CEO CHATTER WITH JACK LIGHTON
Dear Friend of LMC,
Welcome to the special Earth Day edition of our April e-newsletter! Earth Day was established in 1970, and continues to celebrate support for environmental conservation and protection.
On Sunday, April 22 we will celebrate Earth Day in some fun and unique ways. Of course, you can always visit the Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center to learn about our beautiful patients, but we also have two other fun events on Sunday that you may want to consider joining:
1.) Join LMC at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens for an Earth Day celebration of “A Partnership for Art, Science and the Natural World.” This free event will offer guests access to the majestic ANSG campus, a stunning oasis in the heart of West Palm Beach. Enjoy magnificent sculptures and rare foliage, visit LMC’s interactive learning station and visit other learning stations from our collaborative partners. We are honored to partner with the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens and hope you will visit. For more information, please visit http://ansg.org/event/earth-day/
2.) Join LMC at Renegades Country Bar & Grill in West Palm Beach to celebrate Earth Day. Family-friendly festivities will take place from 1-5 p.m. and will include a bounce house, face painter, vendors, food, drinks and more. A portion of the sales will be donated to Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Are you a country music fan? If so, you are in luck! After the family fun, stick around and listen to Nashville recording artist Craig Campbell, local South Florida artist Maggie Baugh and special guest Sarah Hardwig. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m. All ages are invited! Tickets on sale now: $15 in advance; $20 at the door; $10 for kids 12 and under. Please visit LMC’s Facebook event to learn more.
Your support of our mission allows us to make a positive impact on our blue planet. Thank you.
We look forward to visiting with you on campus soon!
With Gratitude,
Jack E. Lighton
President & CEO
Upcoming events
Earth Day Festival & Concert at Renegades – April 22
Come celebrate Earth Day at Renegades in West Palm Beach from 1 to 5 p.m.! Family fun for all to enjoy! Bounce house, a face painter, vendors, food and drinks. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center! After you enjoy the festival stick around for Craig Campbell and Maggie Baugh in concert! The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets>>
Earth Day at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens – April 22
The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens will host a free community day for the public in honor of Earth Day! Earth Day at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens unites important local organizations dedicated to a common goal of protecting the environment and raising awareness about actions our community can take to protect the earth. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
what’s new in Rehab?
The Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center was recently visited by the famous conservationist, Jack Hanna, to film an episode of his show Into the Wild. Jack was accompanied by his wife and grandson on a release of a sub-adult loggerhead sea turtle, named Solana, which had been rescued and rehabilitated at the Sea Turtle Hospital. The show is focused on promoting conservation and protection of our planet’s endangered species through education on this family-friendly television series. Jack and his family were able to work with our astute veterinarian to perform daily treatments on several of our sea turtle patients. During this time, Jack learned about the many dangers and obstacles sea turtles face in order to survive. The main focuses were on pollution in our oceans and responsible fishing. It is sad to say that 100 percent of the wash-back sea turtles that are found dead or die at our facilities have ingested plastic. This is a new threat to this species that will affect the number of animals that will ever reach reproductive maturation. Since it takes nearly 30 years for a sea turtle to reach maturity, it will be difficult to see how this will impact the future population. It is important to spread the message about sea turtle conservation and how we can help protect this species for future generations.
Solana Release
Last week, we released Solana after being rehabilitated in our sea turtle hospital since December! Solana was named by the staff of Florida Power & Light Company, a long standing partner and supporter of Loggerhead Marinelife Center. The name Solana is very fitting as FPL is the largest supplier of clean energy in the world. FPL is another community partner that is committed to ocean conservation and has dedicated their support to further LMC’s mission. Thank you FPL for your continued, generous support. Safe travels to Solana!
Knowledge is power!
Evening Summer Beach Programs – Mark your calendars for May 1! Beginning May 1, tickets for our Turtle Walk program go on sale at 9 a.m.! This is our most popular beach program, as it allows guests the opportunity to experience the nesting process of sea turtles in person on our beaches. Following an informative and interactive presentation, guests will be led by our experienced guides to the beach* to watch a nesting sea turtle lay her eggs.
A Turtle Walk is a unique program that allows our visitors to learn about, and observe, the nesting and egg-laying process of sea turtles. Experienced Loggerhead Marinelife Center scouts will patrol our designated section of Juno Beach searching for sea turtles while visitors enjoy an informative presentation on the plight of sea turtles and an after-hours experience to view our current patients in our outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital. Once a loggerhead sea turtle is found and begins her egg-laying process, the group is then led down to the beach to witness this unforgettable experience.
Turtle Walks are $18 per person or $15 per person for our LMC members. Walk-ins are a rate of $20, and a spot is not guaranteed. All individuals, including children, are required to pre-register online to reserve their spot. Children must be 8 years or older to attend the walks and all participants must be able to walk up to half a mile.
We can only accommodate 30 people per night and dates fill up quickly. There is no relationship between sea turtle nesting activity and the phase of the moon, the weather or tides. All scheduled Turtle Walk nights give guests the same odds of seeing a nesting sea turtle.
*There are no refunds on tickets if a sea turtle is not spotted.
For more information, please visit our web page>>
Junior Marine Biologist Camp – Is your camper a sea turtle saver? Registration for our Junior Marine Biologist Summer Camp is open, with limited spaces available.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s summer camp programs are interactive, educational and stimulating. Each camp is geared towards children ages 6* through 17. Students participating in the Jr. Marine Biologist summer camp program will gain an understanding of various nature-related topics such as (but not limited to) ecology and marine biology with a conservation emphasis. Camp hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Late pick-up (5 p.m.) is available for an additional fee.
This summer, choose from four hands-on, feet wet camp sessions throughout the summer, including Ocean Adventures, Sea Turtle Savers, Conservation Kids and Field Experiences sessions.
Ocean Adventures – Explore Florida’s coastal ecosystems and all the marine animals that live there! Campers will journey from mangroves to coral reefs as they explore different habitats for the incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Campers will learn about the importance and complexity of coastal habitats, learn to take samples and use observation to collect data, enjoy snorkeling excursions and more. Ocean Adventures encompasses sea turtles and their marine enviro-nment as well as behind-the-scenes access to our sea turtle hospital.
Sea Turtle Savers – Join us for our all-new camp session dedicated to aspiring sea turtle researchers, veterinarians and biologists! Our Sea Turtle Savers session will give your sea turtle lover an opportunity to be a marine science researcher, veterinarian and marine biologist throughout the week for a hands-on experience they won’t soon forget. Campers will learn the process of rescue to release as they participate in rescue and rehabilitation simulations, take a behind-the-scenes tour of our sea turtle hospital, learn how to conduct a sea turtle nesting survey and spend a day in the life of LMC staff.
Conservation Kids – Ready, set, SAVE! Watch as your child turns from camper to Conservation Kid as they learn the importance of ocean conservation for sea turtles, the ocean and their future. Campers will learn how to responsibly enjoy the outdoors while having fun fishing, canoeing and snorkeling safely for marine life. Each Conservation Kid will receive a Sea Turtle Safety award upon completion of the camp session and leave with tools and resources to implement responsible practices in their own community.
Field Experiences (Ages 14 – 17) – Got a budding scientist on your hands? Our Field Experiences camp is designed to prepare high school-aged kids for a future in biology or other related sciences. Campers will spend their days making observations about the local environments and experience them first hand. Activities will include snorkeling excursions, habitat transects, seining for fish, lab experiments, dissections, sea turtle nesting surveys and more. *Additional fees apply.
Want a glimpse into what our summer camps will be like? Check out our 2017 Camp Blog here>>>
To register for our camp sessions or to learn more, visit marinelife.org/camp.
Scholarships available for qualifying children ages 6-17. More details on website.
Counselor-in-Training Program with JMB Camp –We are currently seeking young adults ages 15 and up to assist our counselors for the 2018 summer camp season. Counselor-in-Training (CITs) will have an opportunity to learn what it takes to be a leader in environmental education and an expert in having fun! CITs will also be able to earn service hours needed for honor roll programs and other school-related activities.
These CIT positions fill up quickly! Application for the CIT position may be found at marinelife.org/camp. Applications due no later than Monday, May 7, 2018. Participant MUST be available on Monday, May 21, 2018 and commit to a minimum of three 35+ hour weeks.
NEW Coastal Restoration Florida Master Naturalist Course at LMC! – LMC has teamed up with the University of Florida and local biologists and naturalists to offer the NEW Coastal Restoration Specialty Course as part of the the Florida Master Naturalist Program. The Florida Master Naturalist Program is an adult education UF/IFAS Extension program developed by the University of Florida and provided by many Extension offices and participating organizations throughout the state of Florida. FMNP training will benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides and others.
The Coastal Restoration Course focuses on living shoreline restoration and is intended to improve participants’ understanding of the science and application of living shorelines. It includes foundational training on the ecology, benefits, methods and monitoring techniques for restoring oyster reefs, mangroves, and salt marshes. Graduates of this course will be better prepared to promote and assist with restoration projects. You will receive 24 hours of in-person classroom learning, field trips and hands-on experience. The registration fee is $155 and includes a detailed course manual, FMNP certificate and entry into the online FMNP Database for verification as required for obtaining CEUs or in-service credits.
To register, please visit >> http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/CR18-06.html or contact Hannah at [email protected].
Conservation Education Focus: Working Vacation in Maui County Islands, Hawai’i
“One of the coolest things about SWIM is that everyone you meet on the trip has that passion for conservation,” says Susan Graham, former Maui SWIM participant. “I definitely would recommend going on a SWIM trip. I mean, what better excuse do you have to travel other than saving the world?”
In partnership with Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, Loggerhead Marinelife Center staff is welcoming guests to travel with our staff biologists to assist with sea turtle rehabilitation, stranding response and other marine conservation efforts on the island.
SWIM guests will assist in conservation efforts on both Maui and Lanai, conducting activities including sea turtle stranding support calls, in-water sea turtle transect surveys, debris audits and under water clean-ups.
“This is a unique opportunity that you cannot find anywhere else on the island; a true, authentic local experience and an unmasked look into sea turtle conservation efforts on Maui,” says Hannah Campbell, LMC’s environmental programs manager.
In their free time, guests will relax in rustic, Hawaiian style at a private cabin site on one of the prettiest shallow coral reefs on the island’s west side. With all gear included in your registration cost, it is a ocean lover’s dream. Make your next vacation a conservation vacation and SWIM with us this year!
2018 dates:
The Honu of Maui, Hawai’i (June 24-30)
Hawksbills of the Pacific, Nicaragua (August 12-18)
For more information about SWIM programs, visit marinelife.org/SWIM.
Want to go behind-the-scenes first? Evening Guided Tours are now offered before each Turtle Walk for a tour of our outdoor sea turtle rehabilitation area, including a tour of our hospital. To register, visit marinelife.org/calendar and select your desired dates. Public Evening Tours take place every Tuesday from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Private dates and times available based on availability. Contact Sue Thompson at [email protected] for details.
Conservation Corner
Litter Free Deerfield Beach – On Saturday, March 10, the City of Deerfield Beach kicked off the Litter Free #DFB program with support from JM Family Enterprises and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Beach litter has become a significant concern globally for the health of the ocean. Through the Litter Free #DFB program, cleanup kits will be stationed at the Pier Bait Shop and available for checkout by beach visitors. The cleanup kits include a 2-gallon bucket for litter, gloves, and a sifter for small items in the sand. First-time participants receive a sticker. Returning participants will receive a t-shirt after their fourth visit. To measure the success of the program, the number of participants will be tracked and trash will be weighed upon return to the bait shop.
Deerfield Beach has been a Project SHIELD partner with the Center since 2014. As part of the kick-off event, LMC’s Conservation Coordinator Katie O’Hara gave a talk on the importance of preventing marine debris and the impacts pollution has on the ocean.
Go #StrawFreewithLMC this Earth Day! – Americans use 500 million plastic straws every day—enough straws to wrap around Earth two and a half times. While plastic straws are called “disposable,” they last forever and are among the top 10 items collected globally during beach cleanup events. In 2018, LMC and partner organizations removed 1,401 straws just from Florida beaches
On Earth Day 2018, as part of our upcoming Blue Table Initiative, Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is partnering with local restaurants to go #StrawFreewithLMC. For this event, local restaurants agree to refrain from offering plastic straws to their patrons on Earth Day (Sunday, April 22) to increase public awareness of the need to eliminate single-use plastics, such as straws. This initiative will eliminate a days’ worth of straws from potentially entering the marine environment, thereby preventing this threat to sea turtles and other marine wildlife!
RESEARCH REPORT
Meet our Seasonal Field Technicians – These recent graduates and post-graduate students will be assisting LMC biologists with our morning survey and night time tagging projects. The seasonal positions extend for four to seven months, and our technicians are a crucial part of our research staff. They will be collecting data out on our beaches throughout the summer, so make sure to say hello if you see them on our beaches conducting surveys.
Aubrey Frye
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska (now a resident of Palm Beach County)
I received a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University in Aquatic Sciences in 2014. While there, I did nesting research on a much, much smaller scale with painted snapping and yellow mud turtles. I then interned at the Omaha Zoo, in the Walter Scott Aquarium, and became interested in sea turtle nesting. This is my fifth consecutive season working as a nesting season field technician for LMC. I am also currently working as a full time field biologist at D.B. Environmental Inc., where I work in freshwater wetlands.
Christina Coppenrath
Hometown: San Diego, California
I attended San Diego State University where I received my Bachelor of Science in biology with an emphasis in ecology. During my undergraduate degree, I volunteered with the San Diego Natural History Museum’s Herpetology Department conducting biodiversity surveys. I also worked as a research assistant to graduate students studying the habitat use and feeding ecology of green turtles. I moved to Florida to pursue my Master of Science in Biological Sciences at Florida Atlantic University. During my Master’s degree I have had the opportunity to participate in marine turtle husbandry, study juvenile hawksbill turtles in the Dominican Republic, and study the feeding ecology of Florida’s leatherback turtles (my thesis). LMC has provided me with a collaboration for my thesis research, an internship studying fibropapillomatosis in green turtles, and now a research technician position. I am very excited to be a part of the night tagging program!
Derek Aoki
Hometown: San Francisco, California
I received two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Environmental Science and Geography from the University of Denver in 2012. Afterwards, I traveled to the Galápagos Islands, Costa Rica, and South Africa to volunteer on various ecological conservation projects that involved field work and animal rehabilitation. I moved to Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany and received an Master of Science in environmental science from the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg in 2016, where my thesis examined the impact of artificial light on the nesting distribution and hatching orientation of loggerhead turtles on Boavista, Cape Verde. My involvement in sea turtle conservation started in 2013, when I interned for Turtle Foundation, an NGO based in Cape Verde. I worked in Cape Verde for three nesting seasons as an assistant field coordinator in 2014 and 2015, and as the data collection supervisor in 2016. I also made a quick stop in Costa Rica to see some gigantic leatherbacks with LAST (Latin American Sea Turtles) and spent two months with Archelon at a rehabilitation center in Athens, Greece. This will be my first season with the LMC, and I’m looking forward to being bombarded with turtles over the next five months.
Gabby Carvajal
Hometown: New Rochelle, New York
I received a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University in ecosystems & human Impact through their sustainability studies Program in 2014. During my undergraduate career, I studied abroad in Madagascar, conducting research on the critically endangered golden bamboo lemur. I also received my master’s from Stony Brook University in marine conservation & policy in 2015, researching humpback whale song exchange. The last two summers I was fortunate enough to work with leatherbacks through the Student Conservation Association (AmeriCorps) at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I conducted night surveys during nesting season and also took part in hatchling season. I am very excited to be joining LMC as a seasonal nesting field technician. Hoping for a busy season!
Heather Seaman
Hometown: Battle Creek, Michigan
I received two Bachelor of Science degrees from Michigan State University in zoology with a concentration of zoo and aquarium science, and environmental biology/zoology in 2017. Last summer, I completed my capstone internship at LMC as their research intern/assistant technician. I gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience through my internship and my passion for sea turtles and conservation grew. It was incredible to experience a record-breaking year for green sea turtles and overall nest counts. After my graduation this past December, I knew I wanted to come back to LMC as a field technician. I am looking forward to the 2018 season, and can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Kate Fraser
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
I received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in zoology with a concentration of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology in 2016. I finished my degree with an internship at the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge as their Student Conservation Association (AmeriCorps) intern. While there, I had the opportunity to be one of their sea turtle nesting surveyors! Being from Michigan, I was thrilled to be able to be on the beach for beautiful sunrises every morning. Last year, I was a morning tech for LMC during the record breaking nesting season. Last season was filled with long days in the sun, but I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else. I am very excited for another season where I will be a part of the night tagging program and morning crew!
Kim Rigano
Hometown: York, Maine
I attended Florida Institute of Technology, where I received my Bachelor of Science in conservation biology in 2012. While there, I did undergraduate research on scrub jay predation by yellow rat snakes. I also interned with the Student Conservation Association, where I collected population data on shorebirds in the northeast and became interested in coastal ecosystems. I moved to the west coast for graduate school and received my master’s degree in zoology from Washington State University. My thesis research focused on seasonal changes in grizzly bear metabolism. After graduating, I worked as a wildlife technician for the National Forest Service in California, where I helped manage northern spotted owl populations. I love being involved in the conservation of threatened and endangered species, and I am very excited to be returning to LMC for my second field season as a nesting technician! In addition to the nesting surveys, I am also joining the night crew this year as a night-time tagging field technician.
Laura Wenk
Hometown: Kennesaw, Georgia
I attended Jacksonville University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in marine biology in 2015. During my four years there, I conducted multiple research projects on the effects of ocean acidification on the regeneration rates of brittle stars. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I needed a change of scenery. So, I applied and was accepted to James Cook University in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. While at James Cook I volunteered with turtle researchers, assisted in conducting surveys on green turtles off Port Gladstone using turtle rodeo method, conducted loggerhead turtle nesting beach surveys at Mon Repos, and worked with flatback hatchlings at Avoid Island. I graduated with a master’s in marine biology and ecology in 2016 after completing my thesis on the impact of cyclones on green and flatback turtle foraging ranges. I’m extremely excited to be able to continue doing research and assisting in the conservation of sea turtles here at LMC as a field technician this year. I can’t wait to see what this turtle season has in store!
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
For the month of March, we recognize Janis Vint as volunteer of the month. Janis has been volunteering at Loggerhead Marinelife Center since February 2017. Janis started working in the gift store and quickly added a second shift in the development department. Both departments are grateful to have her knowledge and expertise while our entire organization is lucky to have her! Janis is a kind, caring individual and extremely passionate about our mission. Last year, she logged more than 200 hours volunteering, spent weeks undergoing chemo treatment and became an American citizen. It’s safe to say her determination cannot be matched. Janis was first attracted to our Center by the sea turtles. The guests, both local and international, and the staff are what she likes most about volunteering. Thanks for all that you do, Janis.
MASCOT CORNER: Save a sea turtle, adopt Fletch!
Hello Friends,
Did you know that I can be adopted? Fletch, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s lovable and huggable mascot, can now be part of your family through LMC’s adoption program! This symbolic adoption directly benefits our sea turtle patients by helping to cover their care and treatment costs. I look forward to being adopted by hundreds, thousands and maybe millions of adoptive parents that love sea turtles.
So, what are you waiting for? Adopt me for Mother’s Day, maybe Father’s Day, a birthday, or other holidays. Any day is a good day. A Fletch adoption makes a wonderful gift for that family member or friend that has everything. To adopt me, visit marinelife.org/adopt!
Support Sea Turtle Conservation!
Adoption Spotlight – Hello Spring! We have a special gift for you when you purchase an adoption! Receive a plantable sea turtle with seeds to grow in your garden. Celebrate spring! Get your mom a special gift this Mother’s Day, the deadline to receive by Mother’s Day is May 4. Learn more at marinelife.org/adopt
Gift Store – Every day, Americans throw away 500 million plastic straws. Plastic straws are just one of the single-use plastics that end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life. Join the movement and #StopSucking by purchasing these reusable straws! shop-marinelife.org/stainless-steel-straws
Vendor Spotlight – Holly’s Natural Products
Name: Holly Elkin
Gift Store Items/Business: Holly’s Natural Products
Location of business: North Palm Beach, Florida
Dream superpower: Wonder Woman would be my dream superpower. I will be taking on new challenges of all kinds, and powerful energy helps all people in need of living natural and healthy by using pure, plant-based skincare products. Simply unstoppable!
How long have you been creating Holly’s Natural Products? Tell us about the product.
This June it will be two years. I provide a high quality, all natural, plant-based ingredient products using unrefined shea from Africa, coconut oil and other essential oils. My products are for women, men, children and even animals! Because of the anti-inflammatory properties unrefined shea provides, customers use the raw for the horses’ hooves. It also relieves itching on their dog’s skin due to allergies.
Where did you learn this skill?
I did quite a bit of reading, research and application. Plus practice, practice and more practice!
Tell us about your product and what separates it from similar products?
My products are 100 percent handmade, unrefined and vegan. I use all natural, unrefined, plant-based and organic ingredients. Consumers are challenged to know what ingredients are in the product, and how safe the product claims to be. My company’s mission is to help the consumer understand the difference in refined and unrefined products, as well as understand why synthetic fragrances, parabens and dyes are in many of their daily products they use at home.
Where do you find ideas for your work?
I listen to what the consumer wants as a whole and find out what my existing customers want for their personal skincare regime. I also explore other competitors to learn how they attract consumers and research other areas of the world’s skincare products.
What do you love about your work?
I love that I am able to share with the world what I’ve learned in hopes of helping someone live more natural. Being an entrepreneur is special in its own way when you love what you do. I invent a product in which the ingredients are known to help with so many skin conditions and can be used daily for the skin, hair and nails. What’s not to love?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve heard when it comes to chasing your dreams?
Keep going, keep learning, share what you learn, learn from others and never give up!
How is your business sustainable, and what is the benefit of buying local?
My company uses certified fair trade, organic unrefined shea butter sourced from Ghana, Africa. Fair trade is about better prices, working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. My company is also in the process of being EWG-verified (environmental working group.) This stamp of approval lets consumers quickly identify products that meet strict ingredient standards and are “produced with the best manufacturing practices.” The benefit of buying local gives the consumer the opportunity to get to know the company. It helps them know how they produce and manufacture using sustainable ways to help the community grow and flourish. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more information about new products launching this summer!
Loggerhead Marinelife Center in the News
Every month, Loggerhead Marinelife Center receives coverage through dozens of news articles and segments about the Center’s groundbreaking rehabilitation and research efforts, unique educational programs, global conservation initiatives, signature events and more. In 2017, LMC’s media coverage grew over 116 percent, with over 1.47 billion impressions in just one year.
In March 2018, LMC had over 106 million known earned (unpaid) media impressions. Read on for some of last month’s press highlights, and don’t forget to share these news stories in your own social media circles. After all, who doesn’t love a good news story?
TurtleFest 2018 Media Coverage:
In the month of March, the 15th Annual TurtleFest received media coverage through dozens of articles and news packages, including The Palm Beach Post, Florida Weekly, Jupiter Courier, WPTV and others. All of these news articles and packages contained key TurtleFest messages that highlight the event’s live music and performances, craft beer and food, conservation initiatives, educational activities, shopping, art, and ultimately, our mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation.
Pacific Standard – Conservation Coverage:
Last month, the Center’s public relations coordinator pitched a Pacific Standard journalist about LMC’s data on and efforts to understand marine debris. After coordinating an interview between the reporter and LMC’s chief conservation officer, the article was published on the magazine’s website. The article detailed LMC’s pollution prevention measures, including marine debris that is collected during the monthly Blue Friends Society beach cleanups. Pacific Standard receives more than 1.35 million unique visitors to its website every month, giving us great exposure through this compelling article.
If you are a member of the media interested in covering the Center’s conservation work, please email Hannah Deadman, LMC’s public relations & communications coordinator, at [email protected].
THANK YOU TO OUR outstanding SUPPORTERS!
Thank you to the following sponsors of TurtleFest 2018 for making this year’s event so successful: PNC; The Gardens Mall; FPL; Tire Kingdom; Jupiter Medical Center; Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa; Lagunitas; Naked Turtle Rum; Seagull Electronics; In Jupiter Magazine; Kool 105.5; Jersey Mike’s; The Gymnastics Revolution; Sandy James Fine Food & Productions; On The Mark Landscaping; The Benjamin School; Via Productions; and Florida Weekly. 
We are so grateful to have the community’s support in keeping our beaches clean! Thank you to our March and April beach cleanup sponsors: Nason, Yeager, Gerson, White & Lioce, P.A. (March) and Perez & Dubois Real Estate (April).
On March 17th, LMC Staff and hundreds of community members visited with Guy Harvey at the Bealls Jupiter store. The meet and greet was paired with a giveback event that raised $1,600 for LMC. Thank you to Guy Harvey, The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Bealls for supporting LMC and providing awareness for ocean conservation. 
A special thank you to Stephanie Kantis Jewelry for hosting a pop-up shop! The shop benefitted LMC at the March Blue Friends Society Cocktail Social, which celebrated the society’s 10th anniversary.
Thank you to Sophie and her sister, Renna, from North Carolina! In anticipation of their family trip to Loggerhead Marinelife Center last month, Sophie went on LMC’s website and became captivated by our sea turtle patients’ profiles. One Saturday morning, Sophie and Renna got up early to make homemade lemonade and a poster for their fundraiser. Despite the chilly weather in North Carolina, the girls stayed out for three hours selling lemonade, talking with passersby about each turtle’s sickness or injuries. Sophie also contributed funds from her allowance and the support of generous grandparents and friends, raising over $80 total to help save sea turtles. Thank you for your passion and support!
Thank you for the Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School’s Girls on the Run 2017 team in Cincinnati, Ohio, for organizing a charity bake sale to benefit LMC and the sea turtles in our care.
MANATEE LAGOON
It is Manatee Season! Have you ever visited Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center? We are very thankful to have this wonderful partner in conservation here in the Palm Beaches! During your visit, you’ll learn about manatee and ocean conservation. While attending the center, you may see a few manatees in the lagoon and learn about how manatees play an integral role in the overall health of Florida’s ecosystems.
We encourage you to take the time to spread information about the gentle sea cow, especially if you live in South Florida or a place where manatees congregate during manatee season. The Manatee Masters at Manatee Lagoon will provide you with all of the educational materials you will need to spread awareness. For additional information about manatees, please refer to Manatee Lagoon’s activity calendar.
LMC is grateful to partner with Manatee Lagoon, which features a multifunctional educational center, a manatee webcam, two levels of observation areas and so much more. We are excited to watch the center grow as a world-class educational facility in Palm Beach County. Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the sea turtle and the manatee, and help inspire our neighbors, friends and family to be leaders of ocean conservation. Pre-registration is required for events.
Manatee Lagoon Tour – Join us on a walking tour of our visitor center and learn about manatee anatomy, physiology and the importance of GPS tracking devices, as well as the Lake Worth Lagoon.
Mindful Moments Yoga (Adult) – Join Manatee Lagoon for yoga classes against the beautiful calming backdrop of Lake Worth Lagoon.
Manatee Tales Story Time – Listen as a Manatee Master storyteller reads colorful books about aquatic species that live in Lake Worth Lagoon. Children ages 2 to 5 are welcome.
Junior Aqua Lab – A series of four experimental activities that deal with some of the properties of water. Ages 9 to 14.
Children’s Art Class – Every Saturday express your creativity with a different art theme each week.