Whoever said you had to be a certain age to help sea turtles was proved wrong this week by a Miss Avery Barnett, 7. Avery was one of the wonderful hatchlings that came to visit the center from Berrien Primary’s second grade class on Monday, May 5th. While taking the class through the rehabilitation pavilion, Avery’s mother informed me that Avery had raised money to adopt a turtle. Not only did she raise money, but she did it all herself!

Avery has always loved animals especially sea turtles. She decided to help raise money to help our sick sea turtles here at the hospital and what better way to do that than to adopt one! She went to her school and the local high school and asked for donations to help sick sea turtles. Students and teachers donated enough so that she could adopt one of the turtles ($50!). Pretty impressive, right? Vida was the lucky sea turtle that day because she now has Avery as her adoptive parent!

As a non-profit facility we give our visitors the opportunity to personally help our patients by adopting them. Dylan, Vida, Griffin, Spitfire and Bevelyn are up for adoption and the money goes to the treatment and care of each patient. The program allows the adoptive parents to receive updates and pictures of their chosen patient and also two VIP seats to their release!

Thank you so much to Avery for showing us that hatchlings of all ages can help sick sea turtles too!

For more info on how you can adopt a turtle, go to www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org !

~Maura Larson, Education Intern