javelin thrower.

His passion for research and fieldwork deepened through study abroad experiences in Kenya and the Galápagos Islands, fueling his love for both marine and terrestrial sciences—topics he’s always eager to discuss with anyone willing to listen. An avid scuba diver, Aidan thrives in and around the water.

When he’s not studying or exploring the natural world, you’ll find him dancing, playing bass guitar, cooking, baking, diving into photography, or enjoying just about any sport. He’s beyond excited to be part of Sea Turtle Camp and can’t wait to jump in the water with all the campers!

Born in Atlanta, GA, Peter grew up going to the Georgia Aquarium where he first discovered his love for the ocean. Then, his family moved to the Chicago area where he worked at a wildlife center furthering his love for wildlife. For college he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend Eckerd College and earned a degree in wildlife biology with a minor in environmental studies.

After college, Peter worked several biological research jobs in a variety of different places. Many of his jobs landed him in South Florida working in the Everglades with species such as sea turtles, invasive Burmese pythons, alligators, crocodiles, etc.

Most recently, he has been working as a guide leading tours in the Everglades as well as shark snorkeling tours in South Florida. He is still involved with the invasive Burmese python management program in the Everglades.

When he isn’t working, Peter loves to surf, mountain bike, camp, kayak, travel and hike. He is super excited to be a part of Sea Turtle Camp this summer and looks forward to sharing his experiences and passion for wildlife and ocean exploration, as well as the outdoors and surfing!

Jacqueline was born and raised in San Diego, California, where she developed a deep appreciation for marine life and the ocean. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from UCLA in 2024, where she discovered her passion for sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship. While at UCLA, she joined a hiking club and eventually started organizing and leading hikes in the Los Angeles area to make outdoor adventures more accessible for college students and to encourage others to explore nature.

A few summers ago, Jacqueline discovered her love for surfing, which has quickly become her favorite hobby. She loves being in the water and soaking in San Diego’s beautiful beaches. She also enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking with friends—basically anything that gets her outdoors. Some of her favorite memories from last year include camping trips to three national parks, with Sequoia National Park being her favorite. Jacqueline is so excited to join the Sea Turtle Camp team this summer and share her passion for the ocean with others.

August is a second-year Mechanical Engineering student with a passion for adventure and the ocean. When he’s not hitting the books, he’s chasing waves—taking surf trips whenever he gets the chance. As a trip leader for UCSB’s Excursion Club, he’s all about sharing his love for the outdoors, whether it’s hiking, camping, or paddling out at sunrise. Off the water, August keeps the stoke alive by skateboarding and playing guitar in a band. With his energy, leadership, and love for surf culture, he’s always ready to inspire the next generation of surfers, and can’t wait to get the stoke pumping at camp this summer!

Ryan’s passion for the ocean and conservation began at an early age. His family enjoyed traveling to many of the country’s national parks and protected lands. Growing up in California, Ryan was never too far from the outdoors. With the Sierra Nevadas to the East and the Pacific Ocean to his West, he was always surrounded by nature. While studying Marine Biology and Kinesiology at Humboldt State University, Ryan found a new passion, swimming with the local flora and fauna of the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the Pacific. When he isn’t swimming with fish or stepping from rock to rock in the intertidal, Ryan enjoys hiking, biking, and adventuring in the great outdoors. This is Ryan’s SEVENTH summer at STC and he can’t wait to get back into the swing of things. There is so much to see and experience when it comes to the ocean, it is so vast and unexplored… what wonders lie beneath those crashing waves? He hopes you will come join him and find out. Let’s blow some bubbles!

Emmeline was born and raised in Ontario, Canada, where her passion for marine life and the ocean grew despite the cold winters. From a young age, she dedicated herself to conservation efforts, attending marine biology summer camps and working at her local aquarium.

In 2022, Emmeline moved to Honduras, where she pursued her Divemaster certification and collaborated with various organizations to establish coral nurseries, treat coral disease, and lead dive excursions. During her time in Honduras, she discovered her deep love for marine education and outreach, which sparked her journey toward becoming a marine educator. Emmeline’s journey continued in Dominica, where she worked alongside local government agencies to survey marine protected areas, collaborate with fisheries and wildlife departments, and serve as a reef ecology and scientific dive leader for students.

Since then, Emmeline has traveled the world, partnering with organizations to promote marine science and conservation, leading summer programs for students, and earning multiple boating and medical certifications. She is passionate about sharing her love for the ocean and its inhabitants with others. Emmeline is thrilled to be a part of the Sea Turtle Camp team and looks forward to inspiring and educating her students this summer!