By KELLY McCARTHY
Five-year old Eleanor McManus is wide-eyed for adventure. As she sits on a wooden bench at the pavilion at the Townsends Inlet Waterfront Park at 94th Street by the foot of the Townsends Inlet Bridge, she is looking forward to a day of beachcombing.
And thanks to the Beachcomber Walk program sponsored by the Sea Isle City Environmental Commission, she is in for a fun-filled day.
Eleanor’s enthusiasm runs deep in the family. Her mother, Lauren, of Glen Mills, Pa., took the same beachcomber walk when she was around 10 years old.
“I did this with my Aunt Pat when I was little,” says Lauren, flashing a bright smile and with a sparkle in her eye. “It was just fun. I always liked doing nature things.”
Lauren’s aunt, Pat Courtright, who is from Warminster, Pa., is within earshot and pipes up about her niece’s childhood memory.
“She wanted to know everything, about every single creature, everything they picked up, what is it? Where does it live? And ultimately, she did a high school project on tidal pools,” Courtright says.
“I did,” quips Lauren, who added that the project she presented in high school was a direct reflection of that experience she had on the beachcombing tour in Townsends Inlet.
Now, it’s young Eleanor’s chance to discover all about the beach and ocean life.
And it’s that kind of warm multigenerational story that Sue Williamson, the guide director for the beachcomber walk, likes to hear. Williamson has been a beachcomber guide for the last seven years. And for summer 2023, she has taken on the lead role after Abby Powell stepped down as program director after the past three years. Powell continues to volunteer with the program and is a staunch supporter.
“It’s always a pleasure to volunteer with the city of Sea Isle,” says Powell. “And this program has a very special place in my heart, as it teaches children and adults about the ecosystem, about beach life. And we are now in, I believe, our 35th year, so it’s been going on for a while and people just love it, and we love to see big crowds come out.”
On Thursday, there were 60 participants excited to take part in the education program. First, they are greeted by volunteers Dee Dunbar and Carolyn Greco, who hand out blue collapsible waterproof buckets for the children for those shells they’ll find on the walk.
Says Dunbar, “This is the best-kept secret. Not enough people know about it.”
The free guided tours on this day are presented by Williamson, Kathy Callahan, a retired first grade teacher, Ron Kovatis, a former high school guidance counselor who also is a past president of the Sea Isle City Historical Museum, and rounding out the team was Robert Mooney, who is the newest guide.
“We meet at the pavilion and walk down to the beach. I gather everybody together and then split them up into four groups,” says Williamson. “And it’s not just kids. Adults are there and welcome as well.”
Williamson says she’s had everyone from one and two-year-olds, up to 90 years of age take part in the program.
Williamson is a natural teacher. She sets up her board that displays bivalve shells on one side, and on the flip side, there are samples of univalve shells, like the knobbed whelk, which houses a whelk egg case.
There is other sea life, like sea stars, and items that wash up from the ocean such as driftwood, sea glass and seaweed.
Everyone stands or sits on the sand. And all are at rapt attention.
“We start out with explaining how long the beach has been there,” says Williamson, “what the sand is made out of, why the ocean looks different colors on different days, the importance of the dunes and how we can protect them, the importance of keeping the beaches clean. And then we get into teaching them exactly what kind of shells we find there. We break it into univalve shells and bivalve shells.”
For Williamson, it’s her lifelong love for the sea that is inspiring to watch her impart to others.
“I’ve been beachcombing since I could walk,” says Williamson. “I tell kids, so that’s probably sixty-five years I’ve been walking. I grew up spending my summers going to Bethany Beach, Delaware, but honestly, I just remember every time I was on the beach I was walking with a bucket and picking stuff up.”
The morning beachcombing program runs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. And it goes fast because it sparks great interest.
“I’ve always been fascinated by shells,” says Williamson. “I was an elementary school teacher and I retired four years ago, and the day I retired, my husband Doug and I made this our permanent home from Delaware County.”
And what a beautiful home the shore is. Luckily, it’s a perfect beach day. The sky above is blue; the sun is shining bright.
The family of Nikki Platenecky and her husband, Nick, are enjoying the outdoor activity of beachcombing with their little brood of children: daughter, Riley, 4, son, Nicholas, 6, and 9-month-old, Maks. Nicholas and Riley are inquisitive. Nicholas raises his hand, correctly answering many of Williamson’s questions.
“We encourage people of all ages. And there’s a lot of weeks left in the summer to still come out and enjoy a beachcombing walk,” says Williamson.
The free guided beachcombing tours are offered from June 27 to Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., on Tuesdays at 29th Street and the beach and from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Thursdays at Townsends Inlet Park, 94th Street and Landis Avenue. Donations are accepted to help run the program.
