Turtle Trackers takes sea turtle education beyond the beach

Hilton Head Island’s sea turtle nesting season is winding down after one of its busiest years in recent history, but Turtle Trackers Hilton Head Island volunteers are continuing an education effort that reaches well beyond the island’s beaches.

The island recorded 413 sea turtle nests this season, according to Turtle Trackers President Lynette Shields. Although nesting has stopped, nests will continue hatching, typically into October.

Turtle Trackers does not monitor or mark nests. That work is handled by Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island under a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources permit. Turtle Trackers concentrates on education and encouraging practices that help keep beaches clean, dark and flat.

Beach ambassadors walk sections of the beach in the evenings, picking up trash, filling holes and leveling abandoned sand structures that could become obstacles for nesting turtles or hatchlings. The walks also provide opportunities to talk with beachgoers.

“Once they understand the why, they’re very happy to comply,” Shields said. “People don’t always know.”

Chapter Lead Chris Rush said public awareness has changed noticeably.

“Eight or nine years ago, you’d walk up and you’d have to tell everybody about the sea turtles,” Rush said. “Now, if I’m walking up to a sandcastle, somebody is usually saying, ‘I know. I already know.’”

The education effort extends beyond Hilton Head. Turtle Trackers draws volunteers from communities across the region, including Bluffton, Sun City and Margaritaville Hilton Head.

The organization also has expanded its off-island partnerships. Vera Bradley and Hilton Head National RV Resort are new partners this year, joining other businesses and organizations that provide opportunities to reach residents and visitors.

Volunteers who cannot regularly walk the beach can staff learning stations, distribute educational materials or help with other outreach. The variety of roles allows people from across the Lowcountry to take part, even if they do not live on Hilton Head or cannot participate in evening beach walks.
“We don’t turn anybody away,” Shields said. “We’re happy for however volunteers are able to contribute.”

This summer, volunteers held weekly programs at Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort and operated learning stations at Harbour Town, Sea Pines Beach Club, Salty Dog and other locations. Volunteers answer questions about sea turtle conservation, beach lighting and what people should do if they encounter hatchlings.

The education campaign also reaches restaurants and schools. Shields said volunteers attached about 21,000 educational flyers to pizza boxes at Giuseppe’s in Sea Pines Center this summer, with about 28,000 flyers distributed islandwide. Thousands of activity placemats also were distributed through restaurants.

The group participated in a Beaufort-area environmental camp and visited the Hilton Head and Bluffton early childhood centers. This fall, volunteers have programs planned for a homeschool group and M.C. Riley Elementary School in Bluffton.

Shelby Share, who leads the Sea Pines beach ambassadors, said volunteers use encounters with visitors as opportunities to teach.

“We take those times to educate everyone,” Share said. “We have turtle stickers that we’ll give the children and explain how they can help us by being beach ambassadors.”

For volunteers, the work also creates connections among people with a shared interest in protecting sea turtles.

“There’s a certain camaraderie to all of this,” Rush said. “You’re usually just not out there by yourself.”

To learn more about Turtle Trackers Hilton Head Island, visit www.turtletrackershhi.org or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.