Inspired by the memory of a Harbor Island resident, nature enthusiast and local history aficionado, the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History will host a children’s camp this summer that will demonstrate the importance of preserving and protecting the local environment.
Camp Chris Stone will get kids “into the marsh to have a lot of fun, as well as learn about our local ecology and the importance of preserving it so their children can do the same thing Chris did when he was growing up at the beach,” said Madeline Flagler, the museum’s director.
To honor his legacy, Stone’s family designated the museum as the recipient of memorials with the Chris Stone Fund. Flagler asked the family to help designate how those donations would then be used.
Flagler remembers Stone for his passion for preserving Wrightsville Beach landmarks and his construction finesse.
“Chris had always been a very big help to the museum,” she said. “He had been on the Historic Landmark Commission for the town. He was very aware of the preservation issues and the issues specifically about this house — how to repair it without changing things too much. He oversaw the last major maintenance that was done of the museum, which included replacing the wooden awnings with something that was just like what had been there before.”
Flagler is also grateful for the help and leadership of Stone’s widow, Rhesa, who was once chair of the museum’s board or directors.
“She’s been very involved with us putting together this camp,” Flagler said.
The camp’s first session, which will take place July 27-31, is already full.
The camp’s second session is held August 10-14. While it was designed for children ages 10-12, younger children are also welcome.
“We’re going to be flexible with the ages on that second camp,” said Sandy May, a volunteer with the museum and camp. “We want them to be able to identify mud snails, mussels, oysters and fiddler crabs and know what they do.”
May also wants children to learn to identify birds.
May, alongside Cissie Brooks, the marine science coordinator for Wrightsville Beach School, will give the children hands-on learning experiences.
“We’re going to teach them how to fish. We’re going to make cane poles out of bamboo,” May said. “We’re going to do crab lines and crab nets.”
May said she is accustomed to getting muddy in the salt marshes of Wrightsville Beach because that’s where her grandchildren like to play. While she wants the camp to be fun, she said the focus will be on education.
“We’re going to talk about the ecosystem and how important the salt marsh cord grass is,” she said. “Our goal is to teach them to preserve and protect and appreciate what we have here.”
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