The Georgia Sea Turtle Center welcomed two new education interns in early June of 2009. Nicki Pinnell and Stephanie Chong will be joining returning education intern, Liz Jeyes.

Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie and I am from Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2008, I completed my B.Sc.H. in environmental science & geography at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Despite the stereotype, I think I have only been caught saying “eh” once. In September, I returned to Science World in Vancouver, working in education and outreach. I needed a new adventure and so I will be here for the next four months as an education intern. I’m excited to be learning tons about sea turtles and living on Jekyll!

Hello! My name is Liz and I am a junior at Penn State University. I am studying Elementary Education and have taken many classes in environmental education. I developed a love of teaching about animals while volunteering at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center in State College, Pennsylvania. I have been working at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for the past 5 months and have grown to love sea turtles and their conservation. I hope to share my passion with guests to the center.

Hello all! My name is Nicki Pinnell, and I’m from Braselton, Georgia. I am currently two semesters away from completing my bachelor’s of science majoring in Wildlife at the University of Georgia. I’ve always had two passions in life, children and animals. Interning at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center has brought those passions together. I hope to learn how to be an effective educator and an influential spokesperson for the conservation of endangered species

In 2008, The Georgia Sea Turtle Center (GSTC) embarked on a mission. In an effort to prevent excess waste, keep our soils & oceans healthy, and get kids involved in and benefit from the process, Scute’s Scribblers were born!

Scute’s Scribblers is a crayon recycling program initiated by the GSTC’s Education Department. Just one year ago in April, we put out a call to schools far and wide to start collecting their old, worn and broken crayons. What a response we received! Teachers and students alike from elementary, middle and high schools, stationed boxes in front offices, classrooms and lunchrooms to collect the crayon cast-offs. Initially, 80 pounds of crayons were gathered and made ready for a new life.

The pounds of donated crayons were peeled, melted to molten wax and reshaped into unique sea turtle shaped crayons!  From there, crayons were packaged & labeled. Using compostable cellulose bags and recycled labels, crayons were packed individually and in 5-packs to be featured as a donation purchase in the GSTC gift shop. Proceeds from crayon donations are deposited into a special account, dubbed Scute’s Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition for students to experience a GSTC field trip that they otherwise could not afford.

One particularly zealous student, 9-year-old Lorin Crair, struck out on her own mission to collect as many crayons as possible. Lorin, only 1 of 1350 students at Sabal Palm Elementary School in Jacksonville, FL, began collecting crayons in January mid-way through her third grade year. She designed and created ‘turtle pots,’ crayon collecting buckets which she placed in individual classrooms. At the recent Nest Fest event on Jekyll Island, Lorin, along with her parents, delivered the 88.2 pounds of crayons collected in only 6 short months. Lorin has no thoughts of stopping there! She recently placed a turtle pot at a local Italian restaurant that provides crayons to entertain waiting customers. Her goal is to collect over 100 pounds for the 2009-2010 school year. As a thank you to Lorin for her hard work, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center staff presented her with a plush Scute, the sea turtle mascot for whom the crayons are named and a Scute’s Scribbler in her favorite color, blue.

In the three months since Scute’s Scribblers debuted in the Gift Shop, Scute’s Scholarship Fund has received donations for over 370 crayons. We’re having a tough time keeping up with the demand! The good news is that two groups of students have already benefited from the program. Special needs students from Needwood Middle School in Brunswick, GA, had the opportunity to visit the Center where they saw Scute’s Ocean Adventure puppet show and visited with the sea turtle patients. A second group of ‘Young Women in Science’ from the Brunswick YMCA participated in Sea Turtle Rescue 911, a critical thinking program for high school students. They also had the opportunity to see women working in the science field ‘in action’ - Educators at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

With such an influx of crayons and so few staff, we recruited a little help! Yesterday, the Elderhostel’s Intergenerational Camp, a summer programs for grandparents & their grandkids, participated in a crayon peeling marathon. For one hour, 18 adults & 13 children sliced, peeled and sorted crayons in record time. Over 25 pounds of castoff crayons are now ready for the next phase of their recycled life.

Do you have crayons you’d like to donate to the Center’s efforts? Send your PEELED crayons to :

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center

214 Stable Road

Jekyll Island, GA 31527

Attention: Education Department

~Kelly O’Keefe, Educator

I recently received an email from the mom of a 4th grader from Chattanooga, TN in regards to few things directly associated with the GSTC.  This email touched my heart and just knew I had share it with everyone.  Here is a clip of that email:

“We are big fans of the sea turtles and have enjoyed learning about them over the past year. My daughter’s 4th grade class did a 9-week unit on the environment ,and as part of that I helped with a sea turtle project for them. We learned all about sea turtles, made our own eggs and turtles from clay, and made some great posters and pictures about them. We adopted Griffin for the class, and they all loved the updates and pictures of him. At the end of the year, they did an exhibit on sea turtles and talked with all the parents about what they learned. As part of a recycling project, they also collected 3 big containers of crayons to donate to the Sea Turtle Center after they saw the crayon project on your blog.  I am enclosing a few pictures of their efforts so you can see how you’ve inspired a bunch of 4th graders in Chattanooga, TN to make a difference to the sea turtles.”

You can image how proud we were to hear about the different ways this class learning about and helping sea turtles. It’s great to have such amazing support from all over the country and from people of all ages!

THANK YOU TO THIS 4TH GRADE CLASS FROM CHATTANOOGA, TN AND THE FAMILY THAT SHARED THIS WONDERFUL STORY WITH US!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

June 16 marked the 2 year anniversary of the Georgia Sea Turtle Centers grand opening!   This year, we celebrated in true sea turtle style with a week of fun filled activities!  All events were filled to capacity and we were bursting at the seams with guests ready to celebrate with us! Monday evening at the Center, Director and Veterinarian Dr. Terry Norton gave an update on the Centers progress the last 2 years and where we hope to go from here. Tuesdays Birds & Bees chat with Lydia Thompson and Jim Gertis was a huge success! Guests peeked into the nests of 2 not-very-well-known creatures: the honey bee and the Wilsons Plover.  Movie-goers at Wednesdays Finding Nemo were not only treated to a big-screen hit, but freshly popped popcorn to munch on during the flick. The thought of helping keep our beach clean and an ice cream treat drew a crowd for Thursday mornings Beachsweep. And who could resist our fun-loving mascot, Scute the Loggerhead Sea Turtle? A visit from Scute delighted the young and young-at-heart at an early morning breakfast served on the Center lawn. Scutes visit was followed by a tour of the Center-in our pajamas!  

Despite scorching temperatures, we guesstimated over 1000 visitors joined us for the Saturday finale party at the Beachdeck. Festival-goers were invited to partake in a number of activities on the upper deck. This year, we had the pleasure of hosting Naturalist Georgia Graves, Birding Enthusiast Brad Winn, our friends at Tidelands/4-H & the Coastal ARK- all with so much to share! Don’t know much about nesting on Jekyll Island? If you had the chance to check out the goings-on, consider yourself an expert!

Sea turtles & Diamondback Terrapins, sharks & snakes, the gopher tortoise & other burrow-dwelling animals, American Oystercatchers & Red Knots, horseshoe crabs & even live beach critters were all featured as part of the educational exhibits. It looks like children of ALL ages participated in the fun!

The lower deck gave way to an impromptu dance party with Island Sounds DJ, Justin. Three go-rounds of the Kid’s Turtle Crawl obstacle course throughout the day called to beach athletes itching for a little fun competition. And a festival would not be a festival without a feast! Teddy gave the grillside fare a thumbs up!

We topped off the day with the successful release of Simone & Duffy, two rehabilitated loggerhead sea turtle patients that arrived at the Center just a month apart. After almost one full year in the hospital recovering from illness & injury, the two were returned to their ocean home. Track their ocean adventures at www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

A huge thanks to our tireless volunteers & staff, the Jekyll Island Authority and YOU! Thanks for making this event possible!

~ Kelly OKeefe, Educator

As of July 1, 2009 the exciting and informative behind the scenes tours at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will be only $20!  Children ages 10-12 will be just $15!  This includes admission into the center!  That means that for just an extra $14 you can come into our treatment room and see all of the unique equipment we use to help sick and injured sea turtles.  You will also have the opportunity to venture into our commissary and see just how we take care of our patients.  We will be offering these special tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.**  For more information please give us a call at 912-635-4444.

**All dates and times are subject to change due to treatments or special events.  Please call ahead for reservations.  Individuals must be over the age of 10 to participate in these tours.

Sea turtle nesting season is well under way!  And while we are not getting the numbers we saw last year, they are still up from 2007 AND we have those 2 leatherback nests!  Take a look…

Want a chance to possibly see a nesting turtle?  Signed up for one of our Turtle Walks today!  Space is limit so don’t miss out…call for your reservation today: 912-635-4444!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Ouellette
Marine Field Programs Coordinator

This week has flown by, and I can hardly believe that today was the 5th and final day of Sea Turtle Camp!  Today we focused on how humans can help sea turtles.  Our morning Campers received a presentation and created sea turtle puppets.  The afternoon Campers went on a Behind-the-Scenes tour of our Sea Turtle Hospital.

And then it was time for Sea Turtle Camp Graduation.  Each morning Camper created a picture of their most favorite activity at Sea Turtle Camp and presented it to their parents.   Our afternoon Campers chose their favorite sea turtle and discussed some important facts about them to their parents.  Each Camper was presented with a Camp Competition Certificate, a GSTC bracelet and a pledge card to vote for their Patient of the Year!

Read below to learn ways that people can help sea turtles from our Campers:

Morning Campers

“You can help sea turtles by slowing down when you go on a boat.”  ~McEver

“You can help by calling the Georgia Sea Turtle Center when you see a hurt or sick turtle.”  ~Sydney

“Shrimp nets should have a T.E.D. (turtle excluder device)!”  ~Reilly

“I can help sea turtles by picking up trash.”  ~Ashley

“I learned that we can take sick sea turtles to the turtle hospital.”  ~ Faith

“Instead of using J hooks, we can use circle hooks.”  ~Jackson

“We need to help turtles feel well by taking them to the hospital.”  ~Hanna

Afternoon Campers

“We can throw away our trash.”  ~Ciera

“You can help sea turtles by trying not to liter, donate money to sea turtle centers or to just learn more about them.”  ~ Jenna

“Help sea turtles by taking them to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center or move them across the road if they are a land turtle.”  ~Zoe

“We can help turtles by recycling and using bigger bottles rather than smaller bottles (reducing our waste).”  ~Juliana

“You can help by keeping your environment clean.”  ~Brooke

“Pick up the trash!”  ~Alex

“Use circle hooks, and check nets and fishing lines often.”  ~Colton

Today, our Sea Turtle Campers learned that they most important way to help sea turtles is through education.  These 15 Campers became sea turtle experts this week!  It is incredible the amount of scientific information they have retained.  Their duty after Sea Turtle Camp, is to continue spreading the word about sea turtle conservation to their friends and family.  Campers have also been invited to become Sea Turtle Pen Pals with a group of Campers from Pro Peninsula’s Sea Turtle Camp, in San Diego, California!

The GSTC Education Staff would like to thank Campers and parents alike, for participating in the first annual Sea Turtle Camp.  This was our first year hosting Sea Turtle Camp, and thanks to its success we plan on hosting additional weeks of Camp next year!

Congratulations Sea Turtle Campers, and thank you!

I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to the GSTC Education Staff (Kelly O’Keefe, Teddy Ivey, Liz Jeyes, Nicki Pinnell, Steph Chong) and to former GSTC Education Interns Maura Brown and Whitney Groth.  They came back just for this week to help with Camp!  Thanks for making Sea Turtle Camp a success!

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator

And our new sea turtle’s name is….

Caretta...

...Hope

Our morning Campers decided on “Caretta,” the latin name for the Loggerhead sea turtle, and our new patient is a Loggerhead.  And the afternoon Campers decided on “Hope” because they are hopeful that even with only 2 flippers (she is missing both of her rear flippers) that she will have a successful rehabilitation here at the GSTC.  Put them together and what do you get?  Caretta Hope!

On our 4th day of Sea Turtle Camp, we focused on the human-associated threats that sea turtles face.  We learned about marine debris through our interactive game, Garbage in the Water.  Campers also became human board game pieces as we played the Sea Turtle Survivor Game on a giant, outside gameboard!  And no day is complete without a craft; Campers made reusable canvas bags, decorated with the Sea Turtle Prints they created by using recycled styrofoam trays!  Look how creative these Campers are!

Morning Campers

Sea Turtle Survivor (game)

“I learned that some of the reasons that the sea turtle are in the hospital are because of people.”  ~Sydney

“Sharks can hurt sea turtles!”  ~ Faith

“I like the Sea Turtle Survivor game!” ~Hanna

“I learned that it is easier to prevent polution, then to clean it up.”  ~McEver

“Polluting the water is bad!”  ~Jackson

“My favorite thing was when we played the Garbage in the Water game.”  ~Ashley

“You should not pollute!  ~Reilly

Afternoon Campers

Zoe shows off her reusable bag!

“I learned that things that are made from plants, break down faster.”  ~Zoe

“I learned that accretion is when sand bulds up somewhere - it is the opposite of erosion.”  ~Emma

“I learned what humans can do to help turtles, like turtle friendly lighting.”  ~Brooke

“I learned that when humans throw plastic bags in the ocean other turtles mistake it to be jellyfish!”  ~Ciera

“Boats are a major threat to turtles.”  ~Colton

Alex chose Cohen for his Turtle Print

“I learned that erosion can harm turtles.”  ~Juliana

“I learned that the main threat to sea turtles are actually humans!”  ~Jenna

“The white spots on an orca whale that look like eyes, aren’t really their eyes!”  ~Alex

Only one day left of Sea Turtle Camp!  Tomorrow we wrap up the week by discussing how people can help sea turtles.  More games, crafts and fun to come!

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator

Alicia explains the Edible Nest (eggs = marshmallows!)

Today our Campers learned about the natural threats that sea turtles face, and just how tough it is to be a sea turtle.  They became Dune Detectives are we searched the beach for predator tracks.  They also saw 3 new sea turtle nests on the beach!  While sea turtles do not stay with their eggs and hatchlings, they have provided them with everything they need to survive; protection from the elements and/or predators, and a lunch already inside their bellys (nutrient rick yolk sack).  Campers became Egg-cellent Nest Protectors (nesting females) and learned how to bury their “eggs in the sand” through our edible nest game!  Look how much fun they had!

Morning Campers

Before...

“Sea turtles have a hard time.” –Jackson

“I learned that you can tell a boy turtle from a girl by their tail.” –McEver

...during...

“I learned that ghost crabs might snap sea turtles. My favorite thing was learning about turtles.” –Faith

“I learned that it is hard for baby sea turtles to get to the sea.” –Ashley

“I learned that crabs will eat baby sea turtles.” –Sydney

“My favorite was seeing a ghost crab.” –Hanna

..After!

“It is hard for sea turtles to live.” –Reilly

Afternoon Campers

“A killer whale eats sea turtles.” –Alex

They may be clean now....

“There are lots of predators for hatchlings and less for juveniles and even less for sub-adults and adults.” –Colton

“I learned how one thing can affect many other things like when the beach gets polluted, turtles may not nest there.” –Brooke

“I learned that the hardest part of a sea turtle’s life is being an egg and hatchling.” –Ciera

“Orca whales can crush a turtle’s shell and eat the turtle.” –Emma

“I learned that if one thing is taken of a food web then it affects the whole web.” –Jenna

...but look at these faces!

“I learned that when a leatherback lays it’s eggs it has smaller ones near the top so predators eat them and they don’t like them so they leave.” –Zoe

“I learned that there are a lot of predators that can harm baby sea turtle eggs.” –Juliana

Our Campers were also given a unique opportunity today - to name our new sea turtle patient!  Each group of Campers was given the mission to go home and think of the best sea turtle name ever.  Then, tomorrow we will vote on the name as a class.  By tomorrow evening, our new turtle will have a name, so be sure to check back! How awesome is that!  Just one of the many perks of being in Sea Turtle Camp!

Don’t YOU want to be in Sea Turtle Camp?!?!  If so, let me know!  If there is enough interest, the GSTC may host another week of Sea Turtle Camp!

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator

Ready? Set? NEST!!! That is what Sea Turtle Camp was all about today; sea turtle nesting and turtle tracks.  Both groups started their day with Scute’s Ocean Adventure puppet show.  Next, we learned about the nesting and hatching processes through an interactive presentation.  And then, it was off to the beach, to see real sea turtle nest (one from last night) and the tracks she left behind in the sand.  Our morning Campers played the Sea Turtle Survival Game, while our afternoon Campers participated in a mock sea turtle nest excavation.  Let’s see what our Campers learned today;

Morning Campers

“Baby sea turtles get eaten, so not a lot of turtles get to be adults.”  ~Hanna

“My favorite thing was walking on the beach, finding sea shells and learning about them.”  ~Faith

“I learned that it is hard for turtles to live!”  ~Reilly

“My favorite thing was when we saw sea turtle tracks at the beach.”  ~Sydney

“I learned that Loggerhead sea turtle tracks are zig-zags.”  ~Ashley

“”I learned that not all sea turtles become adults.”  ~Jackson

“I learned that 1 out of 4,000 baby sea turtles live to be adults!”  ~McEver

Afternoon Campers (and Maura Brown, former GSTC Education Intern ‘08)

“I learned that fire ants eat sea turtle eggs.”  ~ Alex

“I learned that 50% of sick or injured sea turtles get sick or injured because of boat accidents.”  ~Zoe

“When a sea turtle is in its eggs, it eats the yolk for nutrients.”  ~Emma

“I learned how to tell different turtle tracks apart.  The heavier turtles drag along the ground and pull with both flippers, but the lighter ones, waddle back and forth, using one flipper and then the other.”  ~Brooke

“I learned that most turtle that are sick and hurt, got hit by a boat.”  ~Juliana

“I learned that counter shading is when a sea turtle is a dark color on it’s carapace and a light color on its plastron.  This allows the sea turtle better camouflage from its predators.”  ~Jenna

“Sea turtles lay their eggs about 2 feet down in the sand.”  ~Colton

“Sea turtles depend on the movement of the ocean as one way to find their way around.”  ~Ciera

While it was extremely hot on the beach today, we look forward to heading back out tomorrow to become Dune Detectives and learn about the natural threats sea turtles face.

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator