The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is proud to present our 2nd annual Sea Turtle Camp program!  We invite children ages 6 to 12 to join us for the ultimate camp experience as junior conservationists!  Come be a part of this unique program with fun-in-the-sun activities, sand adventures and unforgettable sea turtles!  You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the five species of local sea turtles, explore the coastal environment through dynamic activities and, of course, visit with our sea turtle patients!

This year we are hosting four weeks of Sea Turtle Camp!  See below for dates and times:

Week of                                 Ages                            Time

June 7 - 11                             10-12                          10:00am to 3:00pm

June 14 - 18                          6-9                               10:00am to 3:00pm

June 21 - 25                          10-12                          10:00am to 3:00pm

June 28 - July 2                    6-9                             10:00am to 3:00pm

Space is limited and reservations are required. You don’t want to miss it, so make your reservation now!

Please visit our Sea Turtle Camp website or contact Alicia Marin at (912) 635-4076 for more information .

~Alicia B. Marin, Education Coordinator

You may be aware that the GSTC Education Department provides outreach programs about sea turtles throughout the southeastern United States, but did you know that we travel to the Caribbean?!?! But of course - we are always up for an opportunity to spread the word about sea turtle conservation!  It was only 3 short years ago that Alicia Marin, now GSTC Education Coordinator, spent the summer working on the small island of Nevis, assisting the Nevis Turtle Group (NTG) with their sea turtle monitoring project.  When the NTG was approached by the Four Seasons resort with an interest in providing a sea turtle related activity for children, Alicia jumped at the chance to work with local children, and developed a Sea Turtle Camp on the spot!  The program was so successful (100 children graduated from Camp that summer), she continued to perfect the curriculum as her Master’s thesis at Duke University, which is currently pending publication.

Alicia and Sarah Eckert (former GSTC Educator) are spending 3 life changing weeks in the West Indies, assisting with Sea Turtle Camp, Caribbean style.  This past week we were on the island of St. Kitts and had the pleasure of working with local Kittian children, thanks to the generous support of the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network.  We offered 2, half day camps; 6-8 year olds in the morning and 13-16 year olds in the afternoon.  Each day the Campers focused on a particular aspect of sea turtle biology, conservation, and threats that they face.

We first began with an introduction to sea turtles, and learned about the Amazing Adaptations™ that sea turtles face. So OF COURSE we had to make our own shells and beaks!  The children had the opportunity to express their creativity while decorating their paper carapaces (top shell) and plastrons (bottom shell).  Thanks to the efforts of the in water tagging team, our older Campers were able to see a juvenile Hawksbill sea turtle!

No day is complete without snack, and our Campers were given only the best treats.  After learning about the nesting process, and how sea turtles are Egg-cellent Nest Protectors™, Campers became nesting females and buried their “eggs” (marshmallows) in their “nest” (pudding, graham crackers and whipped cream) to keep them safe.  The older Campers learned about natural and human associated threats through a bingo like game called T-H-R-E-A-T™.  Not only did the Campers learn a lot, but they had a blast!  Let’s be honest, you are never too old or too young for Bingo.

The Campers also learned how people of all ages can help sea turtles.  Our morning Campers, played a game of Garbage in the Water to show the effects of marine debris on sea turtles, and learned how long it takes for certain items to break down.  Dr. Kimberly Stewart then presented on the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network, and introduced opportunities for the older Campers to get involved.  This included creating beads from glass bottles that would have otherwise been discarded!  That’s right, glass bottles!  Andy, a sea turtle conservationist by day and stand up comic by night, did a mind blowing glass bead making demo for the Campers and Staff.  Each Camper (and even us!) had the chance to create a beautiful glass bead necklace. The St. Kitts Sea Turtle Project has conducted several workshops for local fisherman to encourage their participation in this glass bead initiative in which everyone benefits.  This program allows Kittians the chance to receive monetary compensation, glass to be recycled, and sea turtle projects to be supported. We even had at least one interested Camper! Wondering where you can purchase these unique glass beads?  Well, the GSTC of course! We are proud to sell these one of a kind glass bead necklaces and keychains in our gift shop, helping to support this wonderful program.

After only 4 short days it was apparent how much fun these Campers had and even more amazing was how much they learned.  This week was one to remember for a life time, and this is only the beginning of our Caribbean EXTREME Outreach.  This week we educated 25 children, but there’s more to come!  Be sure to check out the blog next week to learn about Sarah’s outreach adventures on St. Kitts, as she educates 9-12 year olds for round 2 of Sea Turtle Camp and Alicia’s outreach adventures on Nevis, as she assists Barbara Whitman with her Under the Sea Camp.

“Liming” in the Caribbean,

Alicia and Sarah

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

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is proud to present our first ever Sea Turtle Camp!  We are offering two sessions; a morning session for 6-9 year olds and an afternoon session for 10-12 year olds.  Each day is filled with games, crafts, educational programs, and of course, a yummy snack!  Our Campers will learn everything there is to know about sea turtle biology, conservation and the threats that they face through our interactive, 5 day camp.

Today our Campers received an Introduction to Sea Turtles, learning about the Amazing Adaptations that sea turtles have to survive in their ocean home, specifically the 5 species that are common to Georgia.  Read below to learn what our Campers learned today;

Morning Campers (Left to Right: McEver, Reilly, Jackson, Hanna, Ashley, Sydney, Faith

“I learned that the Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest.”  ~McEver

“The Leatherback is the largest in the world!”  ~Reilly

“I learned about the 5 types of sea turtles that come to Georgia.” ~Jackson

“I learned about sea turtles swallowing food.  They have little spines that hold the food, so they can spit the salt water back out!”  ~Hanna

“I learned that the top half of the shell is called the carapace and the bottom half is called the plastron.” ~Ashley

“Green sea turtles’ heads are little.  Hawksbills have a pretty shell on their backs.”  ~Sydney

“I learned that Leatherbacks eat jellyfish.”  ~Faith

Afternoon Campers (Left to Right: Juliana, Ciara, Colton, Alex, Brooke, Zoe, Emma, Jenna)

“I learned that Leatherbacks dive 4,000 feet in the water.  That’s why they have soft shells, so they won’t crack.”  ~Juliana

” I learned that there are 7 types of sea turtles found worldwide and 5 that live in Georgia.”  ~Ciera

“The Leatherback is the biggest turtle and dives the deepest.”  ~Colton

“Leatherbacks have a soft shell.”  ~Alex

“I learned about how many sea turtle species there are - 7!”  ~Brooke

“Epibiota means things on a turtle’s back.”  ~Emma

“I learned that the reason a Leatherback sea turtle has a soft shell is because they have to dive deep under water.  If their shell was hard, it would crack!”  ~Jenna

“That the stuff that lives on the back of a sea turtle is called Epibiota and it’s good for camouflage.”         ~Zoe

Stay tuned all week long to learn more from our Sea Turtle Campers!  I am particularly excited about Sea Turtle Camp, since I developed this curriculum for my Master’s Thesis at Duke University.  While it was originally created for the Caribbean region, this curriculum can be used anywhere!  I am thrilled that Sea Turtle Camp has come to Georgia and that it will help children became as passionate as I am about sea turtle conservation.

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator