Silver Award Spotlight: Saving Sandbridge Sea Turtles
Sea turtles face many threats—from getting caught in fishing gear to the destruction of dunes that make up critical nesting habitat. Recognizing these challenges, Girl Scout Cadettes Abagail, Olivia, and Marisa of Troop 18 took action to protect a species they have grown up loving. Their Girl Scout Silver Award project focused on educating visitors and restoring local beach habitat in Sandbridge, Virginia Beach.
All three Cadettes live in Sandbridge, an area with a history of sea turtle nesting. Over the years, they noticed a recurring problem during tourist season: trash left behind, sandcastles abandoned, and large holes dug into the beach. While often unintentional, these actions can have devastating consequences for nesting sea turtles.
As the girls shared, “Sea turtles face lots of challenges, and over the past 150 years their populations are getting smaller and smaller. We live by the beach and have always loved sea turtles. Every time we go to the beach we see visitors that leave their trash and sandcastles and big holes all over the beach.” They explained that turtles can become trapped in holes or mistake trash for food, making it difficult or impossible to successfully nest.
To address this issue, the Cadettes created an awareness program specifically targeted to tourists renting beach houses in Sandbridge. They designed an educational brochure explaining why natural beach habitats and dunes are essential for sea turtles, and how simple actions—like filling in holes and removing trash—can make a big difference. Through partnerships with local rental companies, their brochure was placed in Sandbridge Blue rental packets, reaching 1,300 visiting families and putting sea turtle protection directly into the hands of those using the beach most.
The girls emphasized that protecting nesting habitat is one of the most effective ways to help sea turtles locally. “Making sure sea turtles can successfully lay their eggs is the number one way that nesting sea turtles can be helped here in Virginia Beach,” they said. Since sea turtles return to the same beaches year after year to nest, caring for Sandbridge Beach today helps future generations of turtles survive.
To conclude their project, Abagail, Olivia, and Marisa organized a hands-on volunteer beach walk with family and friends. Together, they flattened sand, filled in large holes, and helped restore the beach after a busy tourist season—turning awareness into direct action.
Through education, community involvement, and a deep love for their local environment, these Girl Scout Cadettes made a lasting impact. Their Girl Scout Silver Award project not only helped protect sea turtles but also empowered visitors and residents alike to care for Sandbridge Beach—ensuring it remains a safe nesting place for years to come!
