Since 1994, the members of the Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program (also call the Holden Beach Turtle Patrol) have designed, produced and sold a new T-shirt every year.  This year they announced their first ever open contest for the creation of an original design for their 2025 T-shirt. The contest winner is Lois Palermo, a local sea turtle lover, and her artistic sister Alyson Natale from Woodlands, TX, with their “Let the Sea Set you Free” design.  Congratulations to Lois and Alyson!

Selling merchandise is the HBTWP’s major fundraiser each year. The 2025 T-shirts, along with tote bags and hats, are in stock and can be purchased at Lighthouse Gifts, on the Holden Beach causeway at 3434 Holden Beach Rd SW.  Merchandise is also available by mail from the HBTWP website, and will be available this summer at the Turtle Talk and Children’s Turtle Time programs. Youth short sleeve shirts are $17, adult short sleeve shirts are $20, adult long sleeve shirts are $25, hats are $22, and canvas totes are $22. The complete collection of T-shirts from 1994 can be viewed in the photo section at hbturtlewatch.org.   

The participation in the first Holden Beach Turtle Watch Program T-Shirt Contest was amazing — there were more than 20 submissions from participants in eight different states, and selecting the winning design from all of the submissions was very difficult.  

HBTWP was founded in 1989 to monitor and protect the sea turtle population on Holden Beach. This all volunteer, nonprofit conservation organization operates under the authority of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. 

For more information about the HBTWP, visit them on their website at www.hbturtlewatch.org or visit them on Facebook.