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