2025 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 - Eastern Wharf will be held on Thursday, April 10!

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 52 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 2,162 individual turtles
  • Protecting 6,285 nests, releasing over 433,195 hatchlings
  • Involving more than 3,750 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 Eastern Wharf, on the Savannah River.  This is an al fresco event, casual and comfortable, with live entertainment, libations, Slow Fire BBQ 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.

2025 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

No items found.

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

Day Trip to Wassaw NWR with John "Crawfish" Crawford - Subtropical Naturalist

Okefenokee Trip - Cathy Sakas

Blackwater Paddle for 2-6 People - Wilderness Southeast

Catamaran Ride - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Day Trip to Dig Turtle Nests with CRP - Caretta Research Project

Savannah Bee Company Basket and Tour - Savannah Bee Company

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Two-Night Stay at the JW Marriott Savannah with $150 Restaurant Credit - JW Marriott Savannah

Four District Live Tickets with $200 Restaurant Gift Certificate - JW Marriott Savannah

Private Box to see Savannah Ghost Pirates - Wynn Cowan

Four Tickets for Any Show - Savannah Historic Theater

Savannah Bananas Tickets - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Tickets for Ghost Pirates Hockey - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Enmarket Event - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Four Tickets to Deirks Bentley Concert - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Four Tickets to Brad Paisley Concert - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

Two Tickets to a Braves Game - Savannah Distributing Co. Inc.

TRAVEL

Downtown Savannah Vacation Rental - Dr. and Mrs. JT Prather

Gardenia Cottage - Ruth Weimar

ART

Original art by Kurtis Schumm -Kurtis Schumm

Original art by Kurtis Schumm - Mermaid Cottages

Original Art - Marcus Kenney

Original Art - Catherine Guenthner

Original Oil Painting - Kim Reed

Original Art - Catherine Lovett

Original Art - Anna Giles

Original Art - Tessa Parker

Original Art - Lou Dixon

Original Art - Maddie Grace Art

Original Art - Jennifer Nolan

Original Art - Bernard Nolan Art

Framed Photo - AdLib Photography

FASHION AND JEWELRY

Necklace - Britt's Funky Stitch | Custom Jewelry & Embroidery

Bracelets - Ruth Weimar

Jewelry - Justine Vanderlugt

Jewelry - Whip Savannah Handmade Jewelry (@whipsavannah) • Instagram photos and videos

Jewelry - Found Jewelry

OUTDOOR GEAR

Boat Fender - Ruth Weimar

HOME AND GARDEN

Hand Quilted Sea Turtle Quilt - Dawn and Heather

Basket - Glow MedSpa: Award-Winning Botox & Fillers in Savannah

Armadillo Basket - Bill Eswine

Oyster Centerpiece - Tide's Out

Floral Centerpiece - Jan Curran and Wayne Willis

Camellia - Dr. and Mrs. Anita Poole

Sea Turtle Serving Board - HullSpeed Designs

SERVICES

LASIK Surgery by Jennifer Bromley, MD - Georgia Eye Institute

One UltraClear 3D MIRACL Laser Treatment - RenewalMD

Glow Up Package - RenewalMD

Lisa Barksdale Photography

Full Face of Distort not exceeding 100 Units - Refine Asthetics - Martina Kolovich

Swimming Lessons for a Child - Swimming to Erin - Erin Shaw

Pilates - Georgia James Pilates

Three-Month Membership - Fit Gym

Ten Classes at Pure Barree Savannah - Pure Barre Savannah

FOOD AND SPIRITS

Chef's Tasting with Wine Pairings for Two - Repeal 33

Tequila Basket - Randall's Beverage

Pappy Von Winkle - Randall's Beverage

Blantons and Bourbon - Carrie Bazemore

Wine - Siete Palomas

Wine - Dr. Robert Beard