Tag: georgia sea turtle center

Bandit Steals the Show

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

by Rachel Overmeyer, GSTC Rehabilitation Program Manager

Guests visiting The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) have the opportunity to meet different sea turtle patients during their visit. Currently, the largest patient, Bandit, steals the show, fully living up to his charismatic name.

Bandit is a juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) that stranded on Little St. Simon’s Island, GA on April 21, 2021. When Bandit arrived at the GSTC, there were a couple of things that stood out to the GSTC rehab staff that made Bandit special.

The first being Bandit’s size. On arrival Bandit was almost 2 feet and weighed 60 pounds. The average green sea turtle patient admitted to the GSTC weighs around 7 pounds and is less than a foot in length, so Bandit was certainly a sight to see!

Something else that the staff noticed were some small lesions on the skin and plastron (bottom shell) that were consistent with a virus called Fibropapillomatosis, causing tumors to form. The tumors can become large and impede movement, vision, and the turtle’s health overtime. After a few months of care, Bandit’s tumors were surgically removed with a CO2 laser purchased from funding support with donations acquired through the Jekyll Island Foundation.

The most significant finding, however, was a healed boat propellor wound, which damaged the spine, causing Bandit to have partial paralysis of the rear flippers as well as floatation issues. To aid his movement, Bandit currently has a weight pouch attached to the carapace (top shell) that aids in controlling buoyancy.

After analyzing the boat strike injury and determining the likelihood of recovery, Bandit has been deemed a non-releasable sea turtle. The GSTC is in the process of finding a forever home within a Zoo or Aquarium. Bandit’s care is the top priority for the staff and while Bandit has been deemed a healthy turtle, the staff are making sure that Bandit has the proper nutrition, medical care, and enrichment needed to maintain physical and mental health, until a permanent home can be found.

So be sure to stop by and visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and Bandit but be careful because your heart might just be stolen too!

The Jekyll Island Foundation’s funding supports the Center’s rehabilitation mission helping every turtle’s journey to heal, with a goal of making it back home. To help support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, click HERE. To learn more about the Jekyll Island Foundation, click HERE.

New Sea Turtle Superhero Heeds Call at GSTC

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

with Shane Boylan, DVM, JIA’s Georgia Sea Turtle Center

When Shane Boylan says he was once part of the Turtle Team, he doesn’t mean he lived in a sewer system by day and was out fighting bad guys by night. The bad guy part, perhaps. But the fight has not been with a team of Ninja-trained shelled superheroes, or against pretend predators, but rather against the realities of beach litter and pollution, dangerous fishing nets, habitat erosion, and a myriad of ongoing threats and stressors to sensitive marine life.

Boylan fights the fight to save sea turtles and fellow marine life by day, and by night. As the new veterinarian at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, Boylan took on the charge just this April, when fellow turtle-saving superhero and founder of the Center, Dr. Terry Norton retired.

Boylan, a graduate of North Carolina State CVM, recently sat down to chat in his few and far between minutes of free time, to talk about what brought him to Jekyll Island’s wildlife saving hub, and his current and future visions for the island’s unique sea turtle rescue haven.

Q: Can you briefly describe your background in the “sea turtle business”? This isn’t a position I would imagine comes around very often!

A: At NC State CVM (North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine), they have a Turtle Team where students treat native (and some non-native) chelonids (a genus of turtles in the tortoise family, such as the Galapagos Giant Tortoise) as an extracurricular part of their veterinarian training. I intentionally went to NC State because I attended an open house as a high school student. I saw Mr. T, an injured box turtle, that was rehabbed together with screws and wire.

After I saw that, I knew I could help fix all those turtles on the side of the road. I spent the majority of my free time on the Turtle Team, and I was its president in my third year. I got to treat hundreds of turtles in my four years (we had more than 300 cases in one year alone). That kind of experience is unique. We had sea turtle specific lectures and several trips to The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (in Surf City, NC). I also began working with the Turtle Survival Alliance in vet school. Twenty-plus years later, I still work with them. They have a breeding center near Charleston, where I was their vet for a number of years. I consult with them almost daily as part of their veterinary team. I’ve (completed) years of fieldwork with the Hicatee (Dermatemys mawaii) [white turtle] in Belize as part of the TSA. I helped to build the South Carolina Aquarium’s sea turtle program (during the past) 14 years. I’ve worked with South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on a variety of sea turtle projects including three different tours during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This led me to winning the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Award in 2015.

I have experience with a very diverse group of Chelonians. I’ve treated one species that is extinct in the wild and has less than 50 members left alive in human care. I mention the diverse turtle experience because medicine from an Eastern box turtle (like a feeding tube, radiograph, impaction) directly translates to fixing sea turtles. I’ve been treating chelonids daily now for over two decades. Personally, I also have a few dozen chelonids that had health issues too complicated for anyone to tackle.

Q: The GSTC is a treasure for the Georgia coast. How did you first learn about the Center and what drew you to being a part of, and importantly, the new veterinarian of, it?

A: Dr. Norton is the living father of wildlife medicine, in particular sea turtles. Everyone knows about the GSTC because of him. I started at the South Carolina Aquarium in 2007, the same time Dr. Norton opened the GSTC. I came to the GSTC and patterned the AZA award winning sea turtle hospital on the GSTC concept.

Q: Prior to taking on this role, any sweet childhood turtle memories?

A: I have plenty of turtle stories. When it comes to sea turtle specific, I visited The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center as a child. Seeing all the injured sea turtles in tanks was an inspiration. Jean Beasly [mother of Karen Beasley] is a hero of mine; she was like the fairy grandmother of sea turtles. I’ve worked with her, and her sea turtles, for nearly two decades. Her commitment to their survival is unique.

Q: This sounds obvious and a bit silly, but why is protecting our sea turtle population important? Do most people realize this?

A: There is an intrinsic value in every species. If you remove sea turtles as a viable species, the damage to the ocean and beach ecologies would be catastrophic. From an emotional standpoint, the coastlines have value because we appreciate seeing the 40-year-old sea turtle female coming ashore to lay her eggs, and then we get to watch the nest hatch some 60 days later. The life history of sea turtles is a reminder of perseverance and the fragility of existence. Most people connect with the entire ocean when they learn of the life history of sea turtles.

Q: Dr. Norton was the leader of the Center from the start; what is it like filling his shoes?

A: He is the G.O.A.T. of sea turtle medicine and wildlife medicine in the U.S.! He taught many of my mentors, making him one the most experienced, practicing veterinarians in the world. It’s intimidating trying to fill the shoes of the Michael Jordan of wildlife medicine. Thankfully, we have taught shell repair labs together, and I’ve learned from him for two decades. He is always willing to help, and he’s a great resource.

Q: What are long term goals or plans you hope to achieve while at the Center?

A: I always try to improve veterinary medicine. I’ve been particularly successful in advancing medical science in fish and chelonids during my career. Part of that is getting the advanced technology put into practice. At the South Carolina Aquarium, our fundraising efforts were able to turn a med lab that was just a microscope in a closet to a full medical hospital with CT, ultrasound, radiography, surgery, stem cells and more. I hope we can continue to improve the GSTC in a similar fashion. I’d like to continue Dr. Norton’s vision and improve the medical care of sea turtles and local wildlife by improving the medicine here at GSTC. We need to add a CT machine to the GSTC’s onsite diagnostics because it’s critical in sea turtles with trauma, pneumonia and other serious conditions.

I have always enjoyed teaching, and I was recently recognized for teaching aquarium medicine and fish surgery for the past 5 years at the AquaVet program held every summer in Roger Williams University. I was the exotics speaker of the year in 2018 at the Veterinary Medical Expo. In the 1999-2000 school year at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I won the Undergraduate Teaching Award and Access Award (for teaching students with disabilities). I’ve already been fortunate to give lectures and some labs since I’ve joined the GSTC, and I hope to find a way to finance further educational opportunities. This summer we had six wonderful veterinary student preceptors, and hopefully I can help build the educational capacity of the GSTC.

I’m also excited to expand the conservation impact of the GSTC to the wildlife on the island. We are already using the Center to help the JIA Conservation department’s work with alligators and diamondback rattlesnakes. I think my skill set can be used to help the management of the wildlife on the island including fish, invertebrates, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. I am excited to add to the research and conservation programs already in place on Jekyll Island. Our rehabilitation efforts with alligators have already discovered parasites and treatment options new to science in the first six months I have been here.

To support the work of Dr. Boylan and his team in rehabilitating sea turtles, click HERE. To learn more about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, click HERE.

Meet Our Board: Ember Bishop Bentley

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

It’s not an uncommon response to what is a common question: “What is an ideal day like for you when on Jekyll Island?”

For island-dwellers and well-acquainted guests alike, the answer for many is nearly as old as the state park itself: sunset walks on the beach and general quiet time away from the daily grind are likely common answers to this common question. Ember Bentley’s answer isn’t too far off the mainstream line of thought. But the way she says the words, with such dreamlike ease, it feels as if the moment is occurring right then.  

Take a breath, and now, envision an ideal Jekyll Island day. What would this look like for you?

Bentley is quick to answer. That day starts with coffee in-hand, taking a sunrise walk on the beach. Then with coffee complete and the morning breeze still intact, the day shifts to a morning bike ride. With the cardio casually complete, she would ideally head to brunch at The Pantry, then spend an afternoon by the pool at Jekyll Island Club Resort.

To wrap up a calm afternoon, she and her family would head back beachside, for a sunset stroll, taking in one of the many reasons she fell in love with Jekyll in the first place. On this ideal day, she can even picture the perfect conversation: talking about the lives of the people who owned the homes in the historic district, who could have easily been forgotten if it weren’t for the thoughtful preservation work ongoing.

Bentley, who currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Jekyll Island Foundation and has just been appointed Chair for a two year term, knows the island as well. After all, she has been coming here most of her life.

“I can still remember the sunrise one morning during camp in 5th grade,” she recalls.

While her memories of the island are solid, her ideas for its future likewise carry the confidence of a player on a winning team. Thankfully, Bentley and her teammates on the Foundation Board are all striving to see Jekyll move forward with respect to its unique history and belief in its even more dazzling new future.

Looking ahead, Bentley and the Foundation Board have a laundry list of goals to achieve. Those include focusing on specific Jekyll Island Authority-directed projects and ensuring long-term viability of those projects. That in itself is no easy task, especially with a major milestone for the Foundation about to occur.

“We must be laser-focused on our mission and what the Foundation was created to do,” she said. “The 25th Anniversary of the Foundation will occur next year and I’m excited to be working on ways to celebrate this milestone.”

Bentley credits Jones Hooks, who served as executive director for the JIA for 15 years, until he retired this year, with providing a solid footing for the Foundation.  To hear Bentley put it, Hooks repaved the way for Jekyll island’s brilliant future by making the impossible, possible. He not only served to keep the Island on a forward track of progress, but he did so in a way which filled any room, or beach, with brightness, she said.

“Jones is the king of hospitality, and he has a way of making you feel like the most important person in a room,” Bentley said.  She is quick to compare Hooks with another formidable Georgia leader, former First Lady, Sandra Deal. 

“I had the honor of serving as Mrs. Deal’s assistant for four and a half years. As a former teacher, she loved encouraging children to read because she knew that it was the key to unlocking learning,” Bentley said.

As such, Bentley added that Deal was also known as a staunch advocate for Camp Jekyll and its 4-H Learning Center, which now bears Deal’s name. When the reimagined 15-acre Center reopened its doors on Feb. 1, 2017, it signaled that the Sate Park Island is constantly improving, which is a signal Bentley and her crew on the Foundation Board know they will continue to see.

“Seeing (Former First Lady Deal’s) delight as she cut the ribbon on the Sandra Deal Learning Center at Camp Jekyll was a special moment,” Bentley said, noting she served as Chief of Staff to Deal. “The Governor was happy he was able to pull off an early birthday surprise. Of course, she didn’t feel deserving of it, but she was so proud. She believed that the kids are our future, and she wanted every child to have the opportunity to learn and experience camp.”

Bentley has a similar education-based passion. She is currently the Chief of Staff and Government Relations Officer of Middle Georgia State University and serves as a key member of the president’s leadership team.

She was also Executive Director of the Georgia Forestry Foundation and Deputy Commissioner for International Relations for the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

These days, Bentley continues to follow Deal’s example of servitude and leadership throughout the state.

Aside from the Foundation, she sits on 11 Georgia-based committees and boards, and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Protocol Partners and the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.

On top of these achievements, Bentley manages to raise a daughter with her husband, Will, in Macon. As if these tasks weren’t enough, she and her family also own and operate a cattle farm in Thomaston. 

After hearing her brilliant list of achievements and leadership throughout her beloved Peach State, those early morning walks with a coffee in hand do sound perfect for slowing down and making time for the quiet moments in life, especially the ones she finds when on Jekyll Island. Those mornings of Zen, walking quietly beachside, with a well-deserved cup of coffee, followed by continued rest and relaxation by the pool, sound more than well-deserved.  

For more information about the Jekyll Island Foundation, visit jekyllislandfoundation.org.

Reviving the Magic of Muhly Grass Meadows

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

by Joseph Colbert, JIA Wildlife Biologist & Yank Moore, JIA Director of Conservation

Picture this: a rare and enchanting habitat, teeming with vibrant wildlife, where lush grasses sway in the coastal breeze. It’s a place where painted buntings, butterflies, and native small mammals frolic amidst the tufts of Sweetgrass, also known as Muhlenbergia sericea, an exclusive coastal inhabitant, which has been a lifeline for numerous coastal species. Welcome to the world of Muhly grass meadows – a world the Jekyll Island Authority is determined to rescue and revive on Jekyll Island!

These magnificent muhly grass meadows are more than just a picturesque landscape. They are a vanishing wonder, threatened by coastal flooding and human-caused interruptions in the delicate coastal sand-sharing system. These stunning habitats, typically found nestled in the dunes of Georgia’s youngest coastal land, are disappearing before our very eyes. Dammed rivers, dredging, and the removal of sand usually deposited on barrier islands have disrupted the natural balance. As a result, what’s left are smaller and more vulnerable patches of these meadows. Currently on Jekyll Island, this natural treasure now covers less than an acre, only located in areas frequently inundated by marsh flooding.

But here is where the magic begins. The JIA’s conservation team is actively embarking on a mission to rescue and restore this imperiled habitat before it vanishes entirely from this beloved Island. Muhly Grass habitats boast incredibly high wildlife diversity. These critters, in turn, support a host of predators, from magnificent birds to slithering snakes and stealthy bobcats.

Sweetgrass, another name for this lush and vibrant vegetation, holds cultural significance, serving as essential components in the creation of sweetgrass baskets by Gullah Geechee communities. Partnering with Georgia Audubon, teams have taken successful strides by planting Muhly grass along Beachview Drive, flanking both sides of Oceanview Beach Park. These endeavors have provided invaluable experience and confidence in ongoing restoration techniques.

But the journey has just begun! Next, attention has turned to the vicinity of Camp Jekyll’s boardwalk, a promising location with higher ground that can protect the habitat from inundation. Even more exciting, it is accretional, meaning there is growth with each passing day through sand deposition – a beacon of hope for the future of these unique grasslands.

The Jekyll Island Authority and Foundation are now calling upon you, our passionate supporters, to join this crucial venture to rescue and restore Jekyll’s native Muhly grass meadows. Imagine the impact that can be made when bringing forgotten, Georgia barrier island landscapes back to life, creating diverse habitats that support rare, threatened, or keystone species.

JIA conservation staff have set their sights on a total area of 30 acres with restoration potential. To achieve this dream, JIF needs your financial support. Your generosity will enable the gradual planting of 5,800 Muhly grass plugs per acre, ensuring the revitalization of this precious habitat.

But that’s not all! This project also paves the way for informational signage and educational programming, thanks to its close proximity to Camp Jekyll. This mission goes beyond restoration; it extends to educating the public about imperiled habitats and the incredible wildlife they shelter.

Together, let us write a new chapter in the conservation history of Jekyll Island, where the magic of Muhly grass meadows blooms once more, and the vibrant wildlife that calls it home thrives for generations to come.

Will you partner to help bring this ecological adventure and make Jekyll Island a beacon of hope for nature’s wonders? Don’t miss your chance to be part of this incredible journey – the future of Jekyll Island’s unique ecosystem depends on it.

To contribute to the restoration of muhly grass on Jekyll Island, click HERE.

The Man Who Inspired Monopoly

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

By Patrick Carmody, JIA Museum Educator

When Jekyll Island was still an exclusive Club for the wealthy and powerful, there were two members of the club that had the strength of character to stand out from the crowd, and those members were J.P. Morgan Sr. and J.P. Morgan Jr. Both men were titans of industry, with J.P. Senior, or Pierpont as he went by in conversation, expanding his father’s banking house in London and the US to become a corporate financial empire. J.P. Junior, or Jack as he preferred to be called, took what his family had built and made the Morgan family’s finances and influence into a global enterprise. Under the guidance of the Morgans, US Steel was formed, the General Electric Company was brought to life, and the bank now known as JPMorgan Chase & Co became a financial powerhouse.

Both men were massively influential on the course of American history with Pierpont playing a part in the foundation of the Federal Reserve, and Jack having privately contributed more money and material to the Allied powers in World War 1 than anybody else. Both men wielded a significant amount of influence financially and socially, with Pierpont in 1895 single handedly saving the gold standard by controlling the flow of gold into and out of the United States.

With these titans of power utilizing Jekyll Island as a resort for their winter vacations, Mosaic now offers a spotlight on the pair. The museum’s newest rotating lobby exhibit displays multiple interesting pieces including a model of the Corsair IV, one of the biggest yachts built in the United States, life-sized models of Pierpont and Jack, and a giant-sized Jekyll-inspired monopoly board with accompanying pieces including Mr. Monopoly himself!

Jack Morgan was the basis in design for Uncle Pennibags, the “Monopoly Man” as most know him. Visitors will find a fun twist on the game when they step inside Mosaic, as the game board shows off various locations of Jekyll Island including Horton House, Moss Cottage, Beach Village, and many more recognizable landmarks! Now through December, visitors can EXPLORE the fascinating lives of both J.P.’s, ROLL THE DICE on a new historic tour, or take a CHANCE learning something new. And be sure to COLLECT a souvenir from the gift shop!

The Jekyll Island Foundation is proud to support preservation initiatives like Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum, so history can be brought back to life. Learn about ways you too can support historic preservation HERE!

Meet Our Donor: Caryl Rice

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

Caryl Rice isn’t claiming her story of how or even why she now finds herself on Jekyll Island as unique. In fact, she isn’t entirely clear what brought her here to become a full-time resident, other than the obvious: proximity to the ocean and beaches, the dazzling sights of sunrises and sunsets, the aged oaks and cool seasonal breezes, the annual calendar of activities, plus the hidden gems she has specifically found for herself hidden among the island’s unique geographical location and unrivaled place in American history.

All that, and the fact her brother was an avid golfer, came together in the mid 70s as the fates aligned, to make sure Rice knew the Jekyll gem existed.

On second thought, she said, those reasons do bond nicely to form a solid case for why Jekyll Island was, first a family getaway, and now, has become a stand-out in her seasoned life as a very attractive place to lay warmer roots.

My late Husband, Ted, and I stopped on Jekyll in the mid 80’s on the way to Florida, and it was as if everything aligned, being in the right place, at the right time,” she said. They purchased their first Jekyll home at what is now Villas by the Sea when they first were offered for sale as condominiums.

The Rice’s rented their condo to vacationers for 11 years and then decided to find a permanent future retirement home, which they did in the mid 90s.  They continued to rent their “new” Jekyll house until 2010 when they remodeled and made the house into a home.  After years of traveling back and forth to the Island from Ohio, Rice and her husband made a permanent move. It didn’t take long to become part of the Jekyll community.  Ted never knew a stranger and became active in the Jekyll Island Citizens Association and Rotary.  Caryl focused her attention on the Jekyll Island Arts Association, the Jekyll Island Ladies League, and the Great Dunes 9-hole ladies golf league. As a couple, they were members of the Sand Dollar Club, the Jekyll Singers, and the Jekyll Presbyterian Community Church.

Now decades later, Jekyll Island is not merely a beautiful escape from the less-than-pleasant winters in her native home up north, but has become one big neighborhood, where full- and part-time residents keep an eye out for one another to ensure their well-being.

Especially this year, Rice has truly appreciated the kindness of island friends.  It was with the passing of her husband that she received a constant flow of love and positive energy from so many dear friends, “in a way you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else,” she said.

Rice does have an eye for beauty, and she creates artwork which often reflect this inner glow she has about her. In a technique which may or may not have a specific label, she creates unique works of art which involve fabrics, thread, and a bit of paint.

The Jekyll Island Art Association classification for her work is “fiber arts,” but, it’s not a fully encompassing title for the art Rice is learning to master. As tricky as crafting her pieces may be, and then explaining what it is and how it was made, Rice’s pieces are fascinating.

Simple or complicated, the words to describe won’t be needed later this year, when Rice offers pieces of her works for viewing on the walls at the Jekyll Island Art Association, housed in Goodyear Cottage.

“I rarely show my work to people, especially not in this wide of a forum,” she said. “I have worked on pieces for this show from the summer of 2022 and will still be working on more through October.  I don’t want to say I have worked frantically to create pieces for show, but I will say plenty of time went into creating unique pieces that aren’t seen in many other places.”

When not on the golf course or working on her artwork, Rice can often be found tucked away in some of the more secret spots on the Island. These are places lesser known to guests who meander through the historical timelines of the Jekyll Island Club Resort (formerly Hotel), opt for seeing the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, or taking their bicycles to the tabby walkways for the seemingly never-ending bike path around the state-owned Island.

While Rice may be a bit shy about showing her personal art works to the public, she is more than happy to share the loveliness of the Island with fellow appreciators of the arts. She volunteers regularly with the Jekyll Island Art Association and loves to share the Island with her son and his family when they come to visit.

She knew right from the moment she and her late husband stepped onto Jekyll; this place was calling her home. And since moving here full-time, that magic feeling of home is the same as what so many of the Island’s long-held dwellers and new residents feel.  The Rice’s love of Jekyll Island is what led them to donate to the Jekyll Island Foundation.  It continues to be Caryl’s way to support the many Foundation projects that help the Jekyll Island Authority keep the island vibrant and that add to the wonderful story of Jekyll.

“There is something so special about this Island,” she said. “It’s the unique place in where it is situated in the world.”

And as for those secret hiding places she likes to tromp off to when she has a moment or afternoon to spare? Well, everyone will have to find their own special Jekyll hiding spot, because she isn’t willing to reveal her tucked-away place of serenity among the Island’s 5,500+ acres and 10 miles of shoreline.

Meet Our Board: J.J. Singh

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

History and a Hole-in-One: Jekyll Island Foundation Director J.J. Singh Details Drive for Preserving Jekyll Island’s Charm

Imagine a serene setting, paired with calming beach breezes, rays of island sunshine warming you just so, and then – score. A hole-in-one! Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?

The hole-in-one may not happen every time, or nearly as often as golfers hope, but the dream of making that superb shot always lingers in heads and hearts of Jekyll Island’s avid golfing community.

While he may or may not always nab that last picture-perfect moment on the links, the dream is always there for Jekyll Island Foundation (JIF) Board Director J.J. Singh, even when merely daydreaming about it back at his home in Virginia.

“The perfect day (spent on Jekyll Island) looks like 18 holes on Pine Lakes,” Singh said, adding that, thanks to the toasty temps found in his island paradise, such a perfect day is ideally “followed by the pool.”

Singh has spent plenty of time on Jekyll Island. As President of Retreat Hotels & Resorts, where he and his team have developed and operate full-service hotels, his company has provided asset management services for 747 hotel keys on Jekyll, which also includes the newly completed Courtyard & Residence Inn by Marriott.

As part of the group which developed The Westin Jekyll Island, Singh said he is proud of the responsible renovations and rehabilitation completed in recent years. He also noted the Beach Village has been the most meaningful change and refreshed detail seen on the island in the past decade or more. Seeing the Jekyll Island Convention Center built responsibly and respectfully from the ground up within the serene setting of the beach-front acreage on the Island was, and remains, purely “monumental,” he said.

“The Convention Center, the retail component, and The Westin properties all perfectly complement each other,” he said.

These renovations have played together nicely to become driving forces behind why he opted to jump on the JIF Board in the first place. He wanted to serve the Island that has been so good to him.

“Public service is very important to me. As a proud former Peace Corps Volunteer, I’m of the firm belief that individuals and businesses have a duty to the communities in which they live and work. As a hotelier on the Island, we have had the great fortune of collaborating with the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) and the JIF on many occasions. Joining the Board of the JIF was a great opportunity to serve the Island,” he said.

Retreat has focused on sustainability in its building design. In particular on Jekyll Island, Retreat has worked closely with the JIA to protect endangered sea turtles, adopt building practices that protect the delicate ecosystem from fine construction particles, and use alternative sources of energy such as solar power.

In his long-term vision, Singh and fellow JIF board members plan to continue seeking out funding opportunities that assist the JIA in its mission to keep the state park island pristine while continuing to renovate and renew it to amplify its beauty.

“The first time I visited, I stayed in Cherokee Cottage,” he said. “I remember the charm and majesty of the historic Jekyll Club hotel.” Fundraising to preserve that history is crucial to the JIF’s mission, Singh said.

In partnership with the Jekyll Island Authority, which oversees the management and daily operations of the Island, the 24-year-old Foundation was created to raise money for Island projects which may be otherwise out-of-reach within the Authority’s operating budget on its own. Managed by up to 25 individuals, all with diverse interests in and with ties to the Island, the Foundation remains focused on raising funds for Island conservation, preservation, and educational initiatives.

As he agreeably and aptly notes, the rare beauty found in the Island’s a little more than 5,500 acres can’t be found anywhere else.

“What makes Jekyll Island special is the harmony and the balance between economic growth and conservation,” he said. “Maintaining that balance is the key for the long-term sustainability of the Island.”

For more information about the Jekyll Island Foundation, visit jekyllislandfoundation.org.

Moon Pies, McDonald’s, and… Sea Turtles

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

An Interview with Georgia Sea Turtle Center Director, Michelle Kaylor

Home to Rocky Top and the Great Smoky Mountains. The birthplace of Moon Pies, Mountain Dew soda, and the world’s oldest radio show. And the native state of the leader of a highly successful sea turtle rehabilitation hospital.

It may seem as if one of these things is not like the other. But in truth, it’s, well, true. Tennessee was once the birthplace and home of Michelle Kaylor, now director of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Since 2007, Kaylor has worked at the Jekyll Island operation and has served as its Director for the past two years. Kaylor follows in the footsteps of Center founder and long-time director, and her mentor, Dr. Terry Norton.

Though her roots sprouted in a landlocked state, Kaylor admits she has long had a fascination with marine life. The marine dream started in 5th grade, when her school took students on what would become a very inspirational and influential field trip to Jekyll Island and its former 4-H facility (now Camp Jekyll). It was there Kaylor first tromped through marsh mud, seined the ocean, and took in vast exploration of the island’s well-preserved maritime forest.

Needless to say, “I was hooked,” she said.

Fast forward a few years, and Kaylor would study to become a marine biologist, specializing in aquarium sciences. She found herself then nestled at the Tennessee Aquarium for seven years, where she oversaw the exhibits showcasing large marine creatures, and one of two resident sea turtles the Aquarium acquired. This shelled gem was a green sea turtle named Oscar, who was taken in after a boat strike and had paralysis in the hind flippers with an inability to adequately dive. Though the aquarium was hesitant at first to take in the less-than-perfect specimen, it proved key for the educational exhibit.

“Having an imperfect representation of a species and a story behind why this happened to this animal is inspiring and allows more conversations for what visitors can do to help the species in the wild,” she said.

Speaking of wild, the story of how Oscar came to the Tennessee tourism staple was just that. When Kaylor went to pick Oscar up to bring him back to what would become his new home, “It was in a McDonald’s parking lot in Pigeon Forge,” she said.

“The last place I ever thought I would see a sea turtle alone (was) in a McDonald’s parking lot. The staff member caring for Oscar at the Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center brought Oscar up to Tennessee on the way to visit her family,” she said, and the rest was fast-food conservation history.

On Jekyll, sea turtles aren’t generally found in fast food parking lots either, but rather come to the now 16-year-old Center, typically due to boat-strike injuries like the one Oscar had, debilitation, cold-stunning, and other reasons. Annually, some 150,000 visitors trek through the Center, which is operated by the Jekyll Island Authority.

Aside from up-close views of these animals in their rehab tanks, and the occasional glimpse of one of the patients in surgery, the Center serves multiple purposes. At once, it is a hospital, rehabilitation, and research hub, as well as a beloved platform for educational programs. The latter purpose serves to increase awareness of sea turtle habitats and highlight wildlife conservation challenges, “promote responsibility for ecosystem health, and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment,” Kaylor said.

However, after almost two decades serving this core mission, the Center’s purpose has grown, and, as should be expected, growing pains linger. “My goal is to expand on our mission as we plan for a future Center expansion, where we can satisfy growing operational needs and further serve our educational mission,” she said.

With such growth, Kaylor hopes to see the Center’s signature shining moments of marine life conservation and education continue as it inspires its visitors, as well as the hands which make the educational attraction so special. The Center is admittedly a fantastic venue for, yes, educating the public, but likewise serves as a unique vessel for educating those who help the landmark in its daily operations.

To date, she said, her most proud achievements are being able to witness an individual come to the Center, be it as a staff member, an intern or a volunteer, and see them grow as a professional and as a person.

“We strive every day at the Center to have small yet powerful moments of learning that can add up to large-scale change by telling each sea turtle patients’ story,” Kaylor said. “We can inspire others to make changes in their own lives, and (who then can) inspire others as well. We call this the ‘ripple effect’. My proudest achievement is seeing the ripples move outward into the world with our mission and stories.”

And while turtles are known for moving at a slow pace, Kaylor and the Center team are moving quickly, now and since the Center’s inception, to do just that.

For more information about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, visit jekyllisland.com/gstc. To help support and further the Center’s mission, click HERE.

Meet Our Donors: Douglas & Karen Rucker

Posted on | by Matthew Humphrey

Douglas and Karen (Mills) Rucker had already decided to spend their Golden Years in the Golden Isles before an almost too-good-to-be-true career choice on Jekyll Island presented itself to him.

“We were living in San Diego…it was the middle of Covid…and we were thinking that California might not be our ‘forever,’” said Douglas.

“We love to travel–and have visited and lived in some amazing places–but we wanted an anchor,” Karen said. “We wanted some place that felt like ‘home.’”

So, sites unseen, the Ruckers and two of their friends bought three adjacent parcels of land on St. Simons Island. “And then this opportunity on Jekyll comes up,” said Douglas, who works with Noble House Hotels & Resorts, the company responsible for operating the Jekyll Island Club Resort after it sold 2021. “I had visited the area some years ago, but this more recent connection through our St. Simons decision was a crazy coincidence. I interviewed for my current role as Area Managing Director and took the job based on the reputation of—and what I already knew and appreciated about—the Island.”

Part of his personal and professional appreciation for what Jekyll has to offer comes from hospitality management roots developed in his former home base of Michigan. “I twice worked for the family that owns The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, which opened its doors in 1887,” he said. “Jekyll Island Club, although not originally a hotel but a private clubhouse for America’s wealthy, opened its doors in the winter of 1888. A love of history and historic hotels, where we prefer to stay when we travel, were big motivators for choosing this area to make our permanent home.”

“We have also always been attracted to islands, to water, and to smaller communities,” said Karen, a Canadian citizen who was on vacation in the Florida Keys 17 years ago when she met Douglas, who was working at a resort in the area. “And of all the places we’ve been since then, Jekyll has the nicest, most welcoming people. We’ve made so many new friends.”

She vividly remembers her first visit to Jekyll. “The view as we drove across the causeway, the moss on the trees in the Historic District, the Club Resort rising like a castle against the sky. It was all so breathtaking.”

That awe remains as the couple settles into their new home at The Moorings at Jekyll Harbor. “Cycling is our favorite activity and mode of transportation,” said Karen. “Every time we ride our bikes from home to the Club [Resort]—crossing the wooden boardwalk bridge with the view of the marsh, the intracoastal waterway, and the Sidney Lanier Bridge in the distance—we pinch ourselves that we live here…in this state park…surrounded by all this beauty. There is something so soulful, so solid, so genuine about this existence.”

As Jekyll Island Foundation investors, stewardship of that beauty now and for future generations is a personal priority. As Champion corporate sponsors, the partnership between the Club Resort and Foundation spans more than two decades and continues today.

“It’s all about the people, from the grassroots to the state level; they are all committed to preservation and conservation,” said Douglas. “That’s a plus because some of the necessary protection efforts take time and need to be well thought out. The Jekyll Island Authority has done—is doing—a great job of this.”

They greatly appreciate the Foundation’s focus on projects that enhance knowledge opportunities not only for residents but for visitors. “The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is such an outstanding example of how donations can improve and extend the life of historic facilities as well as support educational experiences,” said Karen.

She also complimented the Foundation on its honor bench program. “No matter where they are along the bike paths, the benches always seem to be in the right place. They are such a great way to honor someone’s memory while offering a moment to rest and reflect in Jekyll’s peaceful surroundings.”

While travel will always be part of their lives, Douglas and Karen are enjoying how settled and solid they feel in their new home. “The last two years have been pretty special,” said Douglas. “We’re looking forward to doing all we can to be part of the community and to supporting the projects that protect and enhance Jekyll for everyone.”