Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary leads vital research and conservation efforts focused on wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, and species protection across the Cape. None of this would be possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers. Last year at Wellfleet Bay, more than 400 individual volunteers provided over 15,000 hours of service! Get to know a few of these volunteers in the spotlights below.
Shining a Spotlight on Wellfleet Bay Volunteers
Chuck Dow
Years Volunteering: 10
Inspiration: After retirement, Chuck knew he wanted to give back. “You’re volunteering to help the community and the environment,” he says. “It’s a wonderful thing.”
Programs and Projects: Adopt-a-Highway, property cleanup, monitoring state-threatened diamondback terrapins, and rescuing and transporting cold-stunned sea turtles.
Favorite Memory: In 2016, Chuck found the very first cold-stunned sea turtle of the season. The photo of the rescue became a helpful tool for demonstrating what sea turtle volunteers can expect during beach patrols.
Sharon Kreamer
Years Volunteering: 16
Inspiration: Sharon first attended the Wellfleet Bay Nature Camp at just 7 years old. Inspired by her experience, she went on to study biology and environmental science and dedicated her career to teaching high school students through hands-on exploration.
Programs and Projects: Nature camp, horseshoe crab monitoring, volunteer naturalist, visitor services, cold-stunned sea turtles, and special events.
Favorite Memory: Late-night horseshoe crab surveys hold a special place in Sharon’s heart; guiding students through the research not only fueled her love of science but also introduced her to her husband.
Warren Mumford
Years Volunteering: 11
Inspiration: After 28 years working as a scientist and engineer, Warren moved to the Cape eager to learn about native plants and wildlife. “I love talking to the visitors, and often we learn more from them than they learn from us.”
Programs and Projects: Visitor services, volunteer naturalist, bird banding, nest box monitoring, and horseshoe crab surveys.
Favorite Spot at the Sanctuary: The bridge on the Silver Spring Trail is a favorite retreat, a place he returns to often for its calm and natural beauty.
Tony Pane
Years Volunteering: 24
Inspiration: When asked what motivates him, Tony’s answer is simple: “It’s a chance to get outside, do things, and give back.”
Programs and Projects: Property crew, volunteer naturalist, diamondback terrapin nesting and hatchling monitor, and cold-stunned sea turtle rescuer.
Favorite Memory: In 2014, during a midnight beach patrol, Tony discovered 19 cold-stunned sea turtles on a single stretch of shoreline. “Those turtles really pull my heartstrings,” he says.
Lois Bartels
Years Volunteering: 4
Inspiration: “My first experience was helping with the hatchling season for the diamondback terrapin program—that’s what got me hooked.”
Programs and Projects: Monitoring nest boxes, banding birds, protecting diamondback terrapin nests, and patrolling beaches for cold-stunned sea turtles.
Favorite Memory: On a cold, quiet night, Lois found a struggling Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle—the most endangered sea turtle in the world—cold-stunned and washed up on the beach. After months of care at the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital, Lois was there to release this remarkable survivor back into the ocean.
Nancy Braun
Years Volunteering: 19
Inspiration: Taking part in a diamondback terrapin program at the sanctuary further fueled Nancy’s love for protecting nature and inspired her to sign up as a volunteer.
Programs and Projects: Volunteer naturalist, coastal waterbird nest monitoring, cold-stunned sea turtle beach patrol.
Favorite Spot at the Sanctuary: Nancy loves the quiet benches along the Goose Pond, Silver Spring, and Bay View trails, where she takes in the peaceful beauty of the landscape and shares her deep knowledge with fellow nature lovers.
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