Diamondback Dash: Project Information and Sign Up

Loop Adopters are sort of like the “Team Captains” for a loop. In addition to sampling the loop, they serve as the point of contact for receiving and passing along communications from DWR to the Loop Assistants.  Because all loops need to be sampled by at least two people, Adopters will need to coordinate with someone else to ensure they have at least one other person who has reviewed the training materials and is available to help with sampling. This additional person is referred to as a Loop Assistant. We strongly encourage Adopters to recruit their own Loop Assistants, but for those who are struggling to recruit help, DWR may be able to pair you with an Assistant upon request. Finally, it is typically the Loop Adopters that schedule sampling events and ensure that the data is collected and submitted in accordance with the outlined DWR protocols.

Loop Assistants have less responsibility than Loop Adopters but are still an incredibly vital part of the team! These are the volunteers that accompany a Loop Adopter on sampling trips and assist with data collection and terrapin observation. Your responsibility is to watch the mandatory training materials and assist the Adopter in conducting field surveys, when needed. There is no difference in the roles and responsibilities associated with either role when sampling in the field. Both Loop Adopters and Loop Volunteers will be paddling, looking for terrapins, and collecting data while completing a sampling session.

Please note that the ability to participate in the Diamondback Dash as a Loop Assistant is contingent on a variety of factors such as loop availability and location. Even if a loop has been adopted, that team may be full or not looking for additional sampling assistance. Therefore, we strongly encourage anyone who is certain that they want to participate in the project to consider signing up as an Adopter.

You absolutely can! We have quite a few participants who serve as an Adopter for one route and an Assistant on another. If you are interested in BOTH opportunities, please complete the Adopter Sign up form below AND the Assistant Interest form that is also linked below.

Sampling will occur three times per year with each sampling event taking place sometime with the 2026 Sampling Windows (May 2nd-24th; July 5th-26th September 12th-October 4th).  Volunteers will launch at  the designated access site for the relevant loop and then paddle along the predetermined route to the head count locations. At each head count location, volunteers will be asked to complete a stationary, five-minute survey where they will record information on the number of turtles they see at that location. Following the completion of each survey, they will continue to paddle along the route until all head count surveys have been completed and they have arrived back at the location from which they launched.

We have over 100 different routes/loops that have been mapped along the brackish/coastal waters of the Eastern Shore, the James River, the York River, the Rappahannock River, the Potomac River and their numerous tributaries which are available for sampling. Each route/loop starts and ends at either a publicly accessible boating access site or a private site where explicit permission has been obtained to use the property by the DWR for the purposes of this project.

Each loop varies in length with the shortest loops being a roughly one mile roundtrip paddle, and the longest loops being no more than five miles.

To view the interactive map that displays the numerous adoptable loops as well as associated information such as length,  please access it via the link included in the final FAQ question. We have done our best to offer up a variety of adoptable loops within diamondback terrapin habitat across the state. If you do not see any loops available for adoption near you it could be due to a variety of reasons such as living outside of the expected terrapin range, limited access to public launches in the area, or nearby loops have already been adopted.

In order to participate, all Loop Adopters and Loop Assistants should meet the following criteria:

1. They are age 18 or older.
2. Agree to follow all project-mandated safety protocol while sampling INCLUDING reviewing the mandated training recordings.
3. They are an active Virginia Master Naturalist and/or a DWR volunteer registered within DWR’s volunteer management system. Alternatively you can complete a Volunteer Waiver and email it to Meagan.Thomas@DWR.Virginia.gov if you would like to participate in the project but are not a Virginia Master Naturalist and have decided not to become a certified DWR volunteer. If you would like to participate but do not meet either of these criteria at this time, you may still sign up as a Loop Adopter or Loop Assistant as long as these conditions are met at the actual date of sampling. Learn more about how to become a certified DWR volunteer, here!

Participants will need to have their own kayak and paddling equipment. While some of our routes launch from facilities that offer kayak rentals, this is not very common. If a site does offer kayak rentals, that information will be viewable on the route’s informational pop-up on the Adoption Portal (linked in a below question). You will also need a Personal Floatation Device (PFD), which must be worn at all times regardless of kayaking experience or swimming proficiency. The below lists outline additional materials which are required for participation as well as some other items which are suggested for participated, but not required.

Required items for sampling: Kayaks and paddles, a PFD (lifejacket), noisemaker (horn, whistle, or bell), smartphone or tablet for data entry, drinking water

Suggestions to make sampling easier and more enjoyable: Drybag, quick drying clothes, hat, sunglasses, waterproof sunscreen, bug spray, portable phone charger, snacks, towel, tally counters, binoculars, printed route map, first aid kit/supplies.

In order to streamline things on DWR’s end, there can only be one Loop Adopter per loop. However, each Loop Adopter needs to have at least one (but no more than three) Loop Assistants accompany them on sampling trips to help with monitoring and data collection.

Absolutely! If you are confident you can manage the work associated with volunteering for more than one loop, you are free to do so. Multiple loops can be adopted and sampled by the same individual. Likewise, you could serve as a loop adopter for one loop and a Loop Assistant for a different loop. Or, you could serve as a Loop Assistant for multiple loops but not as a loop adopter for any loops.

All participants ( i.e. both Loop Adopters and Assistants) need to watch the mandatory training videos to participant. These mandatory recordings cover pertinent project instructions and safety information that all volunteers must familiarize themselves with prior to hitting the water. In addition to these recordings, we will also be offering a series of optional,  in-person training sessions so that volunteers can practice entering data in the field. If you are interested in signing up for one of these optional in-field trainings, you can do so, here.

The data collection process requires at least two individuals to complete and because our first and foremost concern is for the  safety of our volunteers, we do not want any volunteers out sampling alone.

Regardless of individual experience level, it is always a best practice to have a second person with you on the water. Accidents happen! In the event of an unforeseen accident or medical emergency, we would never want one of our volunteers to be on the water by themselves and in harm’s way.

Further, having a second pair of eyes can be helpful in gathering more data. Sometimes all that’s visible of a diamondback terrapin is a small head sticking out of the water. Having a second pair of eyes on board can make sure that it gets counted!

Absolutely! If you have no experience on a kayak, we recommend signing up for a loop that is designated as “suitable for paddlers of all skill levels including beginners” within the Adoption Portal. And while it isn’t mandatory, we would encourage you to get one or two practice paddles in on calm, inland waters before participating in your first sampling event.

At this time, the DWR is unable to provide the kayaks and other equipment (e.g. paddles, life jackets, smart phones for data collection) that are needed. Volunteers are expected to either own or have access to these materials in order to participate in the project.

Some routes start from locations that do have kayak rentals available on-site. Those locations will have this noted on the route’s informational pop-up on the Adoption Portal (linked in a below question).

Quite possibly! Please complete the Private Landowner Submission Form and we will get back to you about whether or not we can develop a custom loop for you from that address.

First,  be sure to read the above FAQ to decide which of the volunteer roles sounds right for you.

If you decide you want to sign up as an Adopter, you can both view and sign up for an available route still in need of an adopter, here. If you are prompted to log in to ArcOnline, hit “OK” to access the portal. Need help with the Adoption Portal? We have an Instructional .PDF and a video tutorial which will walk you through the loop adoption process.

If you decide you only want to participate as an Assistant, you can use this form to indicate your interest. However, please be advised that this is just an interest form and your ability to participate in the project as an assistant is conditional on the needs of the Adopters. Once the adoption window is closed, we will contact you to let you know what routes, if any, are in need of additional assistance.