Watching scary movies through your fingers (at least this author does), regaling others with ghost stories and local urban lore, dressing in creative costumes, and riding the candy-induced sugar highs are just a few ways we might choose to usher out the month of October. Although Halloween is cloaked in an aura of the inexplicable, this week's featured species hides in plain sight, removing all "mist"ery that fall is in full bloom. With its popping purple-blue hue, the blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is an easily identifiable, native perennial found across South Carolina. With a native range spanning 50% of the country from New York to Florida and west to Texas, the blue mistflower can be seen growing in a variety of locations including sunny wet patches or along woodland edges. Categorized within the genus Aster, which is Greek for "star," this group of flora includes other commonly known plants, such as daisies, that have a characteristic bloom with multiple petals extending from the center. Although each fuzzy flower is small on the blue mistflower, when grouped together, they provide a true burst of color.

Blue mistflower can be used as groundcover in gardens and yards and is known to quickly spread. It is an excellent source of nectar and attracts a variety of bees, butterflies, and moths. Of specific note, the blue mistflower provides crucial energy for migrating monarchs as they make their way south to Mexico.

So as we turn the corner into November, be sure not to "mist" out on these educational opportunities provided by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and our partners!

Photo Credit: E.V. Bell

Educator Professional Development

South Carolina Marine Educators Association

"Ripple Effect: Ways We Connect Through Water" Annual Conference

November 8–10, 2024 at Riverbanks Zoo

Calling all formal and nonformal educators! Join the South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA) for the 2024 annual conference at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, S.C. This year’s theme will delve into how water bodies shape our interactions, well-being, and shared environments, underscoring their profound importance in fostering human connection and sustaining life. 

Not only will you have an opportunity to network with other educators and attend unique presentations about marine education, but this year’s post-conference field trip will give attendees the opportunity to explore the zoo after hours and attend a free live animal encounter with Riverbanks Zoo! Don’t miss your chance to connect with other educators, expand your knowledge of marine education, and interact with a rhino, Komodo dragon, and more during our animal encounters! For more information and to register, visit the conference page.

Save-The-Dates!

2024–2025 Educator Science Café Series

December 3, 2024; January 23, 2025; February 27; 2025

Celebrate 10 years of Educator Science Cafés with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum! Formal and nonformal educators are invited to join subject matter experts for casual, roundtable discussions as we enjoy light refreshments provided by our sponsor, the USS Yorktown Foundation. The 2024–2025 cafe series will connect the dots between science, society, technology, and social studies with topics that highlight the connections between art and science, research related to fouling communities, and game play as an effective instructional method. Each cafe is hosted at a Charleston-area venue and is free of charge to attend. Because cafes are designed to foster discussion, the group size is kept small, so be sure to reserve your space. Registration opens Monday, November 3 via the Educator Science Cafe webpage. Questions can be sent to Hannah Kratz and E.V. Bell.

Microplastics Game: Call for Development Team Members!

Join by November 8, 2024



The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is excited to announce the creation of a brand new, first-of-its-kind, microplastics game that will be available to educators across the state in 2025! This game will demonstrate the sources and impacts of microplastics as well as engage students in meaningful stewardship activities at their school or within their community. We are seeking interested K–12 formal and nonformal educators to join our development team to provide input and suggestions. Stipends in the amount of $200 will be provided for all interested team members. Please contact E.V. Bell for more information. The deadline to join the team is November 8th.

K–12 Student Opportunities

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Marine Debris Art Contest

Deadline for Entries: December 13, 2024

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program invites students in grades K–8 to submit artwork as part of an annual contest designed to raise awareness about marine debris. Winning entries will be featured in the 2025 calendar and provide a daily reminder of how important it is to be responsible stewards of the ocean. For more information on the submission requirements, please visit the NOAA Marine Debris Program website.

Employment Opportunities

S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is hiring! We are currently seeking to fill the position of Assistant Director for Research and Partnerships. To learn more about this position and how to apply, please visit the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium's Career Page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Wood Magic Forest Fair

The Wood Magic Forest Fair (WMFF) is a series of events hosted at locations across the state designed to help South Carolina’s students understand the importance of forests and the forest industry to their everyday lives. The dates and locations for this year's fair include:

-Harbison State Forest (Columbia) - October 28–November 1, 2024

-Lynches River County Park (Florence) - November 20–22, 2024

To conduct these programs, volunteers are needed each day to serve as guides and instructors, and to help with logistics. Each volunteer is given a T-shirt, lunch, and a satisfying role in providing the youth of our state with an important pro-forestry experience. To sign up, please visit the WMFF volunteer page and access the 2024 schedule to see available days and positions. For questions, please contact Matt Schnabel.

Awards and Grants

Upcoming: S.C. Sea Grant Consortium FY26–28 Request for Proposals

The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium is preparing to announce its FY26–28 Request for Proposals (RFP). Studies involving multi-disciplinary approaches with state/regional/national significance are especially desired. Proposals are expected to address specific RFP priorities identified under the following major themes:

• Healthy Coastal Ecosystems
• Sustainable Coastal Development and Economy
• Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Weather and Climate Resilience
• Scientific Literacy and Workforce Development

The detailed RFP with specific program priorities and guidelines for concept letters will be accessible on our website at on January 21, 2025.

Questions may be directed to either Susan Lovelace or Susannah Sheldon.

South Carolina Marine Educators Association

Marine Educator of the Year

Deadline for Nominations: October 31, 2024

This award is given by the South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA) in recognition of the most outstanding marine educator in South Carolina. The recipient of this award will receive a $250 check, a five-year membership in SCMEA, and an engraved plaque. The recipient of this award will be acknowledged at the annual conference (November 8–10, 2024). For more information on how to submit a nomination, please visit the SCMEA Awards page.

Additional Resources

S.C. Sea Grant Consortium

Loaner Kit Program

Are you interested in exploring watersheds with your students? Maybe you'd like your students to engage in the engineering design process to create remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or weather buoys. The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium's education program offers a variety of kits available free of charge to formal, nonformal, or homeschool educators in South Carolina. The following kits are currently available for check out:

-NEW! Fish Printing Kits: A freshwater and saltwater fish printing kit provides educators with a lesson plan on fish adaptations and the rubber fish molds necessary to create gyotaku-inspired fish prints with their students.

-Enviroscape Wetlands Model: The Wetlands Enviroscape Model provides a hands-on demonstration of how watersheds can be affected by development, pollution, and other human-made and natural impacts. Included as part of the demonstration are ways in which potential pollution impacts can be mitigated (e.g., riparian buffers and salt marshes).

-The Watershed Game: This activity uses a hands-on simulation to educate groups about how land use impacts water quality and a community’s resilience to flooding. While making land management decisions, players learn about practices, plans, and policies that can improve and protect water quality and increase resilience to flooding. Two versions of this kit are available for free checkout from the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium: the coastal classroom model and the coastal local leader model.

-Ocean Odyssey Kits: These four kits focus on STEM disciplines while incorporating various career paths. Choose from building an ROV, weather buoy, catapult or developing a capstone project.

S.C. Sea Grant Consortium Speaker Request Form

Do you have a science night or career day coming up in the future? Would you like a speaker for your students or organization? The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Consortium) has plenty to share regarding marine science careers, current research projects, and engaging coastal science activities for all ages! Be sure to check out our career page to learn more about the Consortium, and if you are interested in booking the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium for an upcoming career day or science night, please fill out this request form.

Photo credit: E.V. Bell