Casey Smith is our Community Liaison for the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail. Casey has spent the last several years living in Port Bolivar, but the peninsula has held a special place in her heart for her entire life. She lived most of her life in Beaumont but has always been grateful to have the beach only an hour away. Casey is a certified floral designer, an avid gardener and loves all things nature! She looks forward to working on the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail and helping residents and visitors to improve their own experiences with nature. She feels like the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is her shared backyard and walks the beaches often looking for shells, shark teeth and treasures. Casey is a member of the Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation and attends the Port Bolivar Methodist Church. Casey has answered a few questions so we can get to know her better.
1. What are some of your favorite things on the Bolivar Peninsula?
A few of my favorite things in Bolivar are Crab Meat nachos from La Playita, the beautiful Bolivar Point Lighthouse and the spectacular Roseate Spoonbills that signify to me… it’s going to be a good day!
2. What are your hobbies?
Gardening and growing herbs is so rewarding to me… especially when I can grow my own flowers for arrangements. I love to make botanical art out of treasures I find at the beach. I enjoy having an art booth with my partner at the local Bolivar art fairs selling our wood carvings, flowers and herbs. I also love family beach days with picnics and paddle boarding.
3. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a mom and thankfully I’ve gotten to do just that for 26 years! Now that my children are grown, I am creating new aspirations for myself like getting to work on the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail (BPNT), Houston Audubon and our beautiful Bolivar Peninsula.
4. Who is someone you admire and why?
Rachel Carson has been someone I have admired since I read her book Silent Spring. I was so excited to hike through the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge that honors her in Maine a few years ago.
5. What would you sing at Karaoke night?
I love to sing when I can manage to overcome my stage fright…Dolly Parton’s ”Jolene” is my all time favorite and I adore her.
6. What is your favorite bird?
My favorite bird is the Roseate Spoonbill for obvious reasons! But my second is the Pink Flamingo…we had 5 show up in September 2023 on my 50th birthday in the Bolivar Flats. They had gotten off course due to a storm and came to say hello to us on the Texas Gulf Coast! It was for sure my spark bird that got me hooked on bird watching and had me following Houston Audubon on Instagram where I found this job opportunity.
7. What is your favorite vacation you have ever taken?
Going to Europe with my German partner and meeting his family for the first time was amazing. We traveled from the Netherlands through Germany and ended in Austria. Many days we walked over ten miles, seeing as much as we could and staying mainly with his family along the way. It was a deep immersion into their beautiful culture.
8. What is your favorite animal?
The chipmunk has always been my favorite, and I get to see them a lot while hiking when I visit my daughter in Colorado Springs. I had teeth just like a chipmunk when I was a kid, so I feel a kindred spirit with them!
9. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I have always wanted to get on the Amtrack train and just go see America…stopping at as many National Parks, State Parks and gardens along the way that I could see.
10. What are you most excited about in your new role??
I think I am most excited to help spread the word about the incredible Houston Audubon sanctuaries. I love to see people’s faces when they walk up on the canopy walkway and look out at the clouds of pillowy white plumes of the Snowy Egrets. And even more so I look forward to emphasizing that there is another 27 miles of stunning coast to visit. Thanks to the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail Project, it will be much easier for visitors and locals to explore their way all the way down the peninsula.
Please join us in welcoming Casey to the team!
Houston AuduBlog 
Welcome Casey. My family had a beach house on Bolivar since about 1959. It’s now an Airbnb and we were just there. Sorry we didn’t get to La Playita although always enjoy it. Did go to High Island and Anuhuac NWR despite cold, wet, windy weather. Look forward to going back. Good luck in your work!
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