Join us on Tues., March 12, at 6:45 pm at the Barrington Public Library for “Behind the Scenes: The Terrapin Conservation Project.”
Every year in late spring, a miraculous thing happens in a remote corner of Barrington, RI.
Hundreds of rare Diamondback Terrapin turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, ensuring the survival of their species for another generation.
Just as remarkable are the dozens of volunteers who spend hours preparing for their arrival. At this special event, you’ll hear directly from volunteers who are there to greet the nesting turtles, protect their nests, watch the adorable hatchlings emerge, and scientifically track the results of each season. The project draws volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, including college students interested in pursuing a career in environmental studies.
Kathryn Beauchamp, co-leader of the Terrapin Conservation Project
Kathryn Beauchamp and Madeleine Linck, co-leaders of the Terrapin Conservation Project, will be joined by other long-time volunteers who have invested heart and soul — along with a lot of sweat equity — in the project. Volunteers will share their experiences, answer questions, and provide a glimpse into the daily activities of a Terrapin Conservation Prjct volunteer.
“When you go through a whole season, there’s such a reward when you see those tiny, perfectly formed little babies,” says volunteer Nancy Maddocks, a retired librarian from the Barrington Middle School. “They’re incredible. It gives you hope that nature still persists. It’s exciting to think that here in little suburban Barrington, this exists. I feel a sense of pride that there’s a decent-sized community who really cares about nature and is trying to preserve it.”
Mary Caplan, who spent 30 years as a nurse at RI Hospital, became an active volunteer when she retired. “I’m outside with like-minded people who care about the environment. We’re doing something positive. It’s scientifically interesting, and we see the benefit when the babies are born. We look in each little cage and their little faces peek up. They’re saying, let me go. Let me do my thing.”
Deb Matson, whose career in social work led her into many volunteer activities, now divides her time between the Barrington Farm School and the Terrapin Conservation Project. “What has been the most meaningful is to witness the mother turtles coming in late spring to lay their eggs and watching the little baby hatchlings emerge in late summer. It’s a miracle and we are all relieved to see them coming out of heir nest and healthy! No words can describe the feeling. You have to experience it. Volunteering here, interacting with nature, has given me a deepened respect and humility towards all of wildlife. I truly have grown.”
We’ll cap off the night with a 20-minute documentary, “Turtles on the Hill,” a love story about this population of rare turtles, the dedicated people who are conserving them, and the changing coastal landscapes that they share.
The documentary is told through the eyes of a young woman scientist who joined this community to reveal how—despite the existential threats of coastal development, predation, and sea level rise—the lives of the people, the Diamondback Terrapins, and the estuary are inextricably intertwined.
The movie is written and directed by Carolyn Decker, and produced & edited by Jason Jaacks. It is a Splitframe Media production produced in partnership with the Science & Story Lab at the University of Rhode Island.
For more information on the Terrapin Conservation Project, visit the Terrapin page on our website.
Thanks to our 2024 Land Trust Learning Series Sponsors!
Leadership Sponsor
Partner Sponsors
Supporting Sponsor
Meridian Custom Homes
Community Sponsors
Charles E. Millard, Inc. General Contractors