Photo Credit: Sam Athey
Interview with Sam Athey, a core volunteer with the Surfrider Foundation's Bogue Banks Chapter:
What chapter do you work with and what is your leadership role?
"I am the Chair of Surfrider Bogue Banks."
What drew you into volunteering at the Surfrider Foundation?
"My journey with Surfrider began in 2014 as a student at UNC Wilmington, where I joined the UNCW Surfrider Club. Years later, I joined the board of the Cape Fear Chapter, serving as Vice Chair from 2023 to 2025. In the fall of 2025, I brought that experience to the Crystal Coast, joining the Bogue Banks Chapter as Vice Chair before stepping into the Chair role in 2026.
I’m passionate about leading the Bogue Banks Chapter because Surfrider’s mission aligns closely with my own commitment to protecting our oceans and coastal environment. The community the Surfrider fosters has kept me engaged over the years; the people are passionate, open-minded and supportive. As Chair for Bogue Banks, I’m excited to continue building that spirit by growing our chapter and bringing our community together to protect the beaches and waterways that make the Crystal Coast special."
As Chair for the Bogue Banks Chapter, Sam helps to provide the local community with accessible ways to take meaningful action for the Crystal Coast (Photo Credit: Sam Athey).
What Surfrider program are you most proud of in your chapter?
"I’m especially proud of our Beach Guardians program, which I launched in the Bogue Banks community in late 2025. I wanted to create a pathway for people to move beyond participating in occasional cleanups and become long-term stewards of the Crystal Coast.
Beach Guardians are volunteers who take ownership of a local shoreline by leading regular cleanups, tracking litter data and monitoring changes in the beach over time. The data they gather helps inform our local campaigns, from reducing cigarette butt litter to advocating for balloon policies to protecting our dunes.
What excited me most is seeing how individual action can grow into collective impact. Since launching the program, we’ve welcomed 15 Beach Guardians, logged 50+ data points and collected over 900 lbs of trash. Even more rewarding, two of our Beach Guardians have stepped into leadership roles within the chapter."
Left: Beach Guardians Mandi and Kate leading our International Coastal Cleanup Day cleanup at Atlantic Beach (Photo Credit: Mandi White). Right: New Beach Guardians participating in an annual training event (Photo Credit Sam Athey).
Can you share a story of one of your favorite moments volunteering?
"Some of my favorite moments volunteering with Surfrider are when we find creative ways to connect new audiences with our mission. This year, we participated in WeirdFest, where we teamed up with local partners to take attendees through the "Plasticine Rift”, an alternate future dimension impacted by a millennium of plastic waste. It was a fun, immersive way to spark conversations about plastic pollution and show how we can work together towards a better future."
Sam and other Surfrider volunteers educating attendees about the impacts of plastic pollution at WeirdFest (Photo Credit: Sam Athey).
Why should people volunteer with your chapter?
"The Crystal Coast is a special place and protecting it takes a community of people working together. Volunteering with Surfrider Bogue Banks provides you with the tools and opportunities to do this.
You don’t need to be a scientist, an experienced advocate or someone who can volunteer every week to make a difference. We welcome people with different backgrounds, skills, and schedules and provide you with different ways to get involved. We’re building a community that supports one another, learns together and works towards a shared goal. If you care about the Crystal Coast, there’s a place for you! Email sathey@boguebanks.surfrider.org or visit boguebanks.surfrider.org to get involved today."
Sam joined the team in 2026 as the Southeast Regional Manager. She grew up in Laguna Beach, California, where she developed an early passion for protecting the ocean. She holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Duke University, with a concentration in Environment and Energy Policy.
Sam Athey (she/her) is the Program Manager for EarthEcho's Marine Plastics Ambassador Program and a committed advocate for marine conservation. With a PhD from the University of Toronto focused on plastic pollution in the Great Lakes, Sam has spent over a decade working as a scientist, educator, and advocate. She has been involved with Surfrider since 2014, previously serving as Vice Chair of Surfrider Cape Fear from 2023-2025, and is currently the Vice Chair of Surfrider Bogue Banks. Passionate about the natural beauty of the Southeast North Carolina Coast, Sam is dedicated to protecting its resources through grassroots efforts and community engagement, and she looks forward to continuing this work on the Executive Board.