For those who sometimes worry about the world of tomorrow, they need only to take a look at the St. Simons Land Trust Ambassadors to know that the future is in good hands. Created to help advance the mission of the Land Trust through engagement of the area’s younger community leaders, the SSLT Ambassadors have been an integral part of the organization for nearly a decade.
Comprised of naturalists, artists, graphic designers, photographers, business owners, entrepreneurs, realtors, attorneys, marketers, and other young professionals, many Ambassadors are island natives who after college and graduate school decided to return home to begin their careers and families. Others who are newer to the area share a similar passion for coastal Georgia and want to make sure that SSI is preserved and protected not only for their generation but for all those who will live and work here in the future.
Over the years, the Ambassadors have produced well-attended movie nights, community bike ride across the island, and Family Days at Land Trust properties.
While the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 led to the cancellation of multiple events envisioned by the Ambassadors, the group focused on developing the Passport to Preservation for children and families who live in and visit St. Simons Island.
–Emily Ellison, Executive Director, St. Simons Land Trust
Clay Caldwell was raised on St. Simons Island, starting school at St. Simons Elementary, where special memories of this island began to form. He attended Glynn Middle and then Glynn Academy, graduating in 2007. From there, Clay moved to Statesboro, Georgia to attend Georgia Southern University, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design. After finishing school, Clay quickly moved back to the place he knew and loved, starting his career in design and advertising. After nearly five years of agency experience, Clay opened my own design studio, Commonground Creative, in 2016, and have been operating on St. Simons Island since, alongside his wife, Jenna, and their children, John and June.
“It’s important to me for my children to experience parts of the same SSI that I did when I was growing up, and I hope their children will one day come to know and love this special place we call home. By participating in the SSLT Ambassadors and P4P programs, I’m ensuring that the people, businesses, and organizations of this island continue to collaborate in protecting our sustainable ecosystem for generations to come.”
— Clay Caldwell
Haley Rogers grew up on St. Simons Island where, at an early age, she fell in love with the forests, marshlands, and wild places that make the island so special. Haley graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in wildlife biology and soon thereafter returned to the Georgia coast. Haley is the Lead Naturalist on Sea Island where she has been part of the nature team since 2015 and conducts sea turtle conservation research along with a variety of environmental education programs. Haley has been a St. Simons Land Trust ambassador for over four years and is excited to continue her involvement with the Land Trust!
“I am so grateful to have grown up on this beautiful island where I had the opportunity to experience nature in a way that sparked a lifelong passion. Supporting the St. Simons Land Trust is incredibly important to me because the work we are doing now ensures that the next generation will have the same opportunity to explore these amazing places.”
— Haley Rogers
If you are interested in becoming a Land Trust Ambassador, please fill out the contact form below or email Raleigh Kitchen at rkitchen@sslt.org. Thank you!
