Community Accolades

Municipal Achievement Award (2019)

In 2019, the Town of Seabrook Island was awarded a Municipal Achievement Award from the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) in recognition of the town's Dolphin Education Program. Established in 1987, the Municipal Achievement Award program recognizes and highlights innovative efforts by cities and towns in the State of South Carolina. The program also provides a forum for sharing the best public service ideas across the state.

Certified Sustainable Community (2017)

​In 2017, Seabrook Island became the first private community in South Carolina, and one of only six communities in the world, to receive Audubon International's (AI) Certified Sustainable Community award. The program is not just about birds; it recognizes communities with demonstrated leadership in creating a sustainable future.

The Seabrook Island community’s accomplishments are relevant to AI’s three Pillars of Sustainability: Healthy Local Environment, Economic Vitality and Quality of Life. This award is maintained through management practices and goals in fourteen focus areas that include, among other things: wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, water conservation, energy efficiency, health and transportation.

Best Restored Beaches (2016)

In 2016, Seabrook Island was named one of the Best Restored Beaches by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). The award highlighted the community's emphasis on storm protection, habitat restoration and recreation that were part of the “soft engineering strategy” to combat erosion upon relocation of Captain Sams Inlet. From the award:

“The Seabrook Island restoration project clearly demonstrates the importance of developing a long-term management plan that works with the natural processes to overcome severe erosion. This project shows that a beach restoration project can be successful in a dynamic environment if you clearly understand the coastal processes and develop a plan that works with the coastal processes to achieve the restoration of the beach.”

Blue Ribbon Community (2016)

In 2016, Seabrook Island Property Owners Association was awarded the Blue Ribbon Community Award from the SC Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI). In receiving the award, SIPOA was recognized for outstanding standards, records and fiscal management, architectural guidelines and community participation.

Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (1996)

In 1996, Seabrook Island’s golf courses became the first in South Carolina to be certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. The program helps to protect the environment through encouraging enhancement of the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improving efficiency and minimizing potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations.