Caretta Research Project

Keep Our Turtle Team on the Move!

Help fund a new research vehicle for sea turtle conservation!

Join us in celebrating 53 years of sea turtle research and conservation on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge — Every gift helps us keep conservation moving safely and efficiently into the 2026 season!  This Giving Tuesday and Georgia Gives season, we’re raising $10,000 to purchase a new beach utility vehicle (UTV) — an essential tool for our daily operations on Wassaw. 

 Why It Matters

From nightly turtle patrols to nest excavations, our UTVs are the workhorses that make sea turtle research possible. They carry research and tagging gear, food and supplies, and dedicated volunteers! Your gift directly powers the team that protects Georgia’s sea turtles — and keeps our mission moving forward. 

The Caretta Research Project (CRP) is a hands-on conservation and education program dedicated to protecting the threatened loggerhead sea turtles that nest on Georgia’s coast. Since 1973, CRP has recorded 2,201 individual turtles,  successfully monitored 6,454 nests and released 440,915 hatchlings - all with the help of more than 3,800 passionate volunteers from all over the country! 

🌊 Why We Need Your Help

Our fieldwork depends on reliable transportation to patrol beaches, relocate nests, and respond quickly to flooding and storm events. Salt water and beach life is rough on our vehicles, and our goal is to raise $10,000 for a new UTV to continue our vital research and nest protection work on Wassaw.

Your Impact

Your GA Gives donation directly supports:

• Safe and efficient patrols along 7 miles of nesting beach

• Protection of thousands of eggs and hatchlings each season

• Hands-on research and educational opportunities for students and volunteers

💚 Raffle Giveaway Details*

For every $100 donated, you’ll be entered to win a prize basket valued at over $200!

CRP Merch: A T-shirt, hat, sunglasses strap, bandana, and sticker decals!

Name-Your-Own Sea Turtle Adoption Package, which includes 

• The unique opportunity to name an individual loggerhead sea turtle encountered on Wassaw NWR during the 2026 nesting season. 
• A personalized adoption certificate and nesting history for your turtle
• Sea turtle photograph and ornament 
• Social Media updates Social media updates on “your” turtle’s activity, tagging, and sightings

 Your Donation Makes You Part of the Story! Become part of CRP’s long-term scientific dataset and legacy!

All donations are 100% tax-deductible through our 501(c)(3) nonprofit.