Symposium Auction History

The Live and Silent Auctions are charitable events that generate funds to support the ISTS Travel Grants for students and participants in need, by auctioning off unique turtle-themed items. The idea for an auction was created more than three decades ago and has grown from raising USD$1,000 during its first years, to now generating over USD$20,000 annually. It is a community effort that is vital to the Society and cannot be successful without the support and participation of each and every delegate. The auctions are also a lot of fun and a great way to take home a unique souvenir, while also supporting our beloved Society!

If you have an item that you would like to donate, you can download a blank auction form here (forms will also be available on-site). Fill out one form for each item and bring it along with the item to the Silent Auction Area. Auction items will be accepted from Sunday February 28th until 5pm on Tuesday March 3rd, 2026. Once received, all items will be sorted and auctioned off during either the Silent or Live Auction.

If you have any questions, please contact the Auction Coordinator Marina Zucchini .

Silent Auction

The Silent Auction will commence in a designated area at 9am on Monday March 2nd and conclude on Thursday March 5th, after lunch. Note that winners of items within the Silent Auction will be required to pick-up and pay for their item before 3pm on Thursday 5th March. There will be credit card payment options accepting Visa and Mastercard.

The live auction is one of the most anticipated social events of the annual Symposium! With outrageous items, bidding wars, a Symposium King and Queen competition, and other surprise competitions, the Live Auction is not only a donate and purchase event, it is an extremely fun event that everyone can participate in and support. You can vote with your dollars, pay a nominal fee to enter a unique contest, donate turtle and non-turtle related items from your home, work. or travel regions, donate services, donate vacation home or field camp time, or bid on something someone else donated.

Live Auction

Donate auction items to support travel grants!

Here are some tips to consider for auction items before you travel to the Symposium:

  • Keep an eye out for any turtle-related items where you live, work, play, and travel to throughout the year.

  • Try to focus on unique, useful, handmade, silly, wearable, packable items that can generate equal or greater value when thrust into a room with hundreds of turtle fans.

  • If you have the ability to donate time at your research station or can offer specialized services to the science and conservation community, then consider this as a donation.

  • If you are a craftsperson yourself, make something special and one-of-a-kind - photography, paintings, jewelry, ceramics, wood, clothing, and quilts are all very popular.

  • Anything WEARABLE - dresses, skirts, hats, jewelry, and shirts are always popular.

  • Alcohol - Special spirits from your region, beer, and wine with turtle labels or names, and anything alcohol always fetches top dollar. In previous years, a bottle of Sake with a story went for USD$1,750 and it may reappear again this year!

  • Bring your local currency or US dollars - set aside some cash for voting and participating in the competitions as the cash is a significant portion of our funds.

  • Be BRAVE and follow your instincts. If you know someone who wants an item - help drive the price up by bidding against them - just try not to get caught with the highest bid!

  • If you purchased a popular item in the past, consider regifting it as you know it can continue to work well as a fundraising item - if you can part with it!

  • SHOW UP for the closing of the Silent Auction and the start of the Live Auction. Check the schedule/location and make sure you are there to get your final bids in and WIN WIN WIN both for you and for the Symposium.

  • Solicit - don't be afraid to solicit donations from other artists and makers for the cause!

  • Know that we were all students at one time or another and we all needed a little support.