Staff Report
Girl Scouts from Troop 1950 of Apollo Beach are working toward earning their Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette can receive. Their objectives are to educate people on endangered and threatened sea turtles, so the number of sea turtles who nest on our beaches will increase. They are hosting a poster contest for fourth grade students to showcase artwork promoting sea turtle conservation by keeping beaches free of debris, removing obstacles (sand castles and pits) for nesting or hatching sea turtles and promoting sea turtle friendly lighting, such as the use of red light bulbs.
According to Scout Kalista Curtis, “We have chosen this project because more and more sea turtles are turning around to head back to the gulf instead of laying their eggs and the hatchlings are dying because they head toward the lights instead of the moon, therefore this project is to help educate people and publicize the protection of these creatures. I’m passionate about this project because sea turtles are such beautiful creatures that should be around for future generations.”
For the poster, students will need to make sure to promote at least one of the conservation efforts in their poster, which will be rated on creativity as well as being the most informative. You can use any art materials, but the poster must be no bigger than 14×22 inches. They will not be returned, and may be posted on several media outlets with and without the artist’s name. The poster is due Friday, April 15. Put your full name, school, telephone number and email address on the back of the poster and turn it in to a local Hillsborough County Library: Attn: to GS Silver award – Sea Turtle Protection.
The top 12 winners will be notified by Friday, April 22 and winners will be recognized at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Second Annual Sea Turtle Awareness Day on Saturday, May 7 at Clearwater Beach’s pier 60. A one day free pass will be given to visit the CMA and to view the winning posters on display at the aquarium’s Winter the Dolphin Tale Adventure location. The posters will then be displayed at libraries throughout sea turtle nesting season. First place winners will receive a CMA tote bag of goodies. Second place winners will “adopt” a sea turtle at the aquarium and third place winners will receive an art set. Visit seewinter.com/TurtleAwareness. Email jodee.nicosia@gmail.com.
