Events & Programs

baby sea turtle being released into the ocean

Sea Turtle WorkshopJuly 6 - July 9, 2026

Join us in the height of Sea Turtle nesting season to get an immersive, behind the scenes experience of Sea Turtle conservation on the Georgia Coast. New this year, our Turtle Workshop aims to provide an opportunity for interested guests to engage with conservation beyond the daily Naturalist led activities, including dawn beach patrols, late night beach walks searching for nesting mothers, and guest researcher led talks. Participants will have the opportunity to observe a nest identification and exclosure, as well as participate in data collection and learn about active research projects. Join us for an unforgettable foray into beach field research, and for a chance to encounter these creatures at a critical step along their immense journey.

Enjoy all the wonders of a stay at Little St. Simons Island has to offer, including two sessions of guided Naturalists activities a day, with the addition of our Turtle Workshop activity offerings.

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Please note that this event will be open to guests of all ages, but will require the ability to bike up to 6 miles of beach, and walk up to 2 miles over sand in the dark with only red lights to guide. Workshop activities will include early morning beach patrols, which will aim to leave the lodge compound around 5:30am to match sunrise, and late-night beach walks, running between 9:00pm and midnight. Presentations will also be given covering Sea Turtle biology, conservation here on LSSI and the wider Georgia coast, and the ongoing research we participate in.

3-Night All-Inclusive Package $2175++

Package rates include lodging, three meals daily prepared by our chefs, non-alcoholic beverages, all Island activities including guided Naturalist excursions and use of recreation gear as well as boat transfers to and from the island. All rates are for double occupancy in The Hunting Lodge, River Lodge, Cedar House or Helen House. The Tom House and Michael Cottage rates are higher. An additional adult in the same room is $275 per night and children under 12 are $175 per night. A 19% service charge plus applicable taxes will be added to the above rates. Space is limited, so call 888-733-5774 between 9:00am and 5:00pm ET daily or email lodge@littlessi.com to check availability.

Field Studies

The waters off the Georgia coast are home to 4 species of sea turtles throughout the year, and while we mainly see nesting activity from Loggerhead Sea Turtles, nests of Green, Leatherback, or Kemp’s Ridley are not impossible. Since the 1980s, there has been an organized effort to conserve sea turtles and protect nesting habitat up and down the coast, now entailing daily nest searching on each of the 14 barrier islands along this 100 mile coast.

Thanks to the dedicated work of researchers and conservationists, we have seen a steady rebound of nesting sea turtle populations, but there is still much to learn about these incredible creatures. From protecting fresh nests, to inventories of hatched nests, to taking genetic samples, you could have a hand in this ongoing work!

Join Conservation Staff, Naturalists, and Georgia DNR researchers to gather data and observe field work in action! You’ll be joining this team on their hands-on research in the field and in an informal lecture setting during this 3-night event, while enjoying the endless natural beauty of Little St. Simons.

Activities

Dawn Beach Patrol: Bike the beach just after sunrise to assist with our routine turtle monitoring.

Late-Night Beach Walks: Join the Naturalists after dinner to walk the beach looking for nesting mothers.

Naturalist-led Adventures: Kayaking, safari excursions, hiking, birding, history excursions, etc.

Presentations: Led by island staff and Guest Researchers

Guest Researchers

Mark Dodd, Sea Turtle Program Coordinator with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Breanna Sorg, Wildlife Technician with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Mike Vrbanac, Ph.D. student at University of Central Florida’s Marine Turtle Research Group