By The Sea Lecture Series

Join us after hours for a lecture series featuring local scientists, conservationists, and photographers with brews!

Unwrap The Waves

Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Unwrap the Wave Initiative allows for students and community members to get into the "spirit" of conservation by collecting their candy wrappers from Halloween and recycling them.

May 2018 Newsletter

CEO CHATTER WITH JACK LIGHTON

 
Dear Friends of LMC,
Even though summertime is officially about one month away, things here in Florida are heating up. Sea turtle nesting season is progressing nicely, and we are rapidly moving towards peak nesting season (June and July.) To date, we already have nearly 1,000 sea turtle nests on the 9.5-mile stretch of beach our team monitors, and it looks as though we are on track for another solid sea turtle nesting season. We need your help to educate our community. Darker and cleaner beaches encourage nesting females and help to protect sea turtle hatchlings (babies) from becoming disorientated. We have a great resource page that helps to outline best practices for our beaches during nesting season: marinelife.org/nesting
Our campus is in the process of transitioning from our winter programming portfolio to our engaging summertime program portfolio and soon we will be offering all of the summertime programs our guests and supporters have come to know and love.  From our sea turtle nesting walks to our very popular Junior Marine Biologist Summer Camp (JMB Camp) we have programs designed to engage and delight the entire family.

Are you interested in experiencing what it is like to be a sea turtle biologist?  Our biologist beach walk program is designed to provide a hands on view of, “a day in the life” of an LMC research technician. For more information on our Biologist Beach Walk program please visit marinelife.org/beach-programs

SWIM with LMC: If you like our Biologist Beach Walk program you will likely enjoy our Serving the World’s Imperiled Marine Life program which in essence is a eco-tour vacation to some of the world’s greatest locations where you can take part in conservation programs and experience a vacation like never before.  For more information on our SWIM program please visit: marinelife.org/swim

We have several key dates for you to keep in mind:

May 19: Endangered Species Day & LMC Summertime Showcase. Come over to LMC to celebrate the great conservation impact we are able to create together. While with us, take a look at our Summertime Showcase to get a look at the wonderful programs we are offering this summertime!
June 2: JMB Summer Camp – open house! Come join us to learn more about LMC’s fun JMB Summer Camp programs

June 9: World’s Ocean Day. It covers over 70 percent of Earth’s surface, provides over half the oxygen for our planet and is a sea turtle’s home, the ocean is pretty fantastic, let’s celebrate it together!

 

Thank you for helping us to increase our conservation and education impact.  We look forward to visiting with you on campus soon!

 

With Gratitude,

Jack E. Lighton

President & CEO

P.S. Tune into “Sea Rescue” on your local ABC channel as LMC will be featured on the Saturday May 19th episode!

 

 


Upcoming events

 

Summer Programs Showcase Event & Endangered Species Day Celebration – May 19, 2018 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
What better way to celebrate Endangered Species Day than raising awareness of how you can help imperiled species and spending time with sea turtles? All seven species of sea turtle are endangered world-wide and we are offering special activities throughout the day to get everyone engaged in the solution to some of the biggest threats to marine life. We will also be showcasing our summer programs and offering VIP PRE-SALE tickets to Hatchling Releases and Biologist Beach Walk programs for on-campus guests only! Highlights include:

  • Free Turtle Yard Tours
  • Junior Research Lab programs
  • VIP PRE-SALE tickets to Hatchling Release and Biologist Beach Walk programs before General Public registration on June 1
  • Eco-Adventure: Sea Turtle Discovery Program for Behind-the-Scenes Hopsital Tour – REGISTER


For more information about this event, please contact [email protected].

 

Summer Camp Open House & Meet the Counselors – June 2, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Summer is here and we are greeting it with a splash! Visit LMC on June 2 for a taste of summer camp fun and to meet our 2018 Camp Counselors. Camp-related activities will be offered throughout the morning for children as parents get the opportunity to meet their counselors and of course some friends! For this event only, we will be bringing back our Early Bird* pricing (up to $40/camper off) for the remaining weeks of summer camp as a special thank you for supporting our turtle-y awesome camp!

Highlights include:

  • Free Camp activities for children ages 6 – 13
  • Information on all camp session details including: Ocean Adventures, Sea Turtle Savers Field Experiences and Conservation Kids camps
  • Meet and Greet with the 2018 Camp Counselors
  • Return of the EARLY-BIRD rate for week-long camp registration!


For more information about this event, please contact [email protected].

*No pre-registration necessary to qualify for the camp discounts. Registrant must be on campus only between the hours of 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. to secure their discount. Must register for a minimum of one week.

 

World Oceans Day – June 9, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Celebrate our blue planet with our favorite sea turtle patients at LMC! On Saturday, June 9, we will be hosting our annual World Oceans Day event to include engaging activities that offer a solution to the pollution! This year’s theme is “Our Ocean, Our Future.” Join us as we take a stand against marine debris and learn about ways everyone can help keep our ocean clean, blue and trash free.

Highlights include:

  • Ocean Ambassador Pledge
  • Beach clean-up opportunity (all materials included)
  • Free Turtle Yard Tours
  • Hands-on activities in LMC’s Outdoor Learning Lab
  • Free Drawing featuring sustainable products

For more information, check out our Facebook event page>>

 

 

Run 4 The Sea – June 16, 7 – 10:30 a.m.
Calling all runners! Enjoy running along scenic A1A at the 7th Annual Run 4 the Sea and support Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation! The event features a fun one-mile run for children and a four-mile run for adults, as well as a post-race celebration with music and breakfast.

The 4-mile race starts at 7 a.m.
Cost: $40; then $45 after June 2 (includes a sport style participant t-shirt and custom finisher medal).
There will also be a 1-mile Kid’s Run beginning at 8:15 a.m.
Fun run registration fee is $10 (includes a child’s t-shirt and medal)

Not in the area? Don’t worry you can still participate and support Loggerhead Marinelife Center by joining our virtual run! You can earn a race medal and t-shirt by participating as a virtual runner – plus, you’re given the flexibility to run anywhere at any time you desire.

Learn more: marinelife.org/run

 

 
 
 

what’s new in Rehab?

The Sea Turtle Hospital at Loggerhead Marinelife Center will be on TV! The nationally-known program Sea Rescue will be airing an episode on Saturday, May 19th about a sea turtle that was rescued by the veterinary staff at Loggerhead Marinelife Center and transferred to Sea World. The sub-adult loggerhead ingested the fishing hook and line from a recreational angler. Fishing hook ingestion is a common cause of injury for sea turtles. If you are an avid or recreational angler and want to learn more about sea turtle safety, read more about being a responsible angler on our web page.

You can view the episode on your local ABC station. Please check your listings for correct time.

 


Knowledge is power!

Hatchling Programs are BACK– Mark your calendars for June 1!
Beginning June 1, tickets for our
Hatchling Release and Biologist Beach Walk programs go on sale at 10 a.m.! These programs are designed to give guests an unforgettable experience as they get a front-row look at sea turtle hatchlings making their first steps to the ocean.

The Biologist Beach Walk program is a unique opportunity for guests to learn more about the research efforts of the LMC Research Team. With permission from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a permitted staff member will lead guests down onto Juno or Tequesta beaches to discuss the nesting and hatching processes of sea turtles. After an introduction to these processes, guests may have the opportunity to witness a live excavation, watch a sunrise hatchling release and create their own data sheets to take home as a memento.

Dates: Aug. 1 – Sept. 10, 2018
Cost: $12/person
Time: 7-9 a.m.

The Hatchling Release program at Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a unique experience that allows our visitors to learn about sea turtles and the nesting and hatching process. The program begins with an after-hours experience to view our current patients in our outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital Yard, followed by a presentation and ends with a trip to the beach to see LMC staff release sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean through a zero-impact nightscope.

Dates: August 1 – August 31, 2018
Cost: $18/person
Time: 8-10 p.m.

We run our programs rain or shine and only stay off the beach in the event of lightning. During this waiting period, guests will be onsite enjoying their presentation. We do not cancel the program due to inclement weather. If the forecast calls for rain, we recommend guests wear raincoats or ponchos. No umbrellas please. We can only accommodate 30 people per program and dates fill up quickly. There are no refunds on tickets.

Turtle Walk Registration Selling Out FAST!
It’s that time of year again and the sea turtles have begun their annual trek to our beaches for summer time nesting and YOU can watch them!
Join LMC staff and volunteers on our unique Turtle Walk program that brings you up close to nesting sea turtles in a safe and responsible setting to experience a sight you won’t soon forget. Guests will enjoy an educational presentation prior to walking down to the beach to watch a nesting sea turtle lay her eggs.

To register for a Turtle Walk, please visit marinelife.org/turtlewalk

 

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 outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital Yard. To register, visit www.marinelife.org/calendar and select your desired dates. Public Evening Tours take place every Tuesday – Saturday at 5:15-6:30 p.m. Private dates and times available based on availability. Contact Sue Thompson at [email protected] for more details.

 

 

 

 

Junior Marine Biologist Camp – Is your camper a Conservation Kid? Registration for our Junior Marine Biologist summer camp is open with limited spaces left 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 environment 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.

 

New opportunity for college students interested in conservation education

The LMC education department is currently seeking a public programs intern for the 2018 summer season

The education department is currently accepting college level interns to assist with the development, implementation and facilitation of current and future public programming offered at LMC. The internship is an unpaid position and housing is not provided. Students interested in this program will be working under the programs coordinator and assisting in various projects, including, but not limited to:

  • Facilitating currently offered public programs as needed
  • Training and supervision of LMC volunteers to lead regularly scheduled public programs
  • Brainstorming and assisting in the design of new, innovative and mission-centric programming
  • Assisting with the tracking and maintaining budget for on campus programming
  • Monitoring and communicating inventory needs for more than 20 various programs
  • Collecting and coordinating the repurposing of recycled material donations for various crafts and campus events
  • Maintaining relationships with LMC volunteers and LMC staff members involved with programming
  • Facilitating payment for all regularly scheduled paid public programs
  • Daily tasks including creating education materials and content for monthly eNewsletter, monthly programs calendar and program social media content.
  • Completion of an intern project to be determined within the first week of hire. Education staff will assist with the program scope, direction and reach. The project objectives include the following:
    • Learn how to successfully design and structure one complete educational program
    • Write age-appropriate program curricula and create Standard Operating Procedure and supplemental training materials
    • Implement program on campus at LMC.  Interns will carry out their final program and facilitate the program to LMC staff members at the end of their internship.

   Other duties as assigned


Requirements:

  • Comfortable speaking with the general public, including various age ranges and ethnic backgrounds
  • Detail oriented and organized
  • Self-motivated and willing to learn
  • Desire to implement spread awareness of marine science education through interactive and enthusiastic programming, both free and fee-based
  • Willing to work outdoors in Florida’s heat, rain, and wind as needed

All interns must be currently enrolled university students (full or part time) pursuing a degree in a related discipline (i.e. marine science, biology, environmental science, education). All interns must also possess a valid driver’s license and be able to pass a criminal background check and drug test.

Terms offered: Spring, summer, winter; start and end dates variable based on departmental needs.

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter with three references to education@marinelife.org. Re: Public Programs Internship

 

Conservation Education Focus: Working Vacation – REGISTRATION CLOSES May 30.

Join SWIM, which offers participants the unique opportunity to explore beautiful ecosystems and local culture while assisting local organizations in daily conservation efforts like mangrove restoration, sea turtle monitoring programs and marine animal research and rescue in Nicaragua or Maui, Hawai’i.

2018 dates:
The Honu of Maui, Hawai’i (June 24-30) – SWIM MAUI IS SOLD OUT!
Hawksbills of the Pacific, Nicaragua (August 12-18) – Don’t miss out, sign up now!

Payment plans and student/educator discounts available. For more information about SWIM programs, visit marinelife.org/SWIM.

 


Conservation Corner

 

Going #StrawFreewithLMC
On Earth Day, April 22, 2018, as part of our upcoming Blue Table Initiative, Loggerhead Marinelife Center partnered with local restaurants and the City of West Palm Beach Mayor’s Office of Sustainability to go #StrawFreewithLMC. For this event, 42 restaurants agreed to refrain from offering plastic straws to their patrons on Earth Day, to help increase public awareness of the need to eliminate single-use plastics, such as straws. In one day, this event eliminated an estimated 15,000 straws from potentially entering the marine environment and posing a threat to sea turtles and other marine wildlife.

 

Blue Friend’s Society Great American Cleanup Results
Every month, following each Blue Friend’s Society beach cleanup, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Conservation Department sorts and records each piece of debris removed from the beach. During the latest cleanup, hosted on April 14, 229 people came out to pick up 3,491 pieces of trash. Data shows that over 70 percent of all debris collected on Juno Beach was plastic. Strange items found during this cleanup were an intact light bulb and a mirror.

 

 


RESEARCH REPORT

 

Images were obtained with approval and under conditions not harmful to this or other turtles. Images were acquired while conducting authorized research activities pursuant to FWC MTP-18-205.

Nesting season is beginning to pick up! We anticipate that the leatherback nesting will peak in mid to late May and then begin to taper off in June. As of May 17, we have recorded 96 leatherback nests and over 911 loggerhead nests along our survey. In 2017, LMC recorded 97 leatherback nests. The loggerheads began nesting in mid-April and we are currently documenting between 20-50 new nests per night! Last year, LMC recorded 11,180 loggerhead nests. It is possible that we will have an equally high season this year. Peak nesting for loggerheads typically occurs in late June to early July and nesting begins to decrease in August. The green turtles will begin to nest in late May to early June. We anticipate that the green turtle nesting will reach a peak in August (photos by Adrienne McCracken.)

The research projects of interest this season include determining the foraging ecology/location of leatherbacks nesting on our beaches, the impacts of temperature on the health of loggerhead hatchlings, and the potential effects of the fire ant pesticide AMDRO on loggerhead turtle reproductive success and seafinding behavior.


The night-time tagging team has been hard at work on the nesting beach searching for leatherback turtles. As of May 8, they have had 39 encounters with 31 individual turtles. They have seen “Aussie” (originally tagged in 2011 and hasn’t been seen since)  lay her eggs on three separate occasions and are hopeful that they will see her even more. Some other interesting encounters include Spica and Electra, who were originally tagged in 2002! Electra is the largest turtle of the season, with a shell length of 170 centimeters (about 5.6 feet!)

Additionally, the nighttime team has started tagging loggerhead turtles for a number of projects that are going on. So far, we have had two encounters, with many more to come.

The research team is not only hard at work documenting our local sea turtles, but also our gopher tortoise population in Loggerhead Park. To date, 30 gopher tortoises have been tagged and sampled to determine baseline measures of health and disease prevalence. If you see a tortoise wandering around, check them out to see if they have been sampled. The outer margins of their carapace are “notched” using different patterns on their scutes, which allows us to easily see who the turtle is externally.

 

 

 


 VOLUNTEER Spotlight

This month, we would like to recognize Geri and Irv Ratner as volunteers of the month. The Ratners have been dedicated volunteers at LMC since December 2013. Over the course of nearly five years, these two incredible individuals have served more than 1580 hours!

 

LMC volunteers served over 4,800 hours in April. That is 500 more hours than our volunteer community served in the month of March.

Sea turtle rehab volunteers donated nearly 1,100 hours in March: a record for most hours served within their department!

We also set a record number of hours within the conservation team. Katie’s dedicated team served 200 hours last month and assisted with data entry, debris sorting, conservation initiatives and TurtleFest preparation.

Speaking of TurtleFest, what an amazing event this year’s 15th Annual TurtleFest was! In a matter of hours, our staff and volunteers were able to educated thousands upon thousands of guests in a matter of mere hours. We had 226 volunteers at this year’s event: an increase from 183 last year. We are fortunate to have a team of active, dedicated volunteers and a community so willing to jump in and join us as we spread our message of ocean conservation.

Special thanks to Stanley Black & Decker who selected LMC to volunteer on March 21. In addition to their time, they generously donated a super selection of tools to our Center.

 


MASCOT CORNER: The REst of the Story

Hello Friends,  

Fletch here, the lovable and huggable Loggerhead Marinelife Center mascot. Life is good, as a group of humans gather at a park, beach or just about anywhere with balloons in hand for a celebration. A few words are said and the balloons are released. Up, up, up they go with cheers, and in seconds they are out of sight.

Now the rest of the story. Yes, what does go up, does come down, but usually not where it went up. These lovely balloons with inscriptions like “Happy Birthday,” “Congratulations” or “With Sympathy” do come down as litter/trash in parks, lakes, beaches and the ocean. The few seconds of enjoyment have created years of pollution that will impact animals’, fishes’, birds’ and sea turtles’ quality of life for hundreds of years. Yes, long after the celebration is over the balloons will be in the environment raising havoc for years to come. When balloons wind up in the ocean or on the beach, a sea turtle’s quality of life is impacted. In the ocean, they are mistaken for food, like jellyfish, and consumed by sea turtles. But a balloon isn’t food – it will make a sea turtle sick or even kill the turtle. On a nesting beach a balloon will impact the ability of a mother sea turtle to nest and hatchlings to reach the ocean.

During sea turtle nesting season here in Juno Beach, Florida, Loggerhead Marinlife Center’s research team finds hundreds of deflated balloons on the 9.5 miles of beach the Center manages. Our beach represents less than one percent of Florida’s nesting coastline. If we find hundreds of balloons on our beach, there are probably tens of thousands along Florida’s nesting coastline.

Please look for a sea turtle friendly alternative to celebrate a graduation, wedding, newborn, birthday or any other special occasion. You can celebrate with bubbles, bird seed, plant flowers or a tree, but please don’t release balloons.

Be an “Ocean Hero” and say “No to balloons.” My sea turtle friends and I thank you for helping keep our beaches and ocean home “Clean and blue, balloon free.” Now you know the rest of the story.

 

 


Support Sea Turtle Conservation!

Adoption Spotlight – Don’t forget about your dad this Father’s Day! Give him the rewarding gift of a sea turtle adoption! Purchase any adoption package this month and receive a special Father’s Day card! Giving your dad the unique gift of a sea turtle adoption, all the while supporting ocean conservation will be sure to brighten his day! The purchase deadline is Friday, June 8 in order to receive in time by Father’s Day! marinelife.org/adopt

Gift Store – Still looking for that perfect Father’s Day gift? Look no further! From sea turtle ties to quality cologne to the perfect shirt, show your dad you care with a one-of-a-kind gift from our Center. Plus, all proceeds go directly toward our mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation! Come in and shop at our gift store or visit our online store: shop-marinelife.org.


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!

Burt Wolf visits LMC

Burt Wolf – Travels & Traditions

Last fall, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s marketing & communications team received a film inquiry from a production team that was working on Burt Wolf’s Travels & Traditions. This nationally-known travel show has been airing on dozens of PBS stations since 2000. After securing the production team’s visit to LMC to film about the Center and interview Jack, we followed up by sending b-roll (extra shots) of the Center’s rehabilitation work. The episode featuring Loggerhead Marinelife Center aired in late April.

American Veterinarian – Highlighting the Sea Turtle Hospital
Last month, our public relations team received an inquiry from one of our freelance media contacts, who was pitching a story to American Veterinarian about sea turtle rehabilitation networks. After securing interviews with Dr. Charles Manire for the reporter, and following up with high-quality images, the article (titled “Veterinary Network Focuses on Sea Turtle Conservation”) was published online. American Veterinarian receives over 65,000 unique monthly visitors to its site. This article helps communicate and showcase LMC’s groundbreaking rehabilitation work, not just to the general public, but also to unique veterinary audiences.

Read the story >>

Sea Rescue – Featuring Loggerhead Marinelife Center
The nationally-known program Sea Rescue will be airing an episode on Saturday, May 19th about a sea turtle that was rescued by LMC’s veterinary staff  and transferred to Sea World. The sub-adult loggerhead, named Walter, ingested the fishing hook and line from a recreational angler. You can view the episode on your local ABC station; check your listings for the correct time!

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!

 

Thursday, April 19th LMC splashed into summer with The Royal and their retail partners Orlebar Brown and Beach by Everything But Water. This event raised funds and awareness for LMC through a shop and share event. Each retailer offered a sampling of creative cocktails and appetizers for guests to enjoy. A special thank you to Danielle Norcross and Beth Aschenbach of Palm Beach Lately for hosting Splash into Summer with LMC!

Thank you to Reid Waxman for directing donations to LMC in honor of his 10th birthday. We always love seeing young supporters getting involved in their community.
Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors of our 25th Annual Loggerhead Invitational Golf Tournament held at Seminole Golf Club: AT&T; Jupiter-Tequesta Air Conditioning & Heating Inc.; The Waterford; Southern Oak Insurance Company; Frenchman’s Creek Beach & Country Club; Angry Moon Cigars; Tommy Bahama; and Starbucks.
Thank you to West Palm Beach’s own Renegades Country Bar & Grill for hosting its First Annual Earth Day Festival and Concert last month to benefit the Sea Turtle Hospital at LMC. The concert featured Nashville recording artists Craig Campbell and Maggie Baugh, with special guest Sarah Hardwig. Renegades also promoted sustainability by not providing any straws at the festival, and by serving canned water rather than plastic bottled water.
 
A special thank you to Hairstory for participating in 1% for the Planet and donating a portion of their annual proceeds to LMC and other organizations working towards a healthier planet.
 

Thank you to this month’s Blue Friends Society Beach Clean-Up sponsor, Bahama Bucks. 

 

 


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.

May Activities 

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.

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