Meet Mary Alexander
Mary Alexander heard about Florida Oceanographic Society from a friend. After they both attended a volunteer information session in January 2021, they decided it was the place for them.
Meet Merit Wallace
In recent years, amidst the chaos of being a nurse practitioner, Merit Wallace found solace in the outdoors, a sanctuary amidst the pandemic. Realizing the importance of habitat preservation, she sought ways to give back.
Meet Michele & Gil McClurg
“The people here make volunteering fun and educational,” says Michele. “Everyone is friendly, supportive and truly appreciates whatever you do.” As a team the McClurgs have accumulated close to 400 volunteer hours.
Meet Mover and Shucker Katherine Ward
Katherine Ward moved to Stuart in 2013, and over the years, she has enjoyed bringing her family to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. Her interest in preserving and protecting our beautiful south Florida waterways is what drew her to volunteer at Florida Oceanographic.
Meet Nell Brewer
In conversations with guests, Nell is continuously motivated by their enthusiasm and impressed by how much they know and care about the natural world. “It’s great to share fun-facts about the animals and the coastal habitats and have meaningful conversations with guests of all ages.”
Meet Our Newest Resident - Sandy!
We’re thrilled to welcome Sandy, a 40-inch-wide southern stingray who recently joined our ambassador animals. She’s already settling in beautifully—and we’d love for you to meet her!
Meet Our Ocean Protectors
Get an up-close view of the marine vessels and the people who protect our coastal community with members of FWC, NOAA and the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Meet Our Sea Turtles
As advocates for sea turtle protections, we work tirelessly to raise awareness about the threats facing these majestic creatures and promote conservation initiatives to safeguard their habitats. Additionally, our facility serves as a forever home for sea turtles deemed unfit for release due to…
Meet Rosanne Danner
Six years ago, Rosanne Danner embarked on a new chapter of her life, moving to the charming community of Jensen Beach, FL. A big change from her upbringing in the Bronx, NY, she was drawn to this area thanks to her brother's guidance and fell in love with its beauty.
Meet Sam Young
Sam Young spent more than 40 years living between Naples and Marco Island, but as the area grew more congested, he began looking for a quieter coastal community.
Meet Stephen Mahoney
Stephen Mahoney grew up in a small industrial town in northern England, near the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, before his career and life journey eventually brought him to the United States.
Meet Sue Barnett
Sue participates in a variety of roles including research projects, oyster shell bagging, drilling and matting, seagrass matting, road/beach cleanups, seagrass nursery cleaning and most recently working on a seagrass research project, saying “I truly believe that volunteers can make a difference…
Meet Sue Mamalis
Sue wears many hats in her volunteer roles. She works with the Living Docks program, participates in oyster shell bagging, drilling, and matting, and helps with seagrass matting and maintaining the seagrass nursery.
Meet Summer Sea Turtle Scout Amy Isenhower
Sea turtles return to the same beaches year after year to lay their eggs, and for Amy Isenhower, that’s an exciting aspect of volunteering as a Summer Sea Turtle Scout for Florida Oceanographic Society’s Nighttime Sea Turtle Walks.
Meet the Team
Nathaniel Winn is a research associate interested in seagrass ecology, water quality, and nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems. Nathaniel received his B.S. at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL, where he studied tidal dynamics of porewater nutrients in subterranean estuaries. He…
Meet Thomas Buhr
Drawn to Stuart in the 70s for its pristine natural surroundings and strong conservation ethos, Thomas was particularly impressed by Martin County's leadership in environmental preservation.
Meet Volunteer Carol Westerfield
May Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Volunteer Joe Pisano
April Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Volunteer Lyda Denney, DVM
March Volunteer Spotlight
Meet Volunteer Mark Kenworthy
Growing up in New Jersey Mark Kenworthy spent every summer at the Jersey shore. When he moved from Mendham, NJ to Stuart, getting involved with Florida Oceanographic Society seemed like a natural choice.
Meet Volunteer Starr Robeson
Meet Volunteer Starr Robeson
Meet Water Quality Advocate David Carlson
February's Volunteer Spotlight!
Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change: Combating Misinformation
Take an entertaining look at weird and wacky questions about the environment with the goal of combatting misinformation in an easily digestible and humorous format.
