Be a Volunteer On Our Beach

Frequently, people offer to join our group us as a volunteer.  The reality is, we have more willing volunteers than we have sections of beach.  First time volunteers usually start out as substitutes for the first couple of years.  

So, what do our volunteers do?  On April 4th, we held our 2023 season organizational meeting and accepted applications for new volunteers.

Our volunteers each patrol a section of beach that is approximately 1 mile in length one day a week, and commit to walking that section at daybreak (civil twilight).  New volunteers have an opportunity to become a substitute.  During turtle season (May 1 - August 31), our volunteers are usually the first ones on the beach each morning.  We cover the island from the south boundary of Ft. Clinch State Park to the north boundary of Amelia Island State Park on the south end.  The entire length is approximately 11.5 miles. If you are not and early riser, this is not the job for you. Daybreak is the best time to see turtle crawls clearly. Throughout the summer months, regular volunteers may go on vacation.  In that event, we use substitutes to fill in.  Some people prefer to substitute, as they are able to see different sections of the beach on different days.

If you are one of our volunteers, here is a reminder of the requirements and guidelines that you follow:   Volunteer Requirements & Guidelines 

For more information on what to look for, see our short volunteer training presentation.

Purchase a Sea Turtle License Plate?

If you are getting a new license plate, select the attractive sea turtle plate featuring a loggerhead hatchling crawling towards the surf.  If it is time to renew, make the switch to a sea turtle plate for your vehicle.  The sea turtle license plate is available in Florida through your local tax collectors office or county tag agency.

The sea turtle license plate was first offered for sale in February of 1998 and quickly became one of the most popular specialty plates in Florida.  The sea turtle plate is also one of the least expensive specialty plates in Florida.