We are thrilled to welcome ten new counselors this summer to teach camps at our Flagship campus, Bailey Homestead, and at CECI this year. Our summer camp counselors are an integral part of our mission to improve the ocean’s future one person at a time. Throughout their time at Sanibel Sea School, they will teach many children of different age groups and help share their love of the ocean! Get to know a little bit more about our new counselors!

Jack Sergeant

Where are you from? I’m from Sanibel.

What’s your favorite sea creature? Tarpon because they’re my favorite species to target fishing, they’re magnificent to see on the hook

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I’m most looking forward to bonding with kids and making them love the water

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? For vacation I’m headed to the beach to surf

What is your favorite outdoor activity? My favorite outdoor activity is surfing

If you had a theme song, what would it be? If I had a theme song it would be seabird by the innovations

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I’m so excited for the summer!

Bella Moon

Where are you from? I’m from Fort Myers, Florida!

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea creature (at the moment) is a parrotfish because of their vibrant colors and importance to reef and beach health!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? Getting to explore the biodiversity that Sanibel island has to offer with the most awesome campers! 

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? Right now it would be the mountains- I’ve been wanting to try camping with pretty views.

What is your favorite outdoor activity? Too hard to pick between paddle boarding, snorkeling, and shelling.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Take it easy” by the Eagles-my favorite song of all time that’s great for jamming out but also a reminder to live in the moment and not let the little things overwhelm you!

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I’m currently earning my bachelors in biology at Florida Atlantic studying environmental science and am the event coordinator for the FAU Sustainability Club! I’m a southwest Florida native but I enjoy traveling all over.

Jake Raterman

Where are you from? I’m originally from New Jersey, but I moved to Sanibel in 2018!

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite big sea creature is an orca because they’re so smart and my favorite little creature is a wentletrap because they’re so intricate.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I’m most excited to play (and win!) capture the fish, and to work on my bird identification skills. 

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? I haven’t gone skiing in a few years, so I’d like to go to the mountains and get back on the slopes. 

What is your favorite outdoor activity? Sitting in a big ol pile of shells digging for treasures.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? Hot Wings from the movie Rio. 

Alissa Maenner

Where are you from? I am originally from Janesville, Wisconsin, but I went to University in Ås, Norway, and I lived there for many years.

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea creature has to be the jellyfish, and I am hoping to see some mushroom cap jellyfish when working at Sanibel Island.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am most looking forward to creating connections with kids and discovering different marine animals each day! Additionally, I am very excited to teach about the importance of conserving Sanibel’s mangrove ecosystems. 

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? If I were planning my next vacation, I definitely would be going to the beach. I always feel the most at peace when by the ocean.

What is your favorite outdoor activity? My favorite outdoor activity would be paddleboarding. I often like going paddleboarding early in the morning during sunrise. In Wisconsin, I would paddleboard on the lakes and watch the herons in the morning. In Florida, I am excited to do some paddleboarding in the ocean and in estuaries to observe the beauty of Florida’s natural environment.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? If I had a theme song, I would pick an ABBA song like Waterloo. I love the song, and I will always have such a neighborly love for the Swedish pop stars. 

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I am very excited to work with the SCCF at the Sanibel Sea School, and I cannot wait to meet everyone! 

Elisabeth Ressler

Where are you from? I am from Armagh, Pennsylvania, but I am currently going to college in Laramie, Wyoming.

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea animal is a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle. I think they are so beautiful and I admire their resilience.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am most looking forward to sharing my knowledge and passion for the planet and marine ecosystems with the campers. 

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? If I were to plan a trip, I would go to the Pacific Northwest to experience the mountains and the beach in one. I have never been and I heard it is beautiful!

What is your favorite outdoor activity? My favorite outdoor activity is hiking and hanging out by the water. It would be even better if I could hike to a lake!

If you had a theme song, what would it be? Choosing a theme song for myself is so difficult but I think I would go with Silver Lining by Mt. Joy, because I like to find the silver lining in everything I can.

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I am so excited for this summer. It is going to be awesome!

Riley Stevens

Where are you from? I am from Fort Myers, Florida.

What’s your favorite sea creature? Snook, because I grew up catching them around Sanibel.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? Sharing my love for water and the outdoors with the Sanibel Sea School camp members.

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? Mountains! I would be going fly fishing in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

What is your favorite outdoor activity? Fly Fishing

If you had a theme song, what would it be? Huntin, Fishin, And Lovin Every Day by Luke Bryan

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I am so excited for this summer. It is going to be awesome!

Tom Bredlau

Where are you from? I am from Millburn, New Jersey

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea creature is the sunfish, I find its appearance both funny and unique.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? This summer, I am most looking forward to exploring my passion for the ocean and educating youth. 

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? If I were planning my next trip, I would have to choose the mountains. As much as I enjoy the beach and swimming, hiking, camping, and skiing are activities I can’t live without! 

What is your favorite outdoor activity? My favorite outdoor activity, as mentioned, is camping. One adventure I want to have this summer is a camping trip in the Everglades.

If you had a theme song, what would it be? My theme song would probably be the NFL Main theme song, it’s exciting and energetic and I love football.

Monika Schneider

Where are you from? I am originally from Ohio, but I just recently moved to Cape Coral!

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea creatures are Orcas because of how intelligent and interesting they are!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am looking forward to sharing my love of the ocean with other people!!

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? Since I get to work at the ocean everyday, I would love to visit the mountains. 

What is your favorite outdoor activity? While i’m not a pro, my favorite outdoor activity has to be surfing! 

If you had a theme song, what would it be? My theme song is definitely Surf Crazy from Teen Beach Movie!

Kaley Junkin

Where are you from? Born and raised in Fort Myers!

What’s your favorite sea creature? Spotted Eagle Ray, they are majestic and beautiful. Rare to see, but ive been lucky enough to spot a few “flying” off the point of the lighthouse beach on Sanibel!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? Getting to share my two passions, teaching children and marine science. Also, seeing the faces of the kids when they discover something new or try something new for the first time!

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? Absolutely the beach, it’s my second home, or Disney World, that’s my third home!

What is your favorite outdoor activity? Fishing or boating

If you had a theme song, what would it be? Coastline by Hollow Coves

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I am a 5^th grade math and science teacher and I love my job! My husband, Michael, and I used to live on Sanibel for 3 years. It was our first home together and we are so blessed to have been able to live in such a beautiful place. We lost our home to Hurricane Ian, but it taught us to be grateful for every moment we have and cherish life!

Jazmin Ramirez

Where are you from? Fort Myers, FL

What’s your favorite sea creature? My favorite sea creature is the Flapjack Octopus because they have their own brand of camouflage, and they are so cute that researchers once considered naming a species Opisthoteuthis adorabilis.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am most looking forward to creating lasting memories with all the campers and watching them fall in love with learning!

You’re planning your next trip. Are you headed to the beach, mountains, forest, or desert? I am heading to the forest! 

What is your favorite outdoor activity? I love to hike and take photos of all the sights!

If you had a theme song, what would it be? Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners

Anything else you’d like to share with us? I am currently attending FGCU, majoring in Special Education, and I am excited to gain more teaching experience through this amazing opportunity!

Maddie Lovell

Maddie Lovell is a frequent visitor of Sanibel Island and is looking forward to spending her summer working here. She is a rising senior double majoring in Psychology (with a focus in Child Psychology) and American Sign Language at Kent State University. Maddie is excited for this opportunity to work in Southwest Florida’s unique coastal ecosystems while fostering curiosity, confidence, and environmental stewardship in young learners.