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 Caorlinas. 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.
EmmaEngel- Naturalist
Emmacame down to join the Explorer family all the way from Columbus, Indiana.
Emmarecently 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