Aug 12
Although the nesting season is winding down and turtle walks have ceased there are still many exciting summer opportunities! We are currently offering our fun and educational hatchling walk opportunities. Get an inside look at sea turtle research by joining the gstc staff at a nest excavation! Check out the details below and call 912-635-4444 with questions or to make reservations!
Hatchling Walks
These educational tours offer a look at the sea turtle conservation efforts and research programs on Jekyll Island. Early morning risers will explore barrier island ecology while visiting the island’s active turtle nests. The tours include opportunities to assist with data collection and to witness a nest excavation on a hatched nest! Time varies between 7am-10am, depending on the tide. Location will also vary depending on which nest has hatched and is ready to be excavated.
Guests will be asked to meet their guide at the location 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. The exact location of the nest excavation may not be known until the day prior to the walk. All scheduled guests will be notified by phone as soon as possible. The walk will begin with a 30 minute beach ecology walk. At the end of the walk you will meet a beach patrol intern and watch and learn as they perform a nest excavation. During the excavation the interns count how many eggs hatched and may even find straggler hatchlings near the bottom! Come get an up close look at field work in action!
Cost is $12/person. (price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.)
*Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
-Teddy Ivey
GSTC Educator
Aug 11
We’ve just added a new loggerhead sea turtle patient to our Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program eligibility list (as Option #1)...Night Watch!
Night Watch was brought to the GSTC by the researchers upon the Georgia Bulldog, a retire shrimp trawler that has been converted into a sea turtle research vessel! The crew on board the vessel had to ‘watch’ the turtle all ‘night’ until they could get it to the dock for transportation to the GSTC for care!
In addition to Night Watch, we have many other sea turtles eligible for adoption including:
Option #1:In-House Patients
CATON
TUNICATE
Option #2: Successfully Released Patients with a Satellite Transmitter
- AUSSIE
- BETTY
- BLIZZARD
- DUFFY
- SNOWBALL
CLICK HERE to learn more about our Adopt-a-Sea Turtle Program! Sea Turtle Adoptions make great gifts and educational projects for the classroom. Don’t wait, adopt a turtle today! You can purchase an adoption through our ONLINE STORE, downloading a FORM and sending by mail or fax, calling us at 912-635-4444 or visiting the Center!
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island is an operating department of the Jekyll Island Authority and receives financial contributions through the Jekyll Island Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All proceeds from Adoptions help to offset operation costs, including the rehabilitation of our patients at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
Thank you again for all of your support!
Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator
Aug 02
Hi campers and guests!
I know that many of you have been eagerly waiting for an update on Caretta Hope, one of our sub-adult loggerhead sea turtles. She/he was named by the first ever Sea Turtle campers at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.
To give you some background, Caretta Hope came in on June 11, 2009 with early stages of debilitated turtle syndrome. She was not eating very well, had lots of epibiota on her carapace – living creatures such as barnacles on top of her shell – and was very lethargic. Also, the turtle is missing both back flippers!
You’ll be happy to know that she is swimming, diving, and acting normally for a sea turtle, as well as eating very well. When she arrived, her red blood cell count was at about 5% – it is now at 25% and almost at normal levels! We are going to continue to monitor her red blood cell count, continue iron treatments, and see that she eats well.
That’s all for now and enjoy the photos!
Stephanie Chong
~Education Intern
Aug 02
We are very excited to announce our upcoming Teacher Appreciation Night at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center!This is a great opportunity for teachers to preview some of our educational programs and facilities in an exclusive after-hours event.
Start your evening with a few refreshments followed by an overview of different field trip options for your class. Next, you’ll have the opportunity to see three different school program options that correlate to the Georgia Performance Standards. Stick around as we close with a drawing for some great door prizes you can use in your classroom!
Interested? Get your whole school involved! Print this flyer & post it in your school/media center.
Details:
When: Saturday, August 15th or Monday, August 17th
Time: 5-7:30pm (Refreshments & check-in begin at 4:30)
Cost: $5 (includes pizza & teacher materials)
Register: by Aug 12th at www.jekyllisland.com/teacherappreciation.
For more information, see www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or call 912-635-4076.
We hope to hear from you soon!
~Stephanie Chong
Education Intern
Although the nesting season is winding down and turtle walks have ceased there are still many exciting summer opportunities! We are currently offering our fun and educational hatchling walk opportunities. Get an inside look at sea turtle research by joining the gstc staff at a nest excavation! Check out the details below and call 912-635-4444 with questions or to make reservations! 
