Growing up in the south suburbs of Chicago, I learned to love the ocean from afar. From watching ocean documentaries to begging my parents to take me back to Brookfield Zoo or the Shedd Aquarium just one more time, I did everything I could to surround myself with aquatic animals. One of my favorite places to visit was my grandparents’ home on Skidaway Island. I fell in love with the fauna of the Georgia coast while trying to catch anoles with my siblings, watching alligators sunbathe, using my Papa’s binoculars to spot dolphins, and standing impossibly still in hopes of glimpsing a fiddler crab. The Georgia coast always felt magical, strengthening my connection to the environment through hours spent exploring beaches and marshes alike.
My passion for the environment shifted from an interest to a potential career path in seventh grade, when I traveled to the Florida Keys and participated in boat programs, field studies, and dissections. I looked up to the educators I was learning from, and I realized I could see myself doing the same work one day.
Lily Bosch holds a rat snake, an ambassador animal at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium.
I left the Midwest to pursue a degree in environmental science at the University of South Carolina, using every elective space in my schedule to take marine science courses. During my senior year, I worked as an informal educator at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden where I got my first taste of teaching. Never having been a fan of public speaking, it was nerve-wracking to lead groups on tours and to speak into a microphone during training sessions. However, I learned that my passion for conservation outweighed any anxiety the moment that a child came up to me after a talk to share a fun fact of their own. I realized I could not remember whether any educator in my life had made a mistake while teaching, but I could always remember how they encouraged my curiosity and welcomed my endless questions.
I was drawn to the Marine Education Fellowship not only by my personal connection to Skidaway Island, but also by the opportunity to do a little bit of everything. I get to spend time teaching a wide range of learners, from Dive Down Deep Pre-K programs in the aquarium to high school classes going on skiff trips to spot dolphins. I have also had the opportunity to participate in STEAM nights at local schools and deliver CrabEcology programs to third grade students in Chatham County. These students come ready to learn, with boundless curiosity and enthusiasm. In addition to teaching, I help our aquarists care for our fish and reptiles, which has quickly become a highlight of the fellowship program for me.
Bosch during Whale Week at the UGA Aquarium.
As part of the fellowship, we are expected to complete an independent project. I developed a marine debris lesson plan that we used during Whale Week, a local event where nonprofits, artists and scientists gather to welcome North Atlantic right whales to the Georgia coast during calving season. Through this event, we educated Georgia residents about the threats facing this critically endangered species and the actions they can take to help protect it.
Another component of the fellowship includes planning and leading the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, an annual event that brings middle and high school students to the UGA Aquarium to learn from local conservationists. It was incredibly rewarding to see young students come up with conservation issues in their local communities and brainstorm solutions that they can carry out themselves.
At the halfway point of my fellowship, I can say that I have grown as an educator through the mentorship and support of our faculty. This role has cemented my belief that education is the best way to create environmental stewards. I will always cherish the opportunity to foster the curiosity of young conservationists, just like someone once did for me.
Bosch (third from left) gathers with other fellows, staff, and volunteers after the 2026 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.