Join the Sea Turtle Conservancy Action Ambassadors!
Sea Turtle Conservancy at the Barrier Island on the Archie Carr Refuge is launching a new program for 11-18 year old students interested in environmental issues that will train students in the skills necessary to make real change in their communities through advocacy and stewardship. This is a school year program with monthly and/or bimonthly meetings that will be organized during times the majority of the STCAA students are available. Likely meeting times will be after school, evenings and weekends. Some of the meetings will be in-person and some will be on Zoom so we can engage a broader range of mentors. Students will learn about the issues facing sea turtles and their habitats, select an issue to address, design a project and make a request for change with the goal of improving sea turtle survival and habitat quality.
Join us on a Guided Sea Turtle Watch!
During June and July the Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has a limited number of spaces for the public to join us on a guided turtle walk. Through this program, STC hopes that the experience of a guided sea turtle walk will help inspire future naturalists and sea turtle advocates. Florida’s beaches, especially along the east central coast in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, provide nesting habitat for more nesting loggerhead turtles than any place in the Western Hemisphere and more endangered green turtles than any place in North America. In addition, endangered leatherback sea turtles nest in the Carr Refuge.
Walks are conducted by STC on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in June and July. Space is limited to 20 people per night. Cost is $20 per person, paid in advance, to reserve a space. Minimum age is 8 years old.
Please note that Covid-19 considerations may be in place for the 2024 walks. Please stay home if you are showing any health symptoms.
2024 Sea Turtle Walk Program is over. Check back early next year for the 2025 season dates.
How to Help Sea Turtles While Visiting the Beach
Sign up for a Virtual Certified Interpretive Guide Course
The Sea Turtle Conservancy at the Barrier Island Center on the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), and The Nature Conservancy, is offering a 32-hour virtual course to train individuals interested in honing interpretive skills. Whether you are a new guide or a seasoned guide this course is for you. Learn how to deliver engaging, thematic programs, hikes and other presentations to inspire stewards! All three instructors are active Certified Interpretive Guide Trainers through NAI.
View Information Flyer (pdf)
Register online through National Association for Interpretation for the course (opens in new browser tab)
Join us on a Morning Sea Turtle Nest Dig!
The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) has a limited number of spaces for the public to join us on an outdoor daytime nest dig educational program. This is an opportunity to see how sea turtle scientists study the hatching success of loggerhead sea turtle nests in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. Following the nest excavation, there may be an opportunity to observe a live hatchling be released into the ocean, but this cannot be guaranteed. Nest digs, also known as Public Hatch Success Evaluations, are essential to sea turtle conservation efforts because the data collected helps scientists monitor how sea turtle populations are faring with an ever-changing nesting beach environment that has been impacted by humans. Learn what you can do to help save sea turtles.
These are daytime digs conducted by STC during early mornings in August. Space is limited to 20 people. Cost is $6 per person, paid in advance, to reserve a space.
Nest digs are scheduled to start in August on every Thursday, until we cannot locate a hatched nest. Registration will be open the Monday prior to the dig, once we are sure we have a nest to dig.
NEST DIGS are done for the 2024 season
Digs are planned on the following Thursdays as long as we are able to identify a nest on Monday prior to the date.
Anyone can now access a self-guided hiking guide by downloading the Flyover Country app (https://flyovercountry.io) and searching for the guide using the field guide tab (lower left). Users will also be notified about the guide’s existence if they load a flight path or driving/hiking path that intersects the guide area. Once the guide is loaded, it can be saved for offline use using the save button (blue, lower-center).