“Give Thanks” to the Environment at Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Annual Blue Friday Event

This year, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s annual Blue Friday event will provide alternative family-friendly activities to the usual Black Friday traditions, encouraging community members to lend a hand.

Set for Nov. 25 beginning at 8 a.m., Blue Friday will include off-campus coastal environment clean-ups, a Wasteland Interactive Exhibit and free on-campus programming.

Guests can meet LMC staff members at various off-campus locations to assist* in cleaning up coastal environments. After the clean-ups, each clean-up participant will receive one ticket to redeem at LMC for a free complimentary continental breakfast beginning at 10 a.m. on LMC’s back deck. Breakfast provided courtesy of Another Broken Egg Café in Jupiter.

Clean-up locations include:

• Coastal park clean-up at Sawfish Bay Park (9-10 a.m.)
  1133 FL A1A Alt
  Jupiter

•  Beach clean-up at Coral Cove Park (8:30-9:30 a.m.)
  19450 County Hwy 707
  Tequesta

•  Marine debris recycling and beach clean-up at Juno Beach Pier (9-11 a.m.)
  14775 U.S. Hwy 1
  Juno Beach

•  In-water clean-up in Lake Worth Lagoon (8-9:30 a.m.)
  Must register in advance, email hcampbell@marinelife.org
  Nautical Ventures – North location
  139 Shore Court
  North Palm Beach

Participants who can’t attend a clean-up can visit LMC between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and check out the Wasteland Interactive Exhibit, which displays fun and creative ways to cut down waste during the holidays. Kids will learn about alternative gift wrapping ideas, can pledge “No More Wasteland” and more. Each family will be given a “Blue Friday Gift Wrapping Kit” with all materials needed to make their own ocean-friendly gift box. Don’t forget your new, unwrapped toy to support the Toys For Tots drive.

LMC will also offer select free family programming in celebration of Blue Friday, including Dr. Logger, Junior Vet Labs and Turtle Yard Tours. Space limited; given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Additionally, author Susan Beattie will do a book signing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. She will read “Luke’s Shipwreck Voyage” to our guests and the book will be available for purchase as well.

For more information, please visit www.marinelife.org/bluefriday or contact Hannah at hcampbell@marinelife.org.

*Gloves, buckets and grabbers will be provided to participants on a first come first serve basis. Participants are encouraged to bring their own buckets and gloves from home. Breakfast tickets are only for clean-up participants. Discounted kayak rentals available through Nautical Ventures for in-water clean-up. Contact Stephen at (561) 612-7076 for reservations and mention Blue Friday for discount.