Jen’s first experience with sea turtles was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to sea turtle conservation and taking care of our oceanic resources.  She started volunteering at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital & Rehabilitation Center in 2001.

Jen has fifteen years of experience in higher education as an instructor of Chemistry at both Cape Fear Community College and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Jen loves to teach and educate today’s youth and young adult population, especially in the field of sea turtles and coastal conservation.

Jen’s passion for the marine environment started living along the California coast while in college.  Jen received her Bachelors’ degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.  Her passion followed her to San Diego State University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Chemistry.

Jen loves to travel and experience new environments and cultures.  She especially loves warm-water surf destinations where she can spend time in the water with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.  Jen can often be found on a sporting field cheering on her boys’ games!

Kasey grew up in Toms River, New Jersey, where living near the Jersey Shore meant plenty of year-round trips to the beach. Spending so much time by the ocean sparked a love for marine life and coastal ecosystems, and it didn’t take long for her to realize she wanted to turn that passion into a lifelong career.

In 2008, Kasey headed south to North Carolina to study Marine Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). While working toward her degree, she volunteered and interned at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. After graduating, she continued to build her experience as an environmental educator during an internship at the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Service and Aquarium, where her passion for teaching others about the environment took off. Eager to learn even more, Kasey returned to UNCW to earn a Master’s in Environmental Science and Coastal Management. Since then, her wide range of experiences in marine and environmental science has only deepened her love for sharing her knowledge with the public. In 2019, she started her current role, where she gets to keep doing what she loves—connecting people with the wonders of the ocean.

When Kasey isn’t teaching about the ocean, she can be found at the beach reading a book, visiting family and friends, or exploring Wilmington with her husband! She is very excited to have found her way back to Wilmington and loves that she gets to spend winters in North Carolina instead of freezing in New Jersey!

Bailey grew up year-round on Fire Island, New York. She spent her entire childhood on the sands of the tiny barrier island, always doing her part educating visitors, local communities, and other parties about her hometowns’ wildlife, history, and environmental issues. She has deep love and respect for the ocean and all it offers. Her goal is to help others feel the same by educating them about the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems.

In 2016, Bailey ventured to St. Augustine, Florida, to receive her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a minor in Spanish at Flagler College. She was an active member of the college’s sustainability club and always volunteered within the community. During her final semester, Bailey interned at Anastasia State Park and gained abundant experience working with Florida’s wildlife, especially with sea turtles! After graduating in 2020, she completed a 50-week AmeriCorps service term through Conservation Legacy, serving as the Community Volunteer Ambassador for Fire Island National Seashore. During this time, her interest in conservation, community outreach, and environmental education grew stronger. She is currently enhancing her outdoor teaching skills and science/nature content knowledge through the North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate program.

Bailey spends her free time surfing, painting, hiking, cooking, practicing yoga, and exploring nature. She loves to travel and encourages individuals to travel sustainably and support local communities!

Jeb was raised on a farm in rural Virginia, where he grew up racing motocross and spending his childhood outdoors. In high school, he played football and lacrosse, but spent most of his time as a pole vaulter for the track team. He would spend his summers in Virginia Beach with his family, where he learned how to surf at 8 years old.

Jeb moved to Wilmington in 2018, where he received a bachelor’s in environmental science and started teaching surf lessons on Wrightsville Beach. During his summers in school, he would spend every day in the water, either surfing or teaching others how to surf. Surfing has allowed Jeb to travel to some amazing destinations, with surf trips in Florida, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, Canary Islands, and even Iceland. He now spends his free time either surfing, riding dirt bikes, or with his puppy named Boots.

Grant is a middle school Science and English teacher from Frederick, Maryland. Before stepping into the classroom, he gained experience as a Starbucks barista, RV salesman, and financial advisor. Though he grew up surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, his passion has always been for the ocean and marine ecosystems.

He discovered scuba diving at 16 and has since explored some of the Caribbean’s top dive sites, including those in Jamaica, Curaçao, the Bahamas, Antigua, and Barbados.

Outside of work, Grant loves discovering new coffee shops and restaurants, attending music festivals, and brainstorming ways to make beach life a full-time reality.

Zoe is a student-athlete at Stony Brook University, where she is on the Swimming & Diving Team and studies Marine Science. Originally from Idaho, she loves the outdoors and has a passion for anything related to marine science or environmental conservation. She enjoys interning at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, where she has gained experience working with penguins, sea turtles, fish, and many other species. She is also a swim coach for a summer league program, working with kids and fostering a love for the water. When she isn’t swimming or working, she enjoys anything outdoors, including hiking, surfing, scuba diving, and camping. Zoe is extremely excited to be a part of Sea Turtle Camp this summer and looks forward to sharing her passion for marine science!

Jacqueline was born and raised in San Diego, California, where she developed a deep appreciation for marine life and the ocean. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from UCLA in 2024, where she discovered her passion for sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship. While at UCLA, she joined a hiking club and eventually started organizing and leading hikes in the Los Angeles area to make outdoor adventures more accessible for college students and to encourage others to explore nature.

A few summers ago, Jacqueline discovered her love for surfing, which has quickly become her favorite hobby. She loves being in the water and soaking in San Diego’s beautiful beaches. She also enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking with friends—basically anything that gets her outdoors. Some of her favorite memories from last year include camping trips to three national parks, with Sequoia National Park being her favorite. Jacqueline is so excited to join the Sea Turtle Camp team this summer and share her passion for the ocean with others.

Alden is originally from a small town in Central Virginia close to Shenandoah National Park. When she was 12, her family started to travel to Central America with the goal of learning Spanish, and it was on one of these trips that she was introduced to surfing (although she was “too cool“ to take a lesson and eventually learned to surf a few years later). 

Alden studied International Relations and Spanish at Virginia Tech, and when the pandemic prevented her from studying abroad, she instead opted to take a semester off, drive across the country, and work on farms in California, Arizona, and Hawai’i. She returned to Virginia, and a year later completed her final college courses online while working on a farm in Hawai’i. It was then that she really fell in love with surfing and let it guide her to new places.

Since then, she has lived in Brazil, Nicaragua, California, Morocco, Portugal, and North Carolina. When she’s not in the water she can be found drawing, dancing, reading, or talking too much. She loves to share her passion for surfing and her love of the ocean, and she’s so stoked to be a part of Teen Overnight for another season!

Born and raised on the brown rivers and beaches of North Florida, Dom is considered a water rat by most. He started off wakeboarding down the Suwannee River and later discovered the saltier water sports at the age of 15 and began surfing at 16. Dom was a lifeguard at his town’s pool and worked there for 2 years, where he was a certified swim instructor and taught levels 1 through 6. Dom has several interests outside the water as well. He likes to go camping, play guitar, work on his truck, cook, go to the gym, and skate. 

Harper grew up on the Jersey Shore but now calls South Florida home. Her childhood was filled with lacrosse, surfing, hiking, and learning to fly Cessna planes. Harper has been a volunteer firefighter for the last for years in Pennsylvania and has been coaching lacrosse, skateboarding, and surfing for the past two years while in school in Boca Raton, Florida. A passionate surfer since the age of seven, Harper finds peace and joy in the waves, which has inspired her to travel and share her love for the sport by teaching others. Her favorite surf destinations are San Diego and Costa Rica, Playa Grande. She has been a camper at WB Teen Overnight in North Carolina and Costa Rica!

She plans on graduating with a degree in engineering from Tulane University where she is also planning on fostering and training service dogs. She loves to read, play with animals, and do yoga. This will be her first year as an instructor with WB in Topsail. She can’t wait to meet all the campers and have an unforgettable summer!

Born and raised on the beaches of Bull Bay, Jamaica, Icah Wilmot developed his love for the ocean at an early age. Riding the quality, uncrowded waves of his home country, he not only sharpened his own skills but also nurtured the next generation of Jamaican surfers through his family’s renowned surf camp, Jamnesia.

With a strong passion for helping others, Icah transitioned from competitive surfing to focusing on introducing others to the joy of riding waves. Through surf schools, retreats, and camps across the region, he has dedicated himself to making surfing accessible to all.

As a seasoned member of the WBSC team, Icah brings his signature positive energy and warm Jamaican spirit both in and out of the water. Since 2013, he has been coaching our Adult Travel clients, and since 2018, he has been a key part of our WB Teen Overnight crew.

Originally from the stunning shores of Boston Beach in Portland, Jamaica, Javaun has spent over 20 years immersed in the ocean lifestyle. Growing up by the water, he dedicated his days to surfing, fishing, sailing engine boats, and leading local coastal tours—all while embracing the beauty of his beachside home.

Javii’s passion for surfing ignited at just five years old and has only grown stronger over time. As an athlete who has proudly represented Jamaica on the international surfing stage, he remains committed to advancing his competitive career. Beyond surfing, he loves staying active, exercising, and seizing every opportunity to travel.

This summer marks Javii’s first with WB Surf Camp, and he couldn’t be more excited to join the team. He’s looking forward to an unforgettable season—sharing his love for surfing, meeting new people, and making lasting memories in and out of the water.

Ivy grew up in Kennett Square Pennsylvania, a small town about an hour outside of Philadelphia. During her childhood, she spent her summers surfing on the Jersey Shore and in the Outer Banks. Ivy moved to New Hampshire and attended Plymouth State University. Throughout college, she spent lots of time skiing and hiking in the White Mountains and took trips to the New Hampshire and Maine coastline to surf. During her sophomore year of college, she studied abroad in Costa Rica, studying conservation marine biology. She graduated from Plymouth State in 2022 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy.

Ivy has always had a passion for working with children. During the winter, she works in community ski and ride programs at her local mountain and spends her summers working in the water with WB Surf Camp. Currently, Ivy works in special education at an elementary school in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. She is currently working towards a masters degree in Developmental Psychology through Southern New Hampshire University. In her free time, she is out surfing, biking, running, or skating.

This is Ivy’s third summer as part of the WB Surf Camp team. She spent her first summer at Topsail Beach working as the Carolina Ocean Odyssey Unit leader. Last summer she worked on our travel team in Playa Grande, Costa Rica and is stoked to be heading back this summer. Ivy’s favorite part of working for WB is getting to know new campers each summer and reuniting with returners.

Sofie was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to a Venezuelan father and an Oklahoman mother. From a young age, she fell in love with surfing during family vacations, a passion that has stayed with her ever since. As a child, she spent countless hours skating alongside her older sister, always dreaming of the day she’d trade pavement for waves.

In addition to skating, Sofie was a competitive swimmer. At 17, she embarked on a life-changing journey, traveling through Uruguay and Mexico with her twin sister—an adventure that broadened her perspective on the world. Eventually, she settled in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she pursued studies in Marine Technology, Oceanography, and Anthropology while finally living her dream of surfing daily.

Today, Sofie channels her passion into surfing, skating, sewing, and jewelry-making. Deeply committed to conservation, culture, and travel, she’s always seeking new ways to explore the world and leave a positive impact.

Tyce, one of the surf instructors for this summer’s Costa Rica trip, brings a deep passion for both coaching and adventure. When he’s not riding waves, he’s carving through snow as a ski instructor during the winter, embracing an endless cycle of outdoor pursuits. For Tyce, splitting time between the mountains and the ocean is a dream come true. He’s thrilled to help others develop their skills, explore one of his favorite destinations, and experience the incredible surf Costa Rica has to offer.