How to help a stranded sea turtle? Hospital gets creative to show campers

Surf City's Sea Turtle Hospital's regular staff always looks forward to a bit of a break during the summer when their college interns arrive for their twelve-week program.

However, this year has them hopping. Not only with turtle care, nesting activity, and tours every day but also working with the kids from Sea Turtle Camp based in Wilmington.

This concept of an immersive program to learn about sea turtles was the creation and collaboration of Jen Civelli, a long-time hospital volunteer, and the hospital's founder Jean Beasley.

Campers work alongside and under the supervision of interns learning to know the turtles by name and begin to recognize the distinct species and personalities exhibited by each turtle.

There are many hands-on opportunities with the hospital's patients, along with some classroom-type of work. This year, the interns cooked up something pretty stimulating for the camper's two days program.

On the first day, interns use a plush turtle to introduce the stranding report. This intake form is completed by the individual responding to the stranding and the information is often supplemented when the turtle arrives at the facility.

Information includes the date and location of the strand, weight and measurements, species and any identifying tags or markings. Injuries and the general condition of the turtle are also noted. Using calipers and other tools of the trade the campers learn how to complete the form which becomes a permanent part of the patient’s file.

A copy is forwarded to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for aggregate data collection on North Carolina sea turtle activity.

On day two the students are informed the hospital has received a call reporting a turtle stranding, and they are all going along for the recovery. They are loaded into our hospital van with the typical recovery items like tanks and towels and driven to the front of our building.

But wait, there is a stranded turtle out there. They need to get to him quickly because he’s all tangled up in fishing gear and may have swallowed a balloon. Though it's actually intern Michael in our furry mascot suit and really does need rescuing.

Students rush over to the turtle, gently untangling him and hoisting him onto one of the transport carts used at the hospital. The victim is wheeled into the hospital where the students complete the stranding report, noting all the required information. It looks like this turtle is basically in good shape and thankfully hasn’t been out in the sun too long.

The last step is releasing turtle Michael, from his turtle suit, back into the wilds of the hospital. A pretty creative and engaging way to have kids learn about the rescue part of our work.

If you spot a nesting mama or anything unusual such as an injured or stranded turtle please call our director of beach operations Terry Meyer at 910-470-2880. If she is not available, you may call the hospital during operating hours at 910-329-0222. We will take the information and will send a trained volunteer to meet you to assess the situation.

The State of North Carolina hotline for stranded, sick, and injured turtles is 252-241-7367 and is open 24/7. Please note that all our work with sea turtles, at the hospital and on the beach, is authorized by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, ES Permit 22ST05.

The public tour schedule through the month of July is Monday-Friday, Noon-4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday from Noon-2 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance through our website at www.seaturtlehospital.org. Select the date, time and number of guests in your party and purchase your tickets. We limit the number of guests each time to make the experience more enjoyable.

We are not able to accommodate walk-ups for tours once we sell out for the day. Please keep in mind that summer traffic can be very heavy, especially on the weekends so plan your arrival accordingly. If you are coming only to our gift shop, you can enter through the single door to the left of the main entrance.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Surf City Sea Turtle Hospital assists campers in helping turtles