Friends of Coastal SC

06/11/2026

Busy mamas 🐢

It’s been one of the busiest nesting seasons on record at Cape Romain! 1,318 nests have been inventoried as of today! Estimating an average of around 125 eggs per nest that brings us to a whopping…
🎉56,830 incubating hatchlings🎉

We’re lucky to have the Cape Romain turtle crew monitoring and protecting these island. Because of their efforts, those incubating eggs are given a fighting chance!

*All sea turtle monitoring by this group is permitted and authorized by the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program under Marine Turtle Permit # SCDNR MTP – 563*

06/09/2026

The future of conservation is in good hands 🤲🏼
Earth Stewards leave behind more than just a handprint, they leave a promise.

Throughout the school year, these 5th graders visit their local wildlife refuges four times, exploring habitats, conducting field science investigations, and discovering what it means to care for the natural world around them. They asked questions, made observations, got their hands dirty, and learned that stewardship starts with small actions that can make a big difference.

This final handprint is a symbol of their commitment to protecting the places, plants, and wildlife they’ve come to know and appreciate. We are so proud of the curiosity, dedication, and heart they brought to every adventure.

06/05/2026

This week in Cape Romain 🌊

It’s been another great week at Cape Romain. The crew is still out working hard this morning and final counts for the week will be out soon. As of yesterday the refuge had reported 981 nests!

Do you think we’ll get to 1,000 nests by the end of the day??

*All sea turtle monitoring by this group is permitted and authorized by the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program under Marine Turtle Permit # SCDNR MTP – 563*

06/04/2026

We’ve been reminiscing on an awesome year! The first week of summer break has us looking back on some of our final Earth Stewards programs!

Over the course of their 5th grade year these Earth Stewards made incredible growth both academically and personally. There is something truly special about getting kids out in nature, specifically their public lands. We’re just lucky to get to witness it! Here’s to many more discoveries made over the summer!

05/29/2026

First week on the job ✅

Meet FOCSC sea turtle intern Trenity! Her first week has been an eventful one out on the refuge. Read about her first couple days below!

“From early mornings on the beach to long days on the field, I’ve had an amazing time during my first ever week with the Sea Turtle Monitoring program on Cape Romain Refuge. I’ve already learned more about sea turtle nesting behavior, the importance of dunes for our turtles and hatchling/nest threats.”

“I’ve also learned about the importance of relocation (pictures of the blue poles, we did 14 today alone!) for our sea turtles, excavating anywhere from 80 to 150 eggs in one nest, hopefully increasing the chance of survival for our hatchlings we’ll encounter later this year. The season is already shaping up to be an exciting one, with nearly 700 nests recorded so far. If these numbers continue it could be our biggest year yet.”

*All sea turtle monitoring by this group is permitted and authorized by the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program under Marine Turtle Permit # SCDNR MTP – 563*

05/26/2026

☀️🌈last week of school!🌈☀️

It’s hard to believe the 2025-2026 school year is coming to a close. Looking back on this year we realize that it truly might be all sunshine and rainbows.

We are so thankful for the opportunities this year has brought and for the incredible adventures we’ve gotten to share with students across the state.

Our hope is that these students continue to explore their SC public land this summer! Get outdoors, go explore, go discover. Happy summer!

05/22/2026

Thank you for keeping nesting birds safe!

🌞 Happy Holidays! Check out our map to see which areas are temporarily closed to protect nesting birds. These closures may change depending on bird activity, so please look for signs, flagging, and ropes when you visit. You’re welcome to enjoy the open areas of the refuge—just remember, pets aren’t allowed on the refuge islands or the pier at Garris Landing. Thanks for visiting and helping keep our nesting birds safe!

05/22/2026

PSA✍️✍️✍️

05/19/2026

100+ Nests!

This season had a bit of a slow start, but things are starting to pick up. We are so excited for what’s to come! Stay tuned all summer long to keep up-to-date with hatching and nesting activity out on the refuge.

*All sea turtle monitoring by this group is permitted and authorized by the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program under Marine Turtle Permit # SCDNR MTP – 563*