Tarpon Bay Explorers Hires Two New Naturalists

Tarpon Bay Explorers, the official concessionaire for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge recently welcomed two new staff members to their working family. Emma Engel and Austyn Feigenbaum were hired last month in anticipation of a busier holiday season and next year’s ‘in-season’.

“It has been a while since we’ve been able to hire new people,” mentioned General Manager, Adam Sauerland. “We went from over 30 employees to 2 post Ian,so adding people to our Tarpon Bay family is a nice change of pace,” said Sauerland.

Austyn Feigenbaum – Naturalist

Austyn hails from the Carolinas. Austyn grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, but spent the past few years living in North Carolina. Austyn is very familiar with the area as her Great Aunt introduced her to the island and “Ding” Darling as a young girl and it has been her go-to spot ever since. Austyn recently graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Biology. She is really eager to spend time on the water with visitors, helping them observe and discover the wildlife within the refuge. What excites her most is experiencing the bigger picture—how everything in the mangrove ecosystem is interconnected and she considers it one big classroom. Austyn is also looking forward to teaching about bird diversity, and how their behavior is shaped by the environment we find them in. Austyn explained, “I also have a great affinity for the Florida manatee! Manatees are some of the most
peaceful creatures to watch, and it is incredible how they have evolved from elephants, are sensitive to touch, and grow massively with a herbivorous diet.” In Austyn’s free time, she prefers to be outside. She loves to garden, go for runs, walk on the beach, snorkel, and scuba dive.

Emma Engel – Naturalist

Emma came down to join the Explorer family all the way from Columbus, Indiana. Emma recently graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University with minors in Wildlife Science and Environmental Politics and Policy. Emma saw Tarpon Bay’s listing on social media and decided to throw her name in the hat. Emma was drawn
to the position because she saw an opportunity to find ways to make science accessible and engaging for people of all ages. She is always looking for creative approaches to connect people with nature, whether through hands-on activities, storytelling, or interactive programs. Emma really hopes to inspire a sense of responsibility and stewardship that extends beyond their visit to Tarpon Bay and “Ding” Darling. Since Emma is new to the area, she has been enjoying exploring local restaurants. Emma loves shelling on the beach and using her finds for crafting projects. She also enjoys taking her dog to local parks and nature trails. Emma is also hoping to find a recreational volleyball league to join soon—she exclaims, “it’s one of my favorite ways to stay active and meet new people!”

Tarpon Bay Explorers invites you to meet their expanding family and experience the many adventures they have to offer. Tarpon Bay Explorers is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8am-5pm, rentals stop at 3pm. Updated Holiday hours will be announced in the coming weeks. Please call 239-472-8900 for information and reservation or
visit their website at www.tapronbayexplorers.com.