Every tuesday from 10:30-11:30am bring your hatchlings(2-4yrs) for Turtle Tales, an hour of turtle inspired stories and crafts. Join us on October 16th as we read How the Turtle Got Its Shell: Tales from Around the World and make our very own shells to wear! Space is limited and reservations are required.
For more information or to register for a Turtle Tales program please call (912)635-4444.
~Sarah Mathias, Education Intern
This past weekend the GSTC participated in the 2007 Coastfest! It was a beautiful, fun-filled day with people of all ages stopping by to visit the GSTC tables where staff and volunteers were on hand to represent the GSTC. Visitors could learn about various sea turtle species from our preserved specimens, see live terrapin hatchlings, read posters about sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, learn about our education programs, and pick up information & handouts! 
Especially for the kids, we provided 2 craft options: make a paperplate turtle and make-your-own get well cards out of recycled paper for our hospital patients. Many children also played the Sea Turtle Survival Game and learned how tough it is to be a sea turtle! 
On behalf of the staff, I’d like to send out a special thanks to the dedicated volunteers: Jane Bryson, Melissa Allen, Joelynn Miller, Pat and Jack Overholt, Tiffany Flavell, and Brooke Bearden. And to our amazing interns: Ashley Fisher and Sarah Mathias. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Stefanie Ouellette
Education and Field Coordinator
Planning a field trip to Jekyll Island? Bring your school group to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! The GSTC is excited to offer educational programs to school groups of all ages. Our programs consist of an exciting, 30 to 45 minute presentation, full of specimens, and interactive activities such as role playing and games! We may even turn YOU into a sea turtle! The presentation is then followed by a guided tour of the Exhibit Gallery and the Hospital with one of our Educators.
Can’t make it to Jekyll Island for a field trip? The Georgia Sea Turtle Center can come to you! The GSTC Outreach Staff brings learning about sea turtles and their marine environment to life for your group! Teachers can choose from a list of programs, or we can create a program to accommodate your students and your teaching goals.
The GSTC has become a popular destination for school groups. We had over 300 school children attend our programs during the month of September, and October is booking up fast! Teachers from Burroughs-Mollete Elementary School commented that “the GSTC exceeded our expectations, excellent presentation and we loved the visuals!” Our enthusiastic Education Team make learning Turtle-rrific here at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center! For more information on school group programs, please refer to our webpage under Education Programs/School Groups or call the Education Team at (912) 635-4076.
~Alicia Marin, Public Outreach Educator
Canebreak rattlesnakes at a sea turtle center?? Other than have they lost their minds, you may be thinking why on earth would rattlesnakes be at a sea turtle center?
The answer is…having surgery of course!
Kimberly Andrews is doing her graduate work on how development effects the movements and behavior of the canebreak rattlesnake. This brave young woman caught two beautiful snakes at her study sight in Bluffton, SC and transported them here to recieve their transmitters. She will then track them over the coming months and document their behavior. After the development that is taking place where the site is located is completed, she will continue to track them and monitor any differences.
This was another especially exciting day for staff and volunteers as many of us have not had the chance to work with these amazing animals. It also provided us the opportunity to work with some other close cousins of our turtles in support of our mission to promote total ecosystem health and overall wildlife conservation!
Both surgeries were successful and after a few days of recovery both snakes were returned to the wild.
Jeannie Miller Aquarist
The GSTC team is excited to support Jean Beasley, director and founder of The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue & Rehabilitation Center as a candidate for the 2007 Animal Planet Hero of the Year.
Jean has worked tirelessly for over 10 years protecting and rehabilitating sea turtles the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southern states at her facility on Topsail Island, North Carolina. She is currently working towards building a new larger and more comprehensive facility where her team will be able to continue and expand their incredible work.
You can vote for Jean by going to http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/hero_of_the_year/poll/poll.html
and you can check out the turtle hospital at
Please join us in supporting Jean!
- The Georgia Sea Turtle Center Staff