13 volunteers of various ages pose on a boardwalk at the Western Beach Access in Emerald Isle, North Carolina after a beach cleanup.

Meet the Team

Sam Athey
Vice Chair (sathey@boguebanks.surfrider.org)

Sam Athey (she/her) joined the Surfrider Bogue Banks Chapter in 2025. Sam first began volunteering with Surfrider in 2014 as a student at UNCW and later served as Vice Chair of Surfrider Cape Fear from 2023–2025. Sam works as the Marine Plastics Program Manager for EarthEcho’s Marine Plastics Ambassador Program and has spent the past decade working as a scientist, educator, and advocate in the marine plastics field. She holds an MSc from UNC Wilmington and a PhD from the University of Toronto, where she studied plastic pollution in marine and coastal ecosystems. Passionate about the unique blend of natural beauty and community along the Carolina coast, she believes in the power of grassroots action to protect coastal resources, strengthen community connections, and inspire others to get involved.

Kari Bryant
Volunteer Coordinator (kbryant@boguebanks.surfrider.org)

Kari Bryant (she/her) has been a dedicated member of the Bogue Banks Surfrider Chapter for eight years. A resident of Emerald Isle, she also volunteers with the Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol and Adaptive Surf. Deeply connected to the ocean, Kari spends her days walking the beach and surfing, making it her mission to give back to the coast she loves by protecting clean beaches and healthy waters for future generations. She values her Surfrider family and the positive action they take together to make the world a better place.

⭐Join Our Team!⭐

Bogue Banks Chapter is currently recruiting key leadership roles.

We’re looking for passionate leaders to join our Executive Committee and help shape the future of Surfrider Bogue Banks. Open positions include:

Secretary (organization & record keeping)
Treasurer (financial stewardship)
Communications Coordinator (storytelling & outreach)
Hold Onto Your Butts Campaign Lead (cigarette litter reduction & community engagement)

These are volunteer positions with voting rights, leadership development opportunities, and the chance to make a lasting impact.

We’re also recruiting Beach Guardians to lead monthly cleanups across the Crystal Coast and tabling volunteers to represent Surfrider at local events this fall.

Interested? Email vicechair@boguebanks.surfrider.org to learn more and apply.