CEO CHATTER WITH JACK LIGHTON
Dear Friend of LMC,
Here in Florida, summer vacation may be over but LMC is heating things up as we head towards our 6th Annual Marinelife Day at The Gardens Mall which will occur on Saturday, August 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free, fun event offers something for adults and hatchlings alike and best of all, any shopping or dining at The Gardens Mall on Saturday, can support LMC, however, guests must take their shopping or dining receipt to the Mall’s customer service counter so they can log your shopping total and then donate 5% of your shopping to LMC!
Here are the Pro Tips for enjoying Marinelife Day to the fullest:
- No tickets: MLD is FREE for the whole family
- This year’s Marinelife Day theme: #PlasticFreeWithLMC – Join us in The Grand Court for our interactive conservation stations and learn how to reduce your reliance on single-use plastics
- Photographer’s Paradise: The Fourth Annual Juno Beach Pier Photo Contest Awards will be announced at Noon. Over 80 stunning photos have been uploaded to the Facebook gallery, and a wonderful panel of independent judges will vote for our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. We need your help to pick a fan favorite!
- Shop, dine, and save the sea turtles: Any shopping or dining in the mall on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. can support LMC however, we will need all guests to log their receipts at the Mall’s customer service counter in order for LMC to receive credit
- Visit our special shop-and-share events for LMC and get you passport stamped for a chance to win 2 Beach Bash tickets!
- Luxury Raffle tickets are available for extraordinary prizes from The Gardens Mall Retailers
- Lunch with Fletch: Join us at California Pizza Kitchen between 1:30 and 2 for lunch, and get your photo with our mascot, Fletch! CPK is donating a portion of each receipt on Saturday to LMC, so let Saturday be your ‘cheat-day’ and order nothing but pizza!
We thank our amazing partners at The Gardens Mall and our event sponsors, PNC Bank, who help us host this fun educational family-oriented event!
This week, we also hosted a special celebration with our conservation partners at Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa. The resort team very kindly sponsored the rehabilitation and GPS tracking of our patient, “Eau-tis.” After about 10 months of love and care from our amazing staff and volunteer teams, we released Eau-tis on the beach at the resort. We thank everyone who was involved in Eau-tis’s recovery, and we thank the amazing team at Eau for underwriting Eau-tis’s care and tracker. Did you know that Eau Palm Beach is plastic straw free resort wide? In addition to being plastic straw free, the resort also conducts a thoughtful education program of all guests checking in during sea turtle nesting season, ensuring that they make every effort possible to better protect nesting sea turtles here in the Palm Beaches. We are humbled to be partnered with such a caring and community-focused organization.
The sea turtle tells us the health of our ocean, the ocean tells us the health of the planet. As such, LMC’s mission is global, and we are honored to welcome our latest global partner, Taiwan Cetacean Society, a visiting veterinarian from Taiwan. Dr. Roger Lo, along with her colleague Wen-Ta, is working with our hospital and volunteer staff to learn about sea turtle rehabilitation.
This week is a special birthday week for LMC as we will officially be turning 35 years of age on Wednesday, August 15th. While our birthday milestone is one ‘official’ milestone of incorporation, our history dates back to the early 1970s when our founder, Mrs. Eleanor Fletcher, became the first woman in the state of Florida to receive her FWC research permit. Let’s celebrate our amazing history and wish everyone who has been involved in our journey a happy birthday this Wednesday.
Speaking of birthdays… When celebrating milestones for your young ones, please consider LMC as a fun and unique location to host your special event. Please check out our enhanced portfolio of birthday packages which our team has designed to be fun and very memorable for family and friends.
On behalf of our entire team we thank you for being such an important part of helping us expand our conservation and education impact. We look forward to seeing you at our community events or on campus soon.
With Gratitude,
Jack E. Lighton
President & CEO
Marinelife Day – #PLasticFreewithlmc
 |
 |
 |
 |
To promote sea turtle education and conservation, Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) will partner with The Gardens Mall on Saturday, August 18 for its Sixth Annual Marinelife Day. This free, interactive exhibit will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Grand Court of The Gardens Mall.
Marinelife Day will feature LMC’s research and conservation efforts and feature many activities for visitors and families, including interactive children’s labs and photo opportunities with Fletch, LMC’s mascot. Visitors can also enter a raffle for a chance to win sustainable prizes, such as reusable water bottles and lunch supplies.
Marinelife Day’s theme for 2018 is #PlasticFreewithLMC – we will showcase the dangers of single-use plastics and the direct impact it has had on our sea turtle patients. Find out how you can make a difference by attending Marinelife Day 2018!
eVENT SCHEDULE 2018
Event Begins – 11 a.m.
Shop & Share – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Winners of Photo Contest Announced – 12 p.m.
Dr. Logger Show – 12:30 p.m.
Pizza with Fletch at California Pizza Kitchen – 1:30 – 2 p.m.
Raffle Winners Displayed – 3:30 p.m.
LMC will also announce the winners of the Fourth Annual Juno Beach Pier photo contest. All submissions will be voted on by an independent panel of judges. Please vote for your Facebook Fan Favorite HERE>>>
Big Thanks to the 2018 Juno Beach Photo Contest Judges:
Michael Brown, 2015 & 2017 Juno Beach Pier Photo Contest Winner
Eric Call, Director of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department
Lori Griffith, Chasin A Dream Photography
Mayor Jason Haselkorn, Mayor, Town of Juno Beach
Ben Hicks, South-Florida Based Photographer
Greg Lovett, Visual Projects Manager, Palm Beach Post
Fatima NeJame, President & CEO, Palm Beach Photographic Center
Nancy Politsch, Executive Director, Lighthouse ArtCenter
Scott Simmons, Editor, Florida Weekly
Mayor Todd Wodraska, Town of Jupiter
SHOP & SHARE
Visit any participating retail store in The Gardens Mall on Aug. 18 from 11 p.m. to 4p.m.
and a percent of the proceeds will be donated to LMC!
Visit each shop and share location to get your passport stamped for a chance to win 2 Beach Bash tickets! Passports can be found in the grand court.
Eau-Tis Release
It is with a great sense of pride and gratitude that we inform you about Eau-tis’s return to the ocean after successful rehabilitation at the Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. The turtle was released off the beach at Eau Palm Beach Restort & Spa on Tuesday, August 14 at 10 a.m. Eau-tis was released with a satellite transmitter and can be tracked at marienlife.org/track
Eau-tis is named for Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa. With a name like Eau (pronounced O – French for water) and the Atlantic on their door step, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa is committed to ocean conservation and has dedicated its support to further LMC’s mission.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Eau Palm Beach replaced all of its plastic straws with environmentally friendly paper straws resort wide?
Thank you, Eau Palm Beach, for your generous support.
Safe travels Eau-tis!
 |
 |
 |
 |
what’s new in Rehab?
The Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a hub for education and hands-on medical experience for veterinary students and visiting veterinarians from around the world. LMC recently hosted two visiting veterinarians from Taiwan. Both veterinarians work with the Taiwan Cetacean Society with more hands-on work with dolphins, sea lions, seals, and fish. They came to the United States to gain more sea turtle rehabilitation experience with LMC and other sea turtle rehabilitation facilities in Florida.
Dr. Roger Lo’s goal is to build a marine life rescue center in Taiwan. To reach her goal, she wanted to gain more experience with sea turtle rehabilitation. After spending 3.5 weeks with the hospital staff here at LMC, Dr. Lo and her colleague, Wen-Ta, who is a pathologist and veterinarian, feel they have the basic rehabilitation skills and knowledge to do medical care on any sea turtle patient they encounter at their facility.
We are very fortunate to be recognized as a teaching facility and to have the opportunity of learning from visiting veterinarians as well.
Conservation Corner
JR. Responsible Pier Initiative Sea Turtle Rescue Training
In July, LMC’s Conservation Department launched a new pilot program, The Responsible Pier Initiative’s Jr. Sea Turtle Rescue Program. During this activity, students in our Junior Marine Biology Summer Camp learned proper protocols to rescue sea turtles accidentally hooked or entangled on fishing piers.
This program is aimed at raising awareness about the Responsible Pier Initiative and teaching youth how to successfully rescue sea turtles from fishing piers.
 |
 |
July Sort Report
Every month, following each Blue Friend’s Society, underwater and private beach cleanup, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Conservation Department sorts and records each piece of debris removed from the beach.
In July, seven beach cleanups were conducted, with 8,863 pieces of debris removed from Florida beaches. Data shows that over 70% of debris collected this month was made of plastic.
The strangest items found were a cat leash, a tiara, and a soccer ball.
Nesting NEws
Nests, nests and more nests! This past June and July were busy for the research department. The graph displays the total number of sea turtle crawls (nests and non-nesting emergences) recorded each month along our 9.5 mile survey area, all species combined. Sea turtles do not always lay a clutch of eggs during an emergence. Our researchers record a GPS location for all nesting activities, so that we can analyze trends in false crawl rates. Sea turtles false crawl due to both natural and non-natural factors. For example, the number of non-nesting emergences may increase if the sand becomes too dry or if people accidentally walk up to a turtle and disturb it during its nesting attempt.
During June and July, our research team recorded an average of 350 new crawls per day! We are very fortunate to work on such a productive nesting beach. Loggerhead nesting activity peaks in early to mid July of each season. The green turtle nesting typically peaks in mid-late July and will begin to drop off by mid August.
So far this season, the nesting activity has been high (not record breaking), but significantly higher than it was a decade ago. As of August 8, we have recorded 11,449 nests (154 leatherback, 10,740 loggerhead and 555 green turtle nests). At the current pace, we may record over 12,000 nests this season. We are all interested to see how many sea turtle nests are laid this year!
Knowledge is power!
Biologist Beach Walk
Rise and shine for an early beach walk with an LMC staff biologist to learn about the nesting and hatching of our favorite sea turtles! Watch as the contents of a sea turtle nest is exposed, documented and later analyzed – and perhaps get to see a few hatchlings crawl to sea for the first time. Guests will learn about the efforts of our research team as they get the opportunity to observe a nest excavation to collect valuable data about the success of each nest.
Dates: Aug. 1 – Sept. 10, 2018
Time: 7-9 a.m.
Cost: $12/person
HomeSchool Workshops
Loggerhead Marinelife Center now offers workshops exclusively for homeschool students! This workshop series focuses on various marine science topics, including marine biology, coastal ecology, veterinary science, water quality, oceanography, and ocean conservation.
Workshops include hands-on activities and lessons for students ages 6-13.
This is a 1 ½ hour program; one free chaperone per family is required (and must stay on campus for the duration of the program), but any additional chaperones will need to register as participants.
Field Trips
Field Trips welcome students to Loggerhead Marinelife Center for a one-hour Sea Turtle Exploration program. We now offer two field trip experiences: Ocean Exploration and Save Our Seas. Lessons adhere to Sunshine State Standards.
The Ocean Exploration field trip allows students to visit Loggerhead Marinelife Center for a program all about sea turtles and their ecosystems. Each Ocean Exploration field trip program is comprised of three components, including an interactive classroom lesson on sea turtle biology, an exploratory tour of our Exhibit Hall, and a visit behind the gates of our outdoor sea turtle rehabilitation area to meet our current patients.
The Save Our Seas field trip welcomes students to Loggerhead Marinelife Center to learn about marine debris and what they can do to help the ocean. Each Save Our Seas field trip program consists of three stations including a beach clean-up, a trash timeline activity, and a visit to meet our current patients on a behind-the-gates tour of our sea turtle rehabilitation area.
Birthday Parties
Come shell-e-brate your child’s birthday at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and support sea turtle research, rehabilitation and education. For our zero waste parties, we offer two different birthday packages and three deluxe birthday themes!
We have two different packages to choose from, including just using our space and having planned activities with supplies for your guests. There is a perfect option for everyone! Your child and their friends will have a turtle-y great time at LMC!
Junior Marine Biologist Fall/Winter Camp
Looking to get your kids outside this holiday season? Join us for our winter break camp aligned with the Palm Beach County K-12 holiday break. Register your aspiring scientists to follow in the footsteps of our marine biologist staff members as they learn the journey of our sea turtle patients through their recovery and what conservation tools they can employ to make sure no sea turtles get injured on their watch. One day and multi-day sessions available. 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. Cost: $60/day; $195/week Ages: 6-10
2018-2019 Schedule
Monday – Friday, November 19 – 23, 2018 (excluding Thanksgiving Day, 11/22)
Monday – Friday, December 24 – 28, 2018 (excluding Christmas Day, 12/25)
Monday – Friday, December 31 – January 4, 2019
VOLUNTEER Spotlight
For the month of July, we are recognizing a volunteer who goes above and beyond to provide an excellent experience for our guests at LMC. Valerie Dinsdale has earned the distinction of Volunteer of the Month.
Valerie has always had a passion for the ocean and marine life. She started volunteering with LMC in 2014 because she wanted to spread the message of sea turtle conservation to the public. Since then, Valerie has logged over 600 hours in our Education department.
Valerie enjoys giving tours and sharing new facts and information with guests. She is our go-to docent for field trips every Tuesday morning and often leads back-to-back programs during her shift. Both teachers and students rave about her knowledge, and we are very fortunate to have her representing our organization.
Thank you to Valerie for all her hard work and dedication here at LMC!
GO Plastic free & back to school with fletch
Hello Friends,
Fletch here, the lovable and huggable Loggerhead Marinelife Center mascot. I can’t believe that summer vacation is over in Palm Beach County, Florida. School started on Monday, August 13! Please slow down, and watch out for children going to and from school.
Back to School Means Sharing the Road:
- Obey the speed limit in all school zones
- When flashers are blinking in a school zone, always stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
- Stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
- Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
- When a school bus is stopped to load or unload children, never pass the bus from behind or from either direction, if you’re on an undivided road
- If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop for a school bus
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
- Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks
Later this month, I will be traveling to the west coast of Florida, to visit two mascot friends: Gilly the shark at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota and at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter the dolphin. My bags are packed, and I am ready to go! More to follow on Fletch’s trip, in the September newsletter.
However, before my trip, I hope to see all my friends at Marinelife Day 2018 in The Gardens Mall, on August 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The theme is “Plastic Free With LMC” and will emphasize the importance of reducing single-use plastics in our everyday life. There will be ocean themed activities and exhibits that highlight the conservation, rehabilitation and research work at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Marinelife Day is a perfect outing for the whole family. So, stop by and see Fletch for a high flipper five or low five, a short dance or a photo. See you at the Gardens Mall on Saturday, August 18.
Adoption Spotlight
School is officially back in session! What’s the perfect way to get your students back into gear? Teaching a lesson on sea turtles and ocean conservation, of course! Teachers who purchase any level adoption will receive a discounted price as well as automatically be eligible for a discounted virtual tour of our center. For more information, please contact Autumn Homer at [email protected].
Shop where it counts
Go Plastic Free with LMC this month and purchase some eco-friendly products! Take the pledge to reduce single use plastics in your everyday life. Make the switch to paper or reusable straws. Purchase a lunch box instead of using that plastic bag. Grab a reusable water bottle that will keep your drink colder than a plastic water bottle!
. 
THANK YOU TO OUR outstanding SUPPORTERS!
Thank you to The Cooper, Palm Beach Gardens for holding our Blue Friends Society Social! Our Blue Friends Society had such an amazing time at the July social for networking, delicious refreshments, appetizers and fun raffles. 
Jensen-Johnson, LLC
MANATEE LAGOON
Have you ever visited Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center? We are 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 share 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.