One of LCI's longtime partners, Friends of the Rivers, has launched a new website to act as a clearinghouse for all things environmental in the South Carolina Lowcountry.  The website provides links to news articles regarding the environment, education programs, information about our local ecology, and so much more.  Called River Smart, the purpose of the site is to promote education, awareness and stewardship in collaboration with individuals, organizations, grassroots groups, land trusts, scientists, governments and non-governmental organizations.

We hope that you will take a moment to visit the site and check out the wealth of information it provides!  It is a great resource for longtime residents of the area as well as newcomers, visitors, and local leaders.

Some of you may have already seen LCI's announcement that we recently received a $2,000 grant through DHEC's "Champions of the Environment" program. The project funded is a joint venture between LCI and Whale Branch Middle School, and involves enhancing the habitat on the school's campus to attract native birds. We have already built and installed 24 nesting boxes with the students that they will observe this coming spring to track the breeding success of the inhabitants, and later this month we will install bird feeders to provide a supplemental food source for resident and migratory bird populations. In the spring, we will plant native plants that will provide food sources (berries and other fruits), nesting material, attract insects that adults can feed their young during the breeding season, and cover/protection for the birds. Not only will this project create an outdoor classroom for the kids to learn to observe and study birds, but it will be used as part of the STEM curriculum to improve their math and science skills.

Check out the commercial DHEC produced about our project that features WBMS students (it will air on local channels in Columbia and Charleston in the coming months) by clicking the link below.  (You may be prompted to download a video player).

 Our commercial!

LCI's very own Tony Mills is hosting a new outdoors show that will air on Beaufort County TV. The show, called Coastal Kingdom, premiers Monday 11/23 at 3:30. Click here to find out when you can watch! See Beaufort County Council's press release for the show below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            Nov. 19, 2009

Contact: Suzanne Larson, PIO 470-2810

              Tony Mills, The Lowcountry Institute (843) 987-2073

COUNTY LAUNCHES NEW TV SHOW ON LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Public Screening Monday, Nov. 23, Council Chambers 3:30 p.m.

Beaufort County has scheduled a public screening of the premier episode of Coastal Kingdom, a new television show on The County Channel featuring the local environment.

The screening and simultaneous broadcast is scheduled Monday at 3:30 p.m. in council chambers located inside the County administration building, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort.

County Administrator Gary Kubic said the first episode features reptiles and amphibians. "Snakes, turtles, lizards, alligators, frogs, toads and salamanders may not be everyone's favorite subject, but this program includes fascinating information and great video. We are proud of the work our broadcasters have done and proud of the partnership with the Lowcountry Institute of Spring Island. I invite all citizens to come join us as we learn together about the remarkable diversity of living creatures we have here."

The series is hosted by author and naturalist Tony Mills, of the Lowcountry Institute. "The thing that is so exciting and different about the series is that it is local. We hope to show people some of the animals we have here in our own backyards. There is much concern today about the protection of our ecosystems, our habitat and our waterways. If our wildlife is healthy, our environment in general is healthy. We hope to help people learn more about it."

The first episode in the series of six is scheduled to repeat Friday and Sunday (Nov. 27 and 29) at 8 p.m.  The second episode will feature local mammals. Dates and times of that broadcast will be announced.

The County Channel is a service of Beaufort County government. It is streamed on the home page of the County website, www.bcgov.net and broadcast on Charter Cable channel 20, Comcast Cable channel 2, Hargray Cable channel 252, Time Warner Cable Hilton Head Island channel 66 and Time Warner Cable Sun City channel 63.