For the past 16 years, my family and I have been vacationing at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Emerald Isle is a small island off the Southern Outer Banks and it is one of my favorite places in the world. Erin and I will frequently venture over to the Pointe, the end of the island where the bay and the ocean meet, to go seashell hunting and watch the sunset. While looking across the ocean from the Pointe, one can see another island, this island is called Bear's Island, also know as Hammocks Beach State Park.
In the Summer 2017 during our annual vacation to Emerald Isle, my family and I decided to go visit Bear Island for the day. I was personally motivated the by the Hammocks Beach State Park patch, which featured a turtle on it. It was a cloudy day with some drizzles here and there, yet my family and I were excited to make the best out of it. The island is only accessible through a ferry, and after hopping off, I definitely experienced some Cape Henlopen vibes. (Backstory: I have been a high school and college counselor for my middle school's overnight field trip to Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE. It is one of my favorite weeks of the entire year!) We walked on the pathway towards the beach and started to explore, even finding a few sand dollars along the way! Yet, the greatest highlight of the day was when we were lucky enough to witness a turtle nest hatch. My family and I watched the baby loggerhead sea turtles squirm their way out and into the ocean, with help from the Hammocks Beach interns. It was one of the best days of the year.
Flash forward to Spring 2018, Erin decides to apply for the sea turtle internship position at Hammocks Beach State Park. She is accepted into the program and spends her entire summer living at the barracks of Hammocks Beach, searching for sea turtles every night. During our annual vacation to Emerald Isle this past summer, I decided to join her for a few nights as a sea turtle volunteer. One of the unique features about Hammocks Beach State Park is that you are allowed to camp on the island. Once the last ferry departs, you and the rest of the campers and interns have a private island until the ferry arrives the next morning. Tucked behind the dunes was my camping spot and home for the next 24 hours. I was able to walk up the dunes to spot a view of the entire island, the ocean, and the sunset as well. I helped Erin during her sea turtle patrol, riding in the back of the truck as the wind swept through my hair. I have never seen that many stars in the night sky in my life before. Sadly, no turtles or "turts" were seen that night as Erin dropped me off at my campsite.
The next night, I was able to sleep in the barracks, the location of the intern's dorms and my home for the night as well. I spent the day lounging on the beach and swimming in the ocean and was lucky enough to use the barrack's outdoor shower at the end of the day. It was Fourth of July and after completing the first patrol, Erin, I and the rest of the interns, drove to the end of the island to watch the fireworks blast off from Bogue Inlet Pier at Emerald Isle. Unfortunately, no turtles were seen that night once I was dropped off to walk back to the barracks.
Flash forward, yet again, to the end of Summer 2018, my Dad and I decide to pick Erin up at Hammocks Beach State Park. My Dad and I decided to camp out, so we found our campsite tucked behind the dunes and set up home for the night. I volunteered again to help Erin during her last sea turtle patrol. I rode in the back of the truck as the wind whipped my hair around again and the stars seemed to shine even brighter this time around. Unfortunately, no sea turtles were spotted that night once Erin dropped me back off at my campsite. I did fall asleep looking at the stars and listening to the sounds of the ocean that night.
The next day, I sneaked in some last minute beach time and another outdoor shower, and helped Erin clean and pack-up for the drive back home. It was a bittersweet moment, yet Erin was excited to head back home. Two days after leaving the island, Erin received a notification saying the first turtle nest was hatching.
My time spent at Hammocks Beach State Park was one of my favorite memories of the summer and one of the coolest opportunities I have experienced! I am excited to make my way back over to Hammocks Beach in the future! You can check out Erin's Hammocks Beach State Park Internship blog at: https://habeinterns.wordpress.com or donate to Hammocks Beach State Park at: http://www.fhbi.org. Hammocks Beach State Park helps protect endangered sea turtles, so please always remember to clean up after yourself (and others) at the beach, close any holes in the sand, and always red lights when in the presence of sea turtles at night! Let's try and protect the Earth and keep it as green and friendly as we can!
In exactly one week, I will be off on a plane to Dublin to start my study abroad adventures! Look out for some Europe packing lists, tips, and tricks as I prepare for Stirling!
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