5 Things to do Besides Black Friday Shopping
Strap on your sneakers and take a break from the Black Friday shopping scene – turn this commerce day blue! Our team at Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is returning with fan-favorite activities for Blue Friday to #OptOutside in support of REI’s initiatives. The #OptOutside movement is committed to helping people enjoy the outdoors with family and friends on the busiest shopping day of the year.
With low effort and high reward, be a part of the push to reduce this year’s holiday waste. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, household waste increases in the U.S. by 25 percent. And that waste doesn’t disappear by some mythical disposal. Instead, it clogs our landfills and ends up in our oceans affecting our marine life and ecosystems. Unfortunately, a lot of this waste is created as a by-product of the commerce and shipping industry. However, we have an opportunity to change our behaviors around the holidays and Black Friday from rethinking our consumption to connecting with nature.
This year especially, explore the beauty of the great outdoors with five things to do at one of the most visited nonprofit ocean conservation destinations centered on endangered sea turtles’ ocean conservation.
Black Friday Alternatives: Blue Friday
More than ever, this year has shown us the importance of connecting with nature. The week of Thanksgiving, join us for our annual Blue Friday events as we #OptOutside to connect with and protect our natural world. Join us at one of the following locations:
- In-Water Cleanup at Anchorage Park: Level up your Blue Friday outing and #OptToAct! Join our staff via kayak from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. as we tour the Earman River and pick up waste along the way. LMC kayaks are available to borrow or you can BYO kayak to join. Limited LMC tandem kayaks are available for groups of two*. We will not be pairing single participants in the same kayak to promote safe social distancing.
- Self-Guided Beach Cleanup: Stop by LMC and participate in a self-guided beach cleanup from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will supply beach cleanup materials at our mobile marine debris sorting station at Loggerhead Park! You will receive a free reusable water bottle for your efforts if you bring back a full bag of debris.
- Coastal Hike in Lantana Nature Preserve: Experience a self-guided hike through an iconic coastal preserve with plenty of native species! An LMC staff member will be available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the trailhead providing information about the ecosystem and what you may find during your hike.
- Water Quality Testing Kits: Calling all citizen scientists! Come to #OptOutside with LMC by visiting your local aquatic ecosystems and helping us monitor the water quality there. Monitoring water quality helps scientists determine the health of the ecosystem and identify necessary conservation efforts in specific areas. Come check out a water quality testing kit at the center from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Hammock Hike in Loggerhead Park: Discover the natural beauty of the maritime hammock habitat adjacent to Loggerhead Marinelife Center! Led by one of our experienced biologists, the Hammock Hike is a 45-minute outdoor excursion into the coastal tract of Juno Dunes Natural Area that highlights the importance of this coastal ecosystem, plant and animal identification, and a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Public Guided Tours at LMC (Bonus): Enjoy our daily offered tours to get an up-close look at our outdoor sea turtle hospital. You will learn about each patient and have any of the questions you may have answered! Please register at your desired date and time on our calendar.
Shop For A Cause
For those who plan to shop on Black Friday, we encourage you to shop for a cause! When you make a purchase in our gift store – you are giving back to ocean conservation. All purchases made in our gift store directly benefit the rehabilitation and research of endangered and threatened sea turtles. Additionally, our new and expanded gift store offers more sustainable, locally made, and handcrafted items than before. Don’t forget to explore our Choice Matters program for more sustainable goods. To make matters even sweeter, from now until December 25, guests will receive a free repurposed magazine ornament with purchases of $50 and a complimentary ornament when purchasing 11 ornaments. We offer multiple opportunities to purchase gifts for friends and family all while supporting sea turtles and ocean conservation. So ’tis the season to create your shopping list (check it twice) that gives back to the bountiful blue.
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Annual Fund. As we close on the year, we kindly ask that you tap into the giving spirit and donate a tax-deductible donation to our Annual Fund. With every dollar, you are helping us improve ocean water quality, reduce global marine pollution, and rehabilitate sick and injured sea turtles. Thank you for helping us start off strong in 2021 and making the holiday season a bit bluer!
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Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a nonprofit sea turtle research, rehabilitation and educational institution that promotes conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center features an on-site hospital, research laboratory, educational exhibits and aquariums, and also operates the Juno Beach Pier, which hosts world-class angling and sightseeing. Situated on one of the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beaches, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 350,000 guests free-of-charge each year. The Center’s conservation team works with 90 local and international organizations across six continents to form partnerships and share conservation initiatives and best practices that are core to its mission of ocean conservation. The Center is expanding and has launched its Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, designed to accelerate and amplify LMC’s conservation and education impact. When complete, the facility will offer one of the world’s most advanced and unique experiences for guests and scientific partners. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call (561) 627-8280.
Media Contact:
Lauren Eissey
Public Relations and Engagement Specialist
561-627-8280, x124