Every fall and winter, sea turtles — many of them endangered Kemp's ridleys — wash up on Long Island's beaches, cold-stunned and unable to move. Without quick rescue, they don't survive. The New York Marine Rescue Center trains volunteer patrollers to walk designated beach sections, spot stranded turtles, and report them for pickup and rehabilitation.
This free online training session, hosted in partnership with The Whaling Museum, teaches you everything you need to know to become a certified Cold Stun Turtle Patroller: how to identify cold-stunned turtles, what to do (and what not to do) when you find one, and how the rescue pipeline works from beach to rehabilitation center.
It's a meaningful way to contribute to marine wildlife conservation right here on Long Island — and you can do it on your own schedule, walking a local beach once or twice a week during cold stun season. Training takes just one hour on Zoom.
When: Wednesday, October 1, 2026 · 7:00–8:00 PM
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: FREE
Note: Training by NY Marine Rescue Center. Open to all ages.
