Sea Turtle Camp Reviews

Missy from Gurnee, IL – “I had the time of my life at Sea Turtle Camp. My favorite part was the nest excavation. It was a dream come true to see turtle hatchlings. I have learned so much about marine biology. It was so cool meeting people who share the same interest in turtles as me. The counselors made the experience so much fun for all of us. I have made friends who will last forever. From now on, I promise to make a stand and make the oceans a safer environment for all marine life. I want to thank everyone for the most incredible experience of my entire life. I have made memories that will last a life time.”

Macie from Huntersville, NC – “ The camp was amazing. This was hands down the best marine biology camp I’ve ever been to!!!! The experience was incredible. I made so many new friends and got to work with my new favorite sea animal, the green sea turtle. Come to this camp and you will learn so much about turtles and our environment and how much we can make a difference.”

Morgan from Sandusky, OH – “ I had a blast! My roommates where fantastic, as were the rooms. My counselors were really nice and they worked well together. My intern at the Hospital was great, and I learned a lot! So fun! Can’t wait to come back next year!”

Parent from Dallas, Texas – “I wanted to let you know that Annabelle made it home filled with stories about camp and how fabulous it was…even better than last year! She made lots of new friends and enjoyed everyone in her group and raved about all of the counselors. She loved the accommodations and said the food was great. She couldn’t stop talking about what her group did and loved the educational aspect of the camp along with the fun. She is already talking about going next year….maybe somewhere tropical! Thank you so much and please extend our thanks to your wonderful staff!”

Dylan from Pasadena, MD – “ I missed the camp from the first hour I left. It was an amazing experience! I was shy at first but the instructors were the best! I made tons of friends and I am sure to go back next year! It was hard to say goodbye, but now I am even more excited to be a marine biologist!”

Lindsay from Arlington, VA – “This experience is once in a lifetime. If you like marine life, turtles, or are interested at all in the environment, you are going to love this camp. It was the most unbelievable experience of my entire life, and I loved every second of it. From SUPing, dissecting squids, to helping out at the hospital, every moment was amazing.”

Chloe from Elon, NC – “Sea turtle camp was really amazing! I learned so much and it made me want to be a marine biologist even more. The counselors were amazing! It was so much more fun and educational then I thought it would have been. My favorite parts were getting to see the sea turtles at the hospital, the surfing lessons, and being able to watch a sea turtle cover her nest and watch her go back into the ocean.”

Sarah from Charlotte, NC– “I loved this camp! Every day had something new to explore and do. The campers and I formed pretty close friendships, and we’re now keeping in touch in whatever way we can. I don’t think anything needs to be changed; this camp met every expectation I had. I can’t wait to go out into the world helping to save sea turtles!”

Leah from Branford, CT – “I had an absolutely amazing time at sea turtle camp! I liked working at the turtle hospital and doing the outreach program. I learned so much, and retained all of it. The counselors were great, always very upbeat and fun and I felt so comfortable with them. I met a lot of great new people too, and I was sad to leave. I would love to go back.”

Gresham from Vancouver, BC, CANADA – “I really enjoyed Sea Turtle Camp. Our marine ecosystems are very different here in the Great White North – I mean here in Vancouver. Working in the Sea Turtle Hospital and cleaning out tanks is a lot cooler than you might think. By the time I was done, I had learned the name of every sea turtle in the hospital. I knew about their injuries and how the vets had put them back together – sometimes literally. I really admire the volunteers that go there every day and do not get paid. I also enjoyed teaching my family about everything I learned. I would recommend this camp and I look forward to going again.”

Rachel from Holly Springs, NC – “I came to Sea Turtle Camp with very high expectations and also a little bit of worry that it may not be able to live up to them, but it exceeded my expectations within the first few hours. I was never bored, we were always doing some kind of hands on activity. It was the best week ever, I had so much fun, and I learned a lot more about marine biology. I am also excited that I came home knowing to surf and stand up paddle board.”

Mikayla from Chaumont, NY – “My experience with Sea Turtle Camp was amazing. It was the best week of my life. I really enjoyed working at the Sea Turtle Hospital. I also really loved the surf lesson and SUP lesson. I had a blast with those. The nest walk was a lot of fun, and was a great experience. I will never forget the memories or the friends that I made at camp. This camp really enforced my interests in marine biology and coastal conservation. It was a great experience, and I’m so glad that I had this opportunity.”

Lia from Yarley, PA – “I know now the delicate balance that the ocean life has tremendously increased. We need to make a change and do something instead of saying something. There are many marine wildlife creatures that are suffering from our foolish mistakes. We need to own up to them instead of blaming others. More precautions should be taken and more awareness of the life of the ocean that is slowly dying. I hope that we will make a comeback by helping not just sea turtles but other species take back what was rightfully theirs. The future holds many things, let the sea turtles be in it.”

Tiffany from West Windsor, NJ – “The instructors are awesome, they know exactly how involved to be with the campers and are two of the nicest and most interesting people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Each experience helped me grow as a person and taught me to understand our environment on a deeper level. The chances to work and love the turtles at the hospital were a blessing and a dream come true; you become attached to those guys faster than you can imagine. I have always wanted to be a marine biologist, since I was a little girl, and this wonderful camp has helped me to realize how strongly and passionately I care, and how badly I want that dream to come true.”

Annabelle from Dallas, TX – “I’ll never experience anything more interesting, fun, and intriguing. To see and care for such amazing animals is something that is a once-in-a-life time experience and it brings me great joy to know that I was able to take part in such an amazing movement. Learning to surf, trawling, and seeing all the different types of fish, and working at the Hospital…I’ll never experience anything more interesting.”

Samantha from Saint Cloud, FL – “Sea Turtle Camp was definitely the most fun camp I have ever been to. The experiences we had were amazing and unforgettable and my interest in marine biology and the environment has increased due to the knowledge I gained here. I would recommend Sea Turtle Camp to anyone.”

Chris from Burlington, NC – “It was a very fun camp. I had several once in a life time experiences. For example I doubt I will ever feed sharks again. If I wasn’t too old then I would want to go for it next year. It was very fun.”

Lauren from Cary, NC – “Sea Turtle Camp was one of the best things I did all summer. I learned a lot from everything we did and everyone we met. I loved meeting the people that worked at the sea turtle hospital because they are so passionate about what they are doing. I want to thank everyone who was a part of my experience because it was so much fun and a great learning experience.”

Kayla from Painted Post, NY – “Nothing can compare to giving a turtle a back rub and watching it dance!”

Lissette from Charlotte, NC – “My camp experience changed my life. Between the amazing counselors, how much we learned, and the friends we made, I couldn’t ask for more. Jamie and Leah made us feel at home, and I learned more than I ever thought about the ecosystem and how our environment needs help. Having the experience to work with Jean and the turtles at the hospital really touched my heart and reinforced my desire to want to work with these animals. The friends I made, I still talk to every day and know we will be friends for life. I was so lucky to be able to be a part of this camp, and I’m so grateful.”

Cynthia from Cross Lanes, WV – “My favorite part was meeting everyone and seeing how they were all interested in the same thing as me. The nest walks were such an inspiration to wanting to help and understand more of the life of a sea turtle. Our dive instructor, Frank, explained everything about our dives extremely well. I enjoyed my time.”

Jen from Randolph, NJ – ” Sea Turtle Camp was life-changing for me. I made some amazing friends, learned what it was like to breathe underwater, helped sea turtles, and learned so, so much about marine biology! It has made me love marine science even more than I did before. After this camp, I am certain that marine biology is the path for me. This experience has not only taught me so much about marine life, but it has taught me how much that life needs our help. When camp ended, I felt like I could answer anything about conservation and I couldn’t wait to share it with my family and friends! I can honestly say it’s been pretty life changing. I have done some things people never get to do in their whole lives (like see a turtle nest hatch or go scuba diving!). Thank you sea turtle camp for making me a happier, smarter, and better person overall :)”

Alyssa from Plattsburgh, NY – ” Our scuba instructor Brian taught us well and I felt safe with him while diving. The Sea Turtle Camp counselors are funny and nice. Everything you do is an awesome experience. The rooms were amazing. I hope I can come back next summer for advanced scuba.”

Craig from Alplaus, NY – “Most amazing thing I have ever done, I learned a ton and had a blast while doing it. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I cannot wait to go scuba diving again. I will use all that I learned for the rest of my life. I am very hooked on surfing, SUP, and diving because of this camp. I have wanted to become a marine biologist for many years, and this camp convinced me that I have made the right choice regarding my future occupation. This camp has shown me that my love of the ocean and its inhabitants burns deeply within. “

Hana from Minato-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN – ” Sea Turtle Camp made this one of my best summers. I had so much fun learning about diving and working with the sea turtles made it an experience I could never forget. Also having the time to hang out with the other campers also created a friendship that will last forever. In all, this was the best camp I’ve been to and I will come back despite the fact that I live in Japan.”

Lia from Yardley, PA – “I enjoyed everything about camp. I was able to make new friends that had the same interests as me. The counselors were very nice and relaxed. Andre was the most precise scuba instructor I have ever had. I enjoyed every moment and wouldn’t have asked for a better time. My favorite part was going to the hospital and taking care of the inhabitants living there. It opened my eyes that the reason why most of them are there is because of what we humans do directly and indirectly. It showed me that some people are unaware of threatening a species to the brink of extinction. We need to educate the public of the harms that we have created for these gentle creatures. I believe that we will accomplish what needs to be done if we have the inner strength and will to fight back.”

Kayla from Painted Post, NY – “Nothing can compare to giving a turtle a back rub and watching it dance!”

Sofia from Rye, NY – ” I thought the camp was fantastic! I give it an 11 out of 10. I met so many new people that I will always remember. The camp was a very comfortable environment, which was especially important for me since I have never been to sleep away camp before. All the counselors were also very nice and always encouraged you to keep trying and working. I loved this camp so much and I was sad to leave.”

Lissette from Charlotte, NC – “My camp experience changed my life. Between the amazing counselors, how much we learned, and the friends we made, I couldn’t ask for more. Jamie and Leah made us feel at home, and I learned more than I ever thought about the ecosystem and how our environment needs help. Having the experience to work with Jean and the turtles at the hospital really touched my heart and reinforced my desire to want to work with these animals. The friends I made, I still talk to every day and know we will be friends for life. I was so lucky to be able to be a part of this camp, and I’m so grateful.”

Lauren from Chesapeake, VA – “I have been attending Sea Turtle Camp for two summers. First in North Carolina and now in Costa Rica and both times have been amazing! I look forward to Sea Turtle Camp all year. I have made so many friends and learned so much about sea turtles and ocean conservation. Sea Turtle Camp is an experience I will never forget. The Costa Rica camp was so much fun! We really got to learn about sea turtle nesting and be hands on with the sea turtle hatchlings and the nesting mothers I was in awe of it all. The nest excavation was so informative and so amazing I loved to save the few hatchlings left behind and to learn how many eggs did not hatch and how deep a nest actually is. I loved the whitewater rafting and zip lining was also very cool!”

Kate from Harvard, MA – “I have always had a passion for conservation, but until sea turtle camp, I had never done anything that I knew helped the earth so directly. I stepped off that plane in a new country and a new perspective on conservation and life began. The people I met shared my passion for saving those ancient animals and honestly cared about what happened to them. Even though it was not always easy to wake up at 11:30 at night and walk around on a beach for four hours, it was definitely worth it when we saw the nesting leatherback. I experience many new things that I wouldn’t have otherwise: eating more rice and beans than I ever thought I would, tropical whitewater rafting, exotic foods, going to a foreign country by myself and mostly seeing baby sea turtles scuttle down to the ocean to start their long journey in the Atlantic and the nesting leatherback. Everyone got really inspired.”

Parent from Summersville, WV – “ Thank you for all the updates from camp along the way. Serena had a wonderful experience and was so excited for this opportunity! ! We are so glad that we found your camp! Thanks again.”

Nika from Nampa, ID – “It was so cool to experience a new culture and to get out of our crowded and busy lives in the United States. The instructors were great, and interacting with real turtles and hatchlings was amazing! I loved seeing the hatchlings and digging up the nests, it was so interesting and cool. The activities we participated in gave us a taste of Costa Rican culture. I also loved zip lining and river rafting! The thrill and feelings were amazing. I’m so glad I went, and I’ve made new friends that I hope to keep forever.”

Parent from Boston, MA – “Kate has had a great time, though I’m sure it would have been much better had I been tagging along. This was a perfect combination of travel, education, and community service. We were looking for something that would be more than just a bunch of entitled kids traveling in Central America, and from what we have heard thus far, it was tremendous. Thanks for all your efforts!”

Anonymous – “That is how I like to go to camps- really heading out to do something fun and with adventure. Sea Turtle Camp opened my eyes further to the status of conservation of these creatures, and I really want to help them more now. Helping the sea turtles in Parismina was my favorite part. I loved the exhumations, even if I couldn’t stand the smell of the dead eggs, the night walks, even if I was tired and hungry and discouraged, and watching the baby turtles crawl down to the ocean on the beginning of their long journey. I loved it even if it wasn’t easy or always fun, but when we got to see all of the hatchlings and then the nesting turtle, it was all worth it.”

Callie from Virginia Beach, VA – “I would really recommend this camp to anyone! I did many things that I had never done before. Everyone got along well and I made new friends. I know I will never forget this camp. Because of Sea Turtle Camp I have become more environmentally conscious. It really did change the way I think. It was a wonderful experience and I just wish that everyone could get to see and do the things we did.”

Ilia, Decatur, GA – “I arrived at the camp a little nervous, but from the moment I arrived until the very end, the trip turned out to be a blast. All the other campers were funny and I made friends fast. Just being in Hawaii was awesome. When I signed up I thought 2 weeks would be the right length, but when the camp ended, I had had such a fun time hanging out with all my new friends and being in Hawaii, that I just wanted to stay another 2 weeks.”

Parent from Dallas, TX – “I wanted to tell you that she had an amazing time and loved everything! She wants to go again next summer. Thanks so much for the wonderful experience you provided. She keeps talking about everything she learned and the great counselors she had.”

Megan from Wentzville, MO – “The Sea Turtle Camp is one of the best experiences of my life. It changed my viewpoint on so many things. It was life changing. The counselors were very, very knowledgeable about everything and I trusted them immediately. I loved that camp and working with the sea turtles was like the most awesome thing. Not many people can experience the things that we experienced at that camp. I want to come back next year. And the sea turtles were so adorable you can’t help but get attached. One of the best choices I ever made was to go to the Sea Turtle Camp.”

Sadie from Durham, NC – “Sea Turtle Camp was a lot of fun. Before I went I thought I would be homesick, but after I got there we were so busy that I forgot about that. Our instructors were very friendly and a lot of fun. Being that this is a smaller camp you really get to know your instructors and the people around you. It was a lot of fun – a good balance between learning about marine life and fun.”

Matthew from Wilmington, NC – “It was a great experience because I learned a lot and had great activities. I love marine biology and now I know a lot about sea turtles. Also, I met other campers from all over.”

Samantha from St. Cloud, FL – “Sea Turtle Camp was definitely the most fun camp I have ever been to. The experiences we had were amazing and unforgettable and my interest in marine biology and the environment has increased due to the knowledge I gained here. I would recommend Sea Turtle Camp to anyone.”

Kevin from Atlanta, GA – “Sea Turtle Camp exceeded my expectations by a long shot, because I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about being away from home for 11 days, but by the end of the first couple of days I felt like I was having a blast. This camp got me very interested in marine biology, and it educated me on topics that I didn’t know had such a large effect on how marine species live their lives.”

Callie from Virginia Beach, VA – “I would really recommend this camp to anyone! I did many things that I had never done before. Everyone got along well and I made new friends. I know I will never forget this camp. Because of Sea Turtle Camp I have become more environmentally conscious. It really did change the way I think. It was a wonderful experience and I just wish that everyone could get to see and do the things we did.”

Bethany from High Point, NC – “It was absolutely amazing!!!!! It was really cool to go the sea turtle hospital, the aquarium, the nests and of course the beach!!! It was one of the best experiences of my life!!”

Callie from Harmony, NC – “I loved everything! My instructor knew every answer to every single question I had about the ocean/turtles. I knew I was going to have a great time, but it was even better than I expected.”

Zach, Wilmington, NC – “Beck came home and gave us presentations based on the stuff he had learned each day, sometimes even making his own pollution models. He loved pulling the seine nets in the Intracoastal. We had to go to the store and buy our own! Awesome!”

Chris from Burlington, NC – “It was a very fun camp. I had several once in a life time experiences. For example I doubt I will ever feed sharks again. If I wasn’t too old then I would want to go for it next year. It was very fun.”

Joon Sung from Tenafly, NJ – “I learned the importance of ecological stability, such as conserving plastics, and the anatomy of green sea turtles. The staff members were so fun and energetic; they always had a positive attitude. They were also great marine biologists who knew what they were talking about. I loved the surf and paddle boarding lessons because both activities were a first for me.”

Tesia from Apex, NC – “The presentation on the “Plastic Ocean” by Bonnie Montelone, opened my eyes to the great amount of trash in the ocean and how it greatly affects the marine life. I have now been informing others about recycling and buying less plastic products.”