About
Georgia Sea Turtle Center Programs & Events include activities such as Ride with Dawn Patrol, Sunrise Ecology Walk, Behind the Scenes Tour, Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling Release, Scute’s School, Turtle Walks, Gatorology, Ranger Walk, Snakes of the Southeast, and guided trolley tours of the Historic District. The Center offers interactive exhibits and experiences, along with year-round indoor and outdoor programs for guests of all ages. Programs take place within a facility that features sea turtle recovery in action.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with limited hours of 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Christmas Eve; closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and during the Shrimp & Grits Festival
• Price: Admission Ages 4–12 $10; Ages 13+ $12. Supporter Individual $75; Family $175. Pricing subject to change. Fees and sales tax not included.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center was established in 2007 and is operated by the Jekyll Island Authority. It is Georgia’s only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility and was developed as an institution devoted to the rehabilitation of injured sea turtles and preservation of the delicate balance of the oceanic ecosystem. The Center offers a Sea Turtle Tracker to keep track of sea turtle nests on Jekyll Island and a Diamondback Terrapin Tracker to keep track of diamondback terrapin crossings, as well as a symbolic sea turtle adoption program.
Dr. Terry Norton is the founder of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. According to Dr. Norton, the Center’s work and visitor support relate to rehabilitation, research, and education of sea turtles and wildlife on the Georgia coast. The facility is a non-smoking facility, including vaping and e-cigarettes.
Families can support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center through tax-deductible contributions made via the Jekyll Island Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) partner of the Jekyll Island Authority. Specialized license plates featuring the Georgia Sea Turtle Center are available in the State of Georgia and contribute to fundraising needs. Turtle-safe lighting, including amber or red LED options that meet specific wavelength guidelines, is available for purchase at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s gift shop, and flashlights are prohibited on or near beaches from May to October unless using turtle-safe lighting.
Last updated August 1, 2026.
• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Schedule: Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with limited hours of 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Christmas Eve; closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and during the Shrimp & Grits Festival
• Price: Admission Ages 4–12 $10; Ages 13+ $12. Supporter Individual $75; Family $175. Pricing subject to change. Fees and sales tax not included.
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center was established in 2007 and is operated by the Jekyll Island Authority. It is Georgia’s only sea turtle education and rehabilitation facility and was developed as an institution devoted to the rehabilitation of injured sea turtles and preservation of the delicate balance of the oceanic ecosystem. The Center offers a Sea Turtle Tracker to keep track of sea turtle nests on Jekyll Island and a Diamondback Terrapin Tracker to keep track of diamondback terrapin crossings, as well as a symbolic sea turtle adoption program.
Dr. Terry Norton is the founder of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. According to Dr. Norton, the Center’s work and visitor support relate to rehabilitation, research, and education of sea turtles and wildlife on the Georgia coast. The facility is a non-smoking facility, including vaping and e-cigarettes.
Families can support the Georgia Sea Turtle Center through tax-deductible contributions made via the Jekyll Island Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) partner of the Jekyll Island Authority. Specialized license plates featuring the Georgia Sea Turtle Center are available in the State of Georgia and contribute to fundraising needs. Turtle-safe lighting, including amber or red LED options that meet specific wavelength guidelines, is available for purchase at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s gift shop, and flashlights are prohibited on or near beaches from May to October unless using turtle-safe lighting.
Last updated August 1, 2026.
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