Get to know – Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

What is your mission?

To promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles.

 

How and when did you get started?

 

The organization began with Juno Beach resident and ocean conservationist, Eleanor Fletcher (“The Turtle Lady”), more than 30 years ago. Eleanor began to notice the abundance of sea turtles nesting on our shore in spring and summer. She was curious about why so many hatchlings headed landward after hatching, rather than back to sea, and as a result, began some of the earliest research on sea turtles in the Juno Beach area.

As Eleanor Fletcher learned more and more about the sea turtles, she began to see that the turtles were threatened by the encroachment of man as he moved and built closer and closer to the shoreline. She decided that educating children about sea turtles and the need for conservation and protection was the best hope for the sea turtles to survive over the long term. She began giving classes, first in her home, then above the real estate office as more and more children enjoyed her programs. However, In April 2007, the organization relocated to a new 12,000 square foot certified “green” facility and changed its name to Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Who do you help?

Critically injured and/or sick sea turtles

Are there volunteer opportunities?  Anywhere children can be helpful/involved?

Yes, we place volunteers across all departments including, Education, Sea Turtle Rehabilitation, Conservation, Marketing, Guest Services, Operations, Gift Store, and Juno Beach Pier.

Children can be involved in various programs such as Ocean Explorers After Dark, Seasonal Camp, Turtle Talk, and more.

Are there any specific items that people can donate?

While our Center can benefit from certain items, it’s hard to predict the amount of those items we need. Instead, we encourage supporters to help our Center by purchasing a sea turtle adoption or donating to our Center. This way, items will be purchased as needed and our core areas (education, research, rehab, and conservation) are supported as needed. www.marinelife.org/donate

What is your website?

https://marinelife.org/

What else do we need to know about you?

We are expanding our facility through our Waves of Progress capital campaign. Our campus will be growing by 27,500-square-feet, which will rehabilitate more sea turtles, educate beyond our current count of 350,000 annual visitors, conduct groundbreaking research and advance LMC’s ocean conservation initiatives.

Photo 1: LMC Groundbreaking (Photo Credit: Tracey Benson Photography)

Photo 2: Jane, LMC Sea Turtle Patient (Photo Courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center)

Photo 3: Ocean Explorers After Dark program (Photo Courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center)