Grant: 23-028E
Project Title: Sea Turtle Education Kits
Project Manager: Paula Russo
Organization: Florida State Parks Foundation (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $12,652.46
Completion Date: 2024-07-03
Summary: Educational sea turtle kits will be distributed to Florida State Parks to use as complimentary teaching tools during conservation presentations. Hundreds of visitors flock to the Florida coastline each year during sea turtle nesting season, offering the perfect opportunity for park rangers to educate large groups. The contents of these kits will allow for a hand-on approach, where participants will experience passing around replica examples of sea turtle skulls, eggs, and their food sources. These educational tools will enhance presentations as participants learn about the crucial role sea turtles play in our local ecosystem and ways to help with conservancy.
Results: 12 backpack kits were made and shipped to nine parks total. Three parks got 2 backpack kits each with turtle walk equipment: John D McArthur Beach State Park, Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, and Sebastian Inlet State Park. Six parks got 1 backpack kit each withour urlte walk equipment: Anastasia State Park, Bald Point State Park, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park. and "The Talbots" (Big Talbot Island State Park and Little Talbot Island State Park). All kits included: Loggerhead Skull Replica; Green Skull Replica; Sea Turtle Egg Display; Backpack Embroidered w/ Turtle Plate Logo; Set of Shrimp, Crabs, & Jellies; Coloring Sheets; and stickers.