Meet the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island Volunteers

Jack's love for sea turtles blossomed during a snorkeling trip in Hawaii. After moving permanently to Hilton Head Island, he began volunteering at Turtle Talks before being asked to join Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island in 2015 and has been an active member ever since. Jack finds joy in all aspects of patrolling, from locating nests to witnessing hatchlings making their way to the ocean.

After retiring from corporate incentive travel, Kathy sought to make a difference. After attending a Turtle Talk, she found her calling in sea turtle conservation. A relative newcomer to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, Kathy’s enthusiasm and dedication make her a valuable member of the team. 

Kym's childhood adventures in New England sparked a lifelong passion for wildlife. Now on Hilton Head Island, she continues her love for nature by volunteering with Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. Among her favorite patrol activities, Kym enjoys examining loggerhead tracks and investigating nest chambers. 

Janet’s love for the ocean and sunrise walks led to a deep passion for sea turtles, sparked by a memorable encounter with a nesting Loggerhead on Hilton Head Island. She began volunteering with the Sea Turtle Patrol auxiliary and as a spotter on the pocket beaches.
 

Janet’s dedication to sea turtle and ocean conservation shines through in her work with local schools and island events. Her enthusiasm, commitment, and energetic, contagious smile make her a valued and inspiring member of the Sea Turtle Patrol HHI team.

Kathy was lucky to witness a loggerhead nest boil on Isle of Palms beach over ten years ago. That chance encounter sparked an interest in learning more about sea turtles and efforts towards sea turtle conservation. Now that she's closer to full retirement from public accounting, Kathy looks forward to devoting more time to learning about and volunteering with these magnificent creatures.

Lauren's been enthralled by sea turtles for as long as she can remember, but her connection to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island dates back to her high school years on Hilton Head Island, where she was inspired by her “spunky blonde coworker”, Amber Kuehn, and her work with the organization. 25 years later, Lauren would again cross paths with Amber, which inspired her to become a Turtle Tracker before being asked to join the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. In addition to her duties on the beach, Lauren serves as the patrol’s Administrative Consultant and is on the Board of Directors. 

Paul's interest in nature photography, specifically photographing sunrises, led him to discover sea turtles on Hilton Head Island's beaches. After a year of walking Hilton Head Island’s shores, Paul connected with Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island and was asked to join. His enthusiasm for learning more about sea turtles and how he can contribute to their conservation efforts makes him a valuable team member. 

Mary's natural curiosity about beach habitats, science, and nature sparked her passion for sea turtle conservation. For a decade, she has been an active member of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, contributing to nest monitoring and supporting initiatives every step of the way. Mary considers sea turtle conservation a passion project unlike any other, and while the work is often demanding, she enjoys every minute of it.  

Morgan grew up vacationing on Hilton Head Island before deciding to move here full-time over five years ago. Morgan has always been curious about nature, and this curiosity guided her to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. Her extensive knowledge of sea turtles and the regulations Hilton Head Island has in place to protect them makes Morgan a valuable resource for ensuring everyone is doing their part to help with loggerhead conservation efforts. 

Kim has felt a deep connection to sandy shores since her childhood along Lake Ontario in New York. After moving to Hilton Head in 2008, she felt as though she had returned to the beaches of her youth. Watching Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers at work along the shoreline, she knew she had found her dream volunteer opportunity.
 

Encouraged by the kindness of current members, Kim joined the Patrol and now enjoys serving as a positive community influence through nest monitoring, public education, and shoreline protection efforts. Her involvement has also enriched her artistic life — she sculpts clay sea turtles that help raise awareness about the marine wildlife that shares our shores.

Nanci's lifelong dedication to marine biology and conservation led her to co-found Project Turtle Watch and the South East division of the SC Marine Mammal Stranding Network. She has always loved the ocean and has worked tirelessly to help preserve the wonderful creatures who call it home. This work ethic is what led her to join Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. As a patrol volunteer, Nanci continues her legacy of protecting marine life and advocating for sea turtle conservation.
 

Ray's volunteer work at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn introduced him to sea turtle conservation. Now a dedicated member of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island for over a decade, Ray's enthusiasm and experience are unmistakable. He starts his days at 4 a.m., ready to hit the beach and contribute to the team's efforts in protecting sea turtles and their nesting sites.

Susan's extensive background in teaching marine science and biology fuels her commitment to sea turtle conservation. In addition to regular beach patrols, Susan is known for giving turtle talks in local hotels — sharing the story of sea turtles with visitors and locals and inspiring future generations of conservationists. She is also part of the nest dedication team. 

Martin’s first encounters with sea turtles came during his time sailing in tropical waters and fishing in the Gulf Stream off Hilton Head Island. His passion for these endangered creatures was deeply strengthened after witnessing nesting turtles and emergences on the beach.  Seeing his passionate enthusiasm and tireless volunteer efforts, he was invited to join Sea Turtle Patrol HHI and thoroughly enjoys every sunrise searching for turtle tracks.

In the summer of 2021, Sarah and her kids met Amber Kuehn and the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island while on the beach in the late evening, helping to "put the beach to bed." As Sarah learned more about the sea turtles nesting on Hilton Head Island, her devotion to Sea Turtle Patrol HHI grew even stronger. Passionate about protecting the coastal ecosystem, Sarah shares her love for sea turtles and the environment with her students at Hilton Head Island Elementary School and with anyone she meets on the beach. Just like Sarah, her family has embraced this mission wholeheartedly, making their shared commitment to conservation a meaningful part of their lives together.

Born and raised on Hilton Head Island, Skyler's childhood fascination with wildlife evolved into a career in wildlife biology. With a Master of Science Degree in Zoology from Colorado State
University, her education and expertise are invaluable to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island’s nest monitoring and community outreach efforts.
 

Taylor's experience in endangered species conservation brought her to Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. In addition to nest monitoring activities, she has spent her seasons with the Patrol assisting in nest data collection and serving as the Town Liaison. Taylor has utilized her skills to protect several natural habitats and is delighted to now be volunteering for sea turtle conservation initiatives. 

Wendy's passion for environmental education and beach conservation led her to join Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. After retiring from teaching, Wendy earned her certification as a Lowcountry Master Naturalist and is now contributing her time to protecting sea turtles and educating others about their importance.

Valerie grew up with a deep love for animals and the ocean. She vacationed on Hilton Head Island for many years before retiring here in 2021. She has enjoyed learning about the local wildlife and had the good fortune to see a nesting loggerhead. In this moment, she knew she found the passion that would bring meaning and fulfillment to her retirement.