The NC Sea Turtle Project works with over 20 different sea turtle project groups. To get involved volunteers MUST apply to one of the local groups and participate in their trainings and requirements to volunteer. Regional contact information can be found below. Projects are listed from north to south.
Email: info@nestonline.org
Volunteer Information: https://www.nestonline.org/become-a-volunteer/
Pea Island has limited spaces for volunteers to patrol the shoreline for sea turtle activity in ORVs from May through early Sept. Volunteers ride the same day every week for the duration of the season. Required training takes place in May. Email or visit the website for more information on how to get involved.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore uses volunteers in mid to late summer for monitoring emerging nests.
- Website: https://www.nps.gov/caha/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
- Phone: Volunteer Coordinator 252-475-9042
- Email: fort.macon@ncparks.gov
- Website: https://www.ncparks.gov/fort-macon-state-park/home
- Email: ABseaturtle@gmail.com
To volunteer send an email or Facebook Message
- Email: pksturtle1@gmail.com
- Facebook Message: https://m.facebook.com/999892260033090/
- Email: lwieseler1@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.eiseaturtlepatrol.org/
Hammocks Beach State Park has a volunteer (unpaid) internship program for monitoring sea turtle activity. Interns are provided park housing and are expected to reside in the housing for the duration of the internship. For information on volunteering email the park.
- Email: volunteer@seaturtlehospital.org
- Volunteer Form: https://www.seaturtlehospital.org/volunteer.html
- Nesting Program Information: https://www.seaturtlehospital.org/topsail-turtle-project.html
Located north of Wilmington, between Figure Eight Island and Topsail Island, Lea-Hutaff Island is a 5,641-acre undeveloped barrier island and marsh system that has remained undisturbed by development. The island is monitored by the NC Audubon Society.
Figure Eight Island is located near the middle of the coast of North Carolina. Monitoring and protection of sea turtle nests and hatchlings on the island was started in 1986 and is conducted primarily by UNCW students.
- Website: https://wbstp.org/connect/
Masonboro Island is an North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve located south of Wrightsville Beach. In collaboration with researchers from the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, nest monitoring and protection has occurred on Masonboro Island since 1983.
- Email: PISTP@SeaTurtleProject.org
- Volunteer Info: http://seaturtleproject.org/index.php/volunteer/
- Email: PISTP@SeaTurtleProject.org
- Volunteer Info: http://seaturtleproject.org/index.php/volunteer/
- Email: volunteer@bhic.org
- Website: https://www.bhic.org/sea-turtle-protection-program
- Email: caswellbeachturtle@gmail.com
- Phone: 910-368-6323
- Website: http://caswellturtlewatch.org/
- Email: okiseaturtleprotection@gmail.com
- Phone: 910.945.8888
- Website: https://okiseaturtle.org/
- Email: hbtwp.pc@icloud.com
- Website: http://www.hbturtlewatch.org/
- Email: oibseaturtles@gmail.com
- Website: http://oibseaturtles.org/
- Email: ssbtwp@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.sunsetbeachturtles.org/
WRC Contacts
Matthew Godfrey
Sea Turtle Biologist
252-728-1528
matt.godfrey@ncwildlife.org
Sarah Finn
Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator
910-742-7729
sarah.finn09@ncwildlife.org
Karen Clark
Community Science Specialist
252-305-5057
karen.clark@ncwildlife.org