About Us

SEA TURTLE PATROL HILTON HEAD ISLAND

2026 Season: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

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Historical trends allow us to prepare for the 2026 nesting season: Exceeding the average nesting density with the Expectation of entering into a record-breaking sea turtle nesting season May-August 2026.

This trend follows snow events. Although rare for our area, freezing temperatures can stifle food source production. Female loggerheads require a robust body condition to enter into a nesting season. Reduced food supply may have extended the interval between nesting seasons for female loggerheads that were expected to nest in 2025.

In addition to the extra “Boots on the Sand” effort that will be Expected from the STPHHI staff, volunteers will continue to Exceed strategic plan goals with the advancement of the USCB HHI DNA Lab, Educational Programming in the HHI Public Schools, and Outreach for the Ecotourism Experience.

Amber Kuehn, Executive Director

Years Monitoring Sea Turtles on HHI!

All About Sea Turtles

Learn More About Sea Turtles and Our Nest Counts Over the Years

Learn More

CLICK HERE TO VIEW 2025 Nesting season Statistics

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island

What we do

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (STPHHI) is a dedicated volunteer organization that plays a crucial role in monitoring and protecting sea turtles on Hilton Head Island by doing the following:

From May 1st through the end of hatching season, the Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island diligently patrols 14 miles of beach. Their purpose is to locate sea turtle tracks, identify and confirm nests, and mark them using poles and flagging tape. Each nest is carefully documented, GPS recorded, and monitored throughout the entire incubation period to help ensure successful hatching.

To safeguard the nests during incubation, approximately 50% of the nests are carefully moved to higher ground, away from the king high tide line.

The organization promotes awareness about these endangered species through public education and outreach efforts. They spread knowledge about sea turtles and their struggle for survival.

Learn More About Sea Turtles

Our Mission

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island provides monitoring, support, and awareness of sea turtle nesting to promote the continued existence of these endangered species.

Our Vision

Recognized by the community and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as the steward for the preservation of sea turtles and their nesting habitat.

meet OUR team

Patrol Team Members

Sea Turtle Patrol Auxiliary Members

Sea turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island

A Passionate Patrol Team

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island is a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 82-3642853) dedicated to monitoring and supporting sea turtle nesting and hatching activity on Hilton Head Island’s beaches. All volunteer fieldwork is conducted under the direction of SCDNR permit holder Amber Kuehn. In addition to conservation efforts, we provide public education and outreach to raise awareness and advocate for these endangered species.

Our specially trained Patrol Team is responsible for conducting daily beach monitoring, documenting nesting activity, and supporting hatchling success throughout the season, per SCDNR requirements.

Our Auxiliary Members (STP AUX) play a vital supporting role by assisting with outreach, education, and organizational efforts that strengthen our mission and community impact.

Executive Director

Amber kuehn

After college, while working as a divemaster for a local dive shop on Hilton Head Island, Amber Kuehn experienced a close encounter with a loggerhead sea turtle at the wreck of the Eagle’s Nest, 16 miles offshore. From that moment, sea turtle conservation became a driving force in her personal and professional life. Amber has been volunteering on sea turtle nesting beaches for 26 years in locations including Hilton Head Island, Ft. Lauderdale, and Maui. Her master’s degree in marine biology was focused on sea turtle research. As new discoveries are made, the information evolves, but her passion for helping this endangered species remains consistently strong. Amber is proud of the Sea Turtle Patrol HHI organization and the work done by several volunteers to maintain not only the day-to-day monitoring but also our essential fundraising efforts to sustain these activities.

We have exciting plans for the future to provide more opportunity for visitors and residents to be involved and experience the wonder that gets us out on the beach at 5:00 am for patrol!

-Amber

Recognitions

2024 Zonta Woman of the Year

Listen to “5 Questions with Amber”

How does STP AUX help Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island?

Community Presence & Outreach: STP AUX is part of the community year-round. From Turtle Trots and HarbourFest to local markets, events, and festivals, members are out sharing information, answering questions, and helping residents and visitors learn how they can support nesting sea turtles.
Docents (Outreach Guides): Docents support Turtle Talks by welcoming guests, answering questions, helping with setup, and leading simple, interactive activities. They also track participation to help strengthen and grow outreach efforts.
Sand Management – “Putting the Beach to Bed” with Sea Turtle Patrol: This weekly, group-led activity brings guests onto the beach to learn about nesting sea turtles while helping provide a safe nesting habitat. Participants remove litter and smooth the sand, creating a safer, more natural path for nesting loggerheads and emerging hatchlings. This weekly nesting season activity shows how small actions can make a big difference.
Administrative & Fundraising Support: STP AUX helps keep things running behind the scenes by organizing details, supporting events, and assisting with fundraising efforts that provide essential resources for sea turtle protection.
Classroom Education: STP AUX brings sea turtle education into Hilton Head classrooms through hands-on lessons aligned with South Carolina standards. These programs connect conservation with STEM learning and introduce students to sea turtle preservation.
Special Projects & Creative Events: STP AUX supports a range of special projects and events, from parades to outreach initiatives and community partnerships. Our program continues to grow in areas like DNA lab support, pocket beach walkers, and local business engagement all while playing an important role in supporting the mission of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island.

Meet The Auxiliary

Teamwork makes the dream work.

Sea Turtle Patrol Auxiliary Hilton Head Island (STP AUX) is a group of island residents that perform volunteer actions to support the efforts of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island’s outreach programming. STP AUX Teams help to fulfill our program’s mission.