2023 & 2024 Volunteer Reviews:

I spent the week that  Hurricane Helene arrived volunteering with a school group from Pittsboro at Eustace  Conway's Turtle Island Preserve.  The goal of Turtle Island Preserve is to teach people how to live off the land. The school group learned basic skills such as blacksmithing, important for making tools and shoeing horses. Net making, that you can use to catch fish. Flint Knapping, using certain types of rock to make arrowheads and cutting tools. Plants and botany many of which possess healing and health properties. Horsemanship, how to care for the animals that do the work for us, and also how to find clean water to drink.

I think it’s important to take kids out of the classroom and put them into the classroom of life occasionally. We packed the kids out on Thursday in a torrential rainstorm. They were wet, muddy, tired, and definitely out of their element. Yet ironically, a majority of them did not want to leave.

Little did we know that in less than 24 hours Hurricane Helene would come and change the landscape of our community for decades to come. My experience that week at Turtle Island Preserve impressed upon me the importance of being self-sustaining in the wake of what we’ve just gone through. Mountain people are tough and resilient, and have learned to live off the land for hundreds of years.   We often take for granted running water, electricity, indoor plumbing, communication and transportation. However, just a few basic survival skills, like the ones being taught at Turtle Island Preserve, can be a “lifesaver”, literally. 

Todd Castle - Boone, North Carolina

I was invited to volunteer this year at Turtle Island Preserve in NC. It was a pleasure to work along side a group of Older Boys Campers who were learning skills that Eustace had provided to them. These Older Boys Campers were able to experience basic living skills in a primitive environment, which I agree, teaches self-confidence, and the alibilty to overcome life’s challenges. Since technology consumes every aspect of our daily lives in these current times, our young people aren’t taught how to survive if we were to suddenly find ourselves without it. Fortunately, Turtle Island Preserve has been successfully teaching these skills for more than 20 years. I look forward to participating again in the near future.

Debs - Connecticut

Earlier this month I spent 3 days and 2 nights at Turtle Island Preserve in North Carolina.  It was amazing to see the beautiful trees, creeks, animals and the old timey log structures.  The staff were very supportive and provided me with a log cabin with candles for light.  They also provided me with all the tools I needed to complete the tasks I was assigned.  I have never enjoyed camping like I did at Turtle Island.  I rate this experience an A plus.  I encourage anyone to sign up for a trip to Turtle Island.           

Mark Stone - Arizona

My volunteer experience at Turtle Island was absolutely amazing! From the beginning when it was pouring down rain, the attitudes of everyone were wonderful, we all had a common goal there and the teamwork to make everything happen was so fantastic! I really learned so much about myself and I highly recommend this experience to anyone that has any interest in the way of life that our ancestors lived. From the kitchen, garden, streams, and woods, it was all incredibly refreshing and an all around fabulous time. I highly recommend volunteering to everyone!

Ashleigh Closen - South Carolina

Volunteering at Turtle Island over the last several years has been very gratifying and such a valuable experience in my life. Not only have I met people who share the same interests about outdoor life, living as our ancestors have, and preserving land, I have also gained so many valuable insights and knowledge about these topics and so much more. I highly recommend giving of your time to Turtle Island as I feel you would grow so much as an individual, just as I have. Go ahead, take the plunge and give it a try. I know you will be glad you did.

Cheryl Alexander - North Carolina