Space is limited for these free education walks, but registration is required. Registration opens Thursday, July 10 at 8 a.m. at www.SLChikes.org. Due to high demand, each participant is limited to one session. Participants should be able to walk up to one mile on beach sand.

Walks take place at various beach accesses on South Hutchinson Island. The specific location will be determined by the hatching timeline of nests and shared with registrants at least 24 hours prior to the program. These special experiences are part of St. Lucie County’s Guided Nature Program series.

Each program begins with a 10–15-minute discussion on sea turtle nesting, conservation efforts and the importance of the “Dark, Flat and Clean” initiative. After a guided walk to the nest, biologists inventory and examine the contents. Any remaining hatchlings are released according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines. Finding hatchlings is not guaranteed, but is possible.