Palmetto Trail Nature Walk – Join an interpretive nature walk for a  guided outdoor experience that helps you connect with the natural environment through observation and storytelling. Led by a knowledgeable naturalist, this walk on a spur of the Palmetto trail highlights local plants and animals while encouraging participants to explore the relationships between living things and their surroundings. The experience fosters appreciation, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Participants will  depart for the tour from the meeting location at 3:30 p.m.

Kristina Wheeler serves as the Natural History Interpretation Specialist with Charleston County Parks, where she combines deep ecological knowledge with an enthusiasm for the natural world. With years of experience in environmental education and interpretive programming, Kristina is dedicated to guiding others across the threshold of curiosity into meaningful connection with nature. From the visible interactions between plants and animals to the subtle, vital roles played by fungi and bacteria, Kristina delights in illuminating the complexity and beauty of natural systems.

Kristina studied Wildlife Management at the University of New Hampshire and has worked as a naturalist from the cayes of Belize to the salt marshes of Charleston, South Carolina. She is an Honorary Statewide Master Naturalist, a Certified Interpretive Guide, and an ACA Level II Coastal Kayak Instructor. 

Eutaw Springs Battlefield – Join S.C. Society Sons of the American Revolution member, Douglas Doster for a guided tour of the Eutaw Springs Battlefield. Participants will learn about the site’s significance in the Revolutionary War and explore how the natural environment influenced the strategies, movements, and outcome of the battle. Attendees will depart from the meeting location at 1:00 p.m.

Douglas Doster is from Hemingway, S.C. in Williamsburg County. He graduated from Erskine College (’71), with an B.A. in Psychology and a minor in American History. After teaching special needs middle school students for four years in his hometown, he attended Winthrop College (now Winthrop University), and received his M.Ed. in Special Education and an Ed.S. in School Administration.

Mr. Doster has taught in six school districts in the state of S.C. He retired as an elementary school principal with 30 years in public education. He returned that same year to the classroom and his special needs students for another 20 years of service. He retired in 2020 after 50 years of service in South Carolina public schools. 

Since joining the S.C. Society Sons of the American Revolution (SCSSAR) in 1986, Douglas has been a chapter president of The Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter and was the SCSSAR’s State President in 2009. He continues to be active in many areas of the SAR including serving as liaison between the SCSSAR and the S.C. Society Children of the American Revolution. In 2021, Mr. Doster was one of the founders of the Eutaw Springs Battleground Association, Inc. This non-profit, tax exempt corporation seeks to save and promote the history of the Battle of Eutaw Springs through the development of an interpretive center in the Eutaw Springs Community,  Orangeburg County, S.C.

 Reminder:

• For both outdoor excursions we recommend wearing comfortable clothing and shoes and drinking water and appropriate gear for the weather (e.g., sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, jacket/rain jacket, umbrella). 

 A special THANK YOU to Bells Marina & Resort for hosting this year’s event and to Santee Cooper Country for their lunch sponsorship.