2024 Sea Turtle Celebration and Fundraiser

Greetings, Turtle Lovers!

Staff and Board of the Caretta Research Project are excited to announce that our annual fundraiser, A Night on the River - Beaulieu will be held on Thursday, April 25!

The Caretta Research Project (CRP) is a hands-on research, conservation and education program dedicated to studying and protecting loggerhead sea turtles on Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge. In the 1960-70's, Georgia’s loggerheads faced many threats, leading to population declines. Savannah Science Museum, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Wassaw Island Trust recognized this decline and initiated the CRP.

The CRP is the longest continuously-run sea turtle tagging project in the US, and it is the only project in this country that invites the public to work beside biologists to help protect these magnificent animals.

Over the last 51 years, the CRP has celebrated much success due to our conservation efforts on Wassaw. These include:

  • Significantly increasing the numbers of nests and individual turtles nesting since 1973
  • Tagging and studying 2,117 individual turtles
  • Protecting 6,067 nests, releasing over 418,700 hatchlings
  • Involving more than 3,700 people from all 50 states and 6 countries in hands-on sea turtle research and conservation
  • Producing 60+ scientific publications and 30 presentations

This year, CRP’s annual fundraiser will be hosted at beautiful Beaulieu, on the Vernon River.  This is an al fresco event, casual and comfortable, with live entertainment, libations, Big Bon Pizza and the Red Taco Truck, and an exclusive silent auction.  

On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors, we hope you will join us in celebrating CRP’s successful conservation efforts!

Hope to see you on the River!

Sincerely yours,

Kris W. Carroll, Executive Director (WassawCRP@aol.com) 912-704-9323

Carrie Bazemore, Board of Directors President (carriebazemore@icloud.com) 912-844-2038

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Donations are kindly accepted HERE

Information about sponsor levels and benefits can be found here.

If you'd like to donate an auction item, please download this form.

2024 Fundraiser Sponsors

No items found.

Arribada Level

$ 1 5 , 0 0 0 +

Provides for one new Kawasaki UTV and maintenance used for beach patrols
Includes: 10 Event Tickets + overnight experience for 2 to Wassaw with CRP biologist

Letherback Level

$ 1 0 , 0 0 0


Provides island accommodations for staff and volunteers for 6 weeks
Includes: 10 Event Tickets + daytrip for 4 to Wassaw, including lunch and island tour by CRP biologist

No items found.

Loggerhead Level

$ 7 , 5 0 0


Provides scientific research supplies, publication fees and technology for the year
Includes: 10 Event Tickets + daytrip for 3 to Wassaw, including lunch and island tour by CRP biologist

No items found.

Green Level

$ 5 , 0 0 0

Provides college internships to assist the biologists on Wassaw for the season

Includes: 10 Event Tickets + daytrip for 2 to Wassaw, including lunch and island tour by CRP biologist

Kemps' Ridley Level

$ 2 , 5 0 0

Provides fuel for beach patrols throughout the season - Includes: 10 Event Tickets

Hawksbill Level

$ 1 , 5 0 0

Provides screens for nest protection against predators - Includes: 6 Event Tickets

Flatback Level

$ 1 , 0 0 0

Provides microchip tags and scanners for the season - Includes: 4 Event Tickets

Hatchling Level

$ 5 0 0

Provides meals for two weeks for staff and volunteers - Includes: 2 Event Tickets

Clutch Level

$250

Provides metal flipper tags for the season - Includes: 1 Event Ticket

In-Kind Level

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Silent Auction Donors:

EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES

Guided Tour of Okefenokee- Cathy Sakas

All-Day Naturalist Trip to Wassaw with John "Crawfish" Crawford

Blackwater Paddle for Two on Ebenezer Creek - Wilderness Southeast

3/4 Day Tarpon Fishing Trip - Silver Dream Charters

5-Hour Flyfishing Trip for 2 Anglers - Tall Tides Charters

Shark Tooth Fossil Hunt for up to Six People - Bull River Marina

Sunset Cruise on a 32' WorldCat Power Catamaran for 8 - Savannah Distributing Co., Inc.

One Day Fly  Fishing Trip for Two - Wesley Hodges Fly Fishing

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Four VyStar Club Level Seat Tickets for Savannah Ghost Pirates Hockey - Savannah Distributing Co., Inc.

Savannah Bananas Homeplate Experience for Four - Savannah Distributing Co., Inc.

EnMarket Arena Box Seats for One Event for Four - Savannah Distributing Co., Inc.

Two Hours of Harp and Violin at a Private Event - New Arts Ensembles

Four Passes to the Tybee Light Station and Museum - Tybee Light Station and Museum

Four Passes to the Tybee Marine Science Center - Tybee Marine Science Center

60-min Segway Tour of Historic Savannah for Two Guests - Adventure Tours in Motion / Segway of Savannah

Round of Mini Golf for Four Guests - Bogeys Sports Bar and Mini Golf

One Day Set UP of Two Umbrellas and Four Chairs for a Day on Tybee Island - North Beach Rentals

One Day Golf Cart Rental - Tybee Golf Carts

TRAVEL

Two Night Stay for Two Guests - The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

Two Night Stay for Two Guests - JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District

Five Night Stay at Gardenia Cottage - Ruth Weimar

ART

Original Framed Sea Turtle Oil Painting - Caroline Guenthner

Original Art - Bellamy Murphy

Original Art - Winslett Watson

Sea Turtle Sculptural Art Piece - Joshua and Autumn Gary

Original Paintings by Bradlee Shanks - Barbara and Larry Perlis

Original Painting by Benjamin F. Turner, Jr. - Barbara and Larry Perlis

Original Painting - Tessa Parker

Original Paintings - LaTrelle Ferrelle

Original Art - June Stratton

Original Art - Kurtis Schumm

Original Painting - Marcus Kenney

Original Painting - Jennifer Nolan Art

Original Painting - Bernard Nolan Art

Original Art - Scott Whitten Designs

Original Art - Betsy Cain

Photograph - Bryan Stovall

Original Paintings - Hillary Dunn

Armadillo Basket - Bill Eswine

Shell Mirror and Shell Bust - Ruth Weimar

Fashion and Jewelry

Gemstone Necklace with Charms - Britt's Funky Stitch

Necklace - Whip Savannah

$100 Gift Certificate and Sunglasses - Mandy and Ally

Jewelry - Scott Whitten Designs

Necklace and Cuff - Ruth Weimar

Summer Ensemble - Summer House

$300 Gift Certificate and Party - J. Paige

Tusting Purse - Mermaid Cottages

Necklace - Found Jewelry

OUTDOOR GEAR

Two Bags Made from Repurposed Sails (Sew Not Wasted) - Mermaid Cottages

Gear Package - Patagonia

12' DeFENDER Boat Fender - Ruth Weimar / DeFENDER Boat Works

Bote Breeze 11' Paddle Board - Bote

Perception Drift 9.5' Kayak - Savannah Canoe and Kayak

HOME AND GARDEN

Sea Turtle Laser Etched Carafe with Four Stemless Wine Classes - HullSpeed Designs

Oystershell Centerpiece - Tides Out Oystershell Designs

$25 Gift Certificate and Eco Friendly Cup - Kelly and Company

SERVICES

Family Photo Session - Lisa Barksdale Photography

Anti-Aging Skin Rejuvenation Party for Eight - RenewalMD

Three Month Membership and One Personal Training Session - Fit Gym

Dental Services Basket - Savannah Dental

Senior Experience Photo Session with $200 Print Credit - Stayce Koegler Photography

FOOD AND SPIRITS

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon - 23 year - Randall's Beverage Center

$100 Gift Certificate - North Beach Bar and Grill

Basket of Spirits - Ghost Coast Distillery

Blanton's - Savannah Distributing Co., Inc.