Grant: 26-043E
Project Title: Tread Lightly: Community Education and Citizen Science on Loggerhead Hatchling Success
Project Manager: Ashley Chelburg
Organization: Stella Maris Environmental Research (Non-Profit Organization)
Grant Amount: $9,897.00
Completion Date:
Summary: Stella Maris Environmental Research will lead Tread Lightly, an education-centered conservation project within the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, the most important loggerhead nesting beach in the world. This refuge is not only a site of biological importance but also a unique outdoor classroom for teaching coastal ecology, stewardship, and the shared responsibility of protecting nesting beaches. The project combines hands-on community science with field-based research to evaluate how human foot traffic influences hatchling emergence success. Through guided nest evaluation events and citizen outreach workshops, youth, families, and community members, particularly from underserved populations, will gain direct experience in sea turtle conservation and coastal stewardship. Educational materials and presentations will be offered in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility. Tread Lightly will generate valuable data on nest-site disturbance while fostering environmental literacy and inspiring long-term behavioral change that supports the protection of Florida's marine turtles and their critical nesting habitats.
Results: