August Georgia Sea Turtle Center Update
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Early Risers Can Enjoy Hatchling Walks
These tours offer a look at the sea turtle conservation efforts and research programs on Jekyll Island. Early morning risers will explore barrier island ecology while visiting the island’s active turtle nests. The tours include opportunities to assist with data recording and to witness a nest excavation of a hatched nest!
Walks will be conducted on Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday throughout August, and September (Walks after mid-September are tentative based on hatching and may be cancelled). Time varies between 7am-10am, depending on the tide. Location will also vary depending on which nest has hatched and is ready to be excavated.
Participants will be asked to meet at the designated site 15-30 minutes prior to the walk to check-in (you will receive a phone call a couple of days before your walk with directions to the site) and gather as a group with the Walk Guide to begin the walk on time. The walk will consist of a 30-minute beach ecology walk/talk leading up to an active nest that has been hatching on its own for a minimum of 5 days. The group will be met by the Turtle Patrol Interns who will conduct the post-hatching excavation on the nest. Group size is limited in order to maximize the experience for participants and in compliance with Georgia Department of Natural Resources permit restrictions.
Cost is $10 adults (ages 13+), $5 children (12 and under). Price does not include general admission to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center)
*Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information, visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org or call the Georgia Sea Turtle at 912-635-4444.
Arribada Adventures
Looking for something fun and educational to do as a family this summer? Come join us for Arribada Adventures at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! While sea turtle biologists typically use the term “arribada” to describe the mass nesting of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Team is using it to introduce our new summer programs! Arribada Adventures is geared toward families and has been designed for turtle enthusiasts both young and old! These two hour programs will introduce you and your little hatchlings to Georgia’s turtles! Become an expert Turtler through hands-on activities, games, crafts, and outdoor exploration. Space is limited and reservations are required. For registration and location information, please call 912-635-4444.
Cost: $10/adult, $5/child*. Saturdays 9:00am -11:00am
*Please note that price does not include general admission to the Center.
August 2: Lend ‘em a Flipper
Learn how YOU too can help our fine, flippered friends by participating in a beach sweep and creating
recycled sea turtle art.
August 9: Giving Sea Turtles a Chance
Come learn what the Georgia Sea Turtle Center is doing to help sea turtles. Participate in a mock sea turtle rescue and learn what we do to rehabilitate a turtle!
Education and Conservation
Georgia Sea Turtle Center Educators Alicia Marin and Sarah Mathias had the opportunity to attend and present at the National Marine Educators Association Conference, One World, One Water held in Savannah this year. Sarah presented “Swim into Learning with Sea Turtles,” an update on the Georgia Sea Turtle Center and the education programs we offer children. Alicia presented her Masters Thesis, “Sun, Sand and Sea Turtle: Educating Caribbean Youth through Nonformal Environmental Education.”
The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Education Department is proud to announce that during their first year of operation, approximately 4500 children from 78 individual schools! With that in mind we greatly look forward to the upcoming school year and encourage teachers to bring their students to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a visit.
If you are an educator interested in arranging a trip and lesson at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, contact the Center at 912-635-4444.
The Jekyll Island Fire Department Emergency Volunteers recently had several members receive service awards for ten years of service. Over the last ten years this group of dedicated individuals has spent hundreds of hours training, fund raising, and providing assistance to the Jekyll Island Fire Department. The Volunteers are responsible for providing much needed equipment to our emergency services. Some equipment came in the form of grant monies which were written for the department by key members of the volunteers. Other equipment was purchased with funds raised by all the volunteers utilizing just pure hard work on their end. Jekyll Island would like to thank every member of the volunteers for helping make our department as a whole what it is today. It is a pleasure having such dedicated people whose sole purpose is to help others! Ralph and Susan Steffan and Chip Ward also received a very nice retirement plaque as they announced they would be resigning after the awards and were surprised with a badge embossed plaque as keep sake for their years of service. Jekyll Island’s deepest appreciation goes out to all of these hard working and talented individuals.
