Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

South Carolina Aquarium Celebrates 10 Years

by

This weekend, May 14 – 16, 2010,  you can help celebrate the Aquarium’s 10-year birthday with fun, fish and feedings.  Enjoy special dive shows, unique feedings, animal enrichment programs, a mascot parade, crafts and more! Enjoy special celebratory programs at the:10s of each hour.   Check out the newest addition to the Aquarium, a rare albino alligator and watch as this jaw-dropping reptile is fed breakfast at the Gator Feeding Program; catch a glimpse of a fishy cake in the Great Ocean Tank at the ‘Hang 10 with the Divers’ dive shows; watch as one of the Magellanic penguins goes Picasso with Penguin Art, and participate in an Aquarium-wide Mascot Parade including four Aquarium mascots, educators, volunteers and the crowd-pleasing Waddle Wagon.   For a limited-time only, make sure to check out the new historical timeline display which takes you through the years of the Aquarium detailing major events, animal acquisitions, accomplishments and more.

Aquarium guests will not want to miss these Birthday Celebration Programs:

Especially for the early birds!
Visitors can join educators first thing in the morning for a favorite returning program, Harbor Happenings at 9:10 a.m. Enjoy complimentary coffee by our friends from Charleston Coffee Roasters as you hear more about the creatures that swim and play in the harbor.

Happy Birthday Otters!
A species that has been around since the Aquarium opened, watch as the otters are given a life-size birthday cake at 10:10 a.m.! Enjoy seeing them climb and play in this interactive wooden cake during an activity that helps enrich their daily lives.

It’s our party and we will put cake in the tank if we want to!
Join educators and staff for a very special Interactive Dive Show, ‘Hang Ten with the Divers,’ at 11:10 a.m., where guests will participate in a 10-year game show and watch what happens when you put Cake in the Tank!

Alligator Breakfast
Watch as the newest addition to the Aquarium, a rare, one of 50 in the world, albino alligator is fed breakfast! A jaw-dropping experience for the whole family, don’t miss this exclusive, never-before-seen-by-the-public Gator Feeding at 12:10 p.m.

Call that penguin Picasso!
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind activity at 1:10 p.m.: Penguin Art. An activity known as animal enrichment, watch as one of our Magellanic penguins creates its own artwork with paint on canvas!

Gator and Penguin and Otter, Oh My!
Join in as Aquarium staff, volunteers, the four Aquarium mascots, and one of our Magellanic penguins come together for a Birthday Mascot Parade through the Great Hall at 2:10 p.m. Afterwards, get your picture taken with the mascots and watch as the penguins of Penguin Planet are fed their afternoon snack.
It’s our party and we will put cake in the tank if we want to! Join educators and staff for a very special Interactive Dive Show, ‘Hang Ten with the Divers,’ at 3:10 p.m., where guests will participate in a 10-year game show and watch what happens when you put Cake in the Tank!
It’s been ten turtle-rific years! Join us at 4:10 p.m. for an exclusive Sea Turtle Rescue Program show with a live turtle. Learn more about the treatments and therapies used to rehabilitate the sick and injured sea turtles and how you can help all endangered sea turtle species.

Birthday bliss and festive activities abound for guests of all ages with a weekend focused on celebrating our guests, members and community. Swim on over to the Aquarium for some fun May 14 – May 16, 2010. For more information, visit scaquarium.org or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

Turtle Crawl and Nest Fest on Jekyll Island, Georgia

by

Every year the sea turtles return to our beaches to lay eggs. The season lasts from May – late August. Turtle Crawl May 10 – May 15, 2010, is a week-long event that celebrates the sea turtles and the beginning of the nesting season while raising awareness and funds for the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

Nest Fest Beach Fest –  Jekyll Island Beach Deck
Nest Fest takes place on Saturday May 15th, 2010, from noon to 4 p.m. at the beach deck on Jekyll Island, GA. During Nest Fest  can learn more about the fascinating sea turtles, their habitat, and other creatures that make their home along the Georgia coast.  Kids will enjoy crafts, games and activities including the always popular Kids Turtle Crawl beach races.

There might even be a release of a rehabilitated sea turtle at the event.

The Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon

Even if you’re not participating, you might enjoy watching the exciting competition consisting of an open water swim, biking and ending with a run.

The Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl Triathlon:

  • Full Triathlon – 1.5 Mile Swim, 40k Bike, and 10k Run
  • Sprint Triathlon – 600 Yard Swim, 20K Bike, and 5K Run

& 5K Fun Run/Walk.
Register on www.gamultisports.com!
A portion of the proceeds benefits the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

turtle crawl and nest fest jekyll island, georgia

SCHEDULE FOR TURTLE CRAWL EVENTS DURING THE WEEK

Monday May 10th  – 5:30 pm – 7pm: An Evening with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Meet Dr. Terry Norton, Director of Veterinary Services at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, as he discusses the Center’s accomplishments over the past year and gives updates on patients that were rehabilitated and released. After, enjoy mingling with the Georgia Sea Turtle Staff on the front lawn. Cash bar and dessert reception available. Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Free  with Paid Admission to the Center. Reservations recommended. To register for An Evening at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, please call the Georgia Sea Turtle Center directly at 912-635-4444.

Wednesday May 12th – 5pm – 8pm: The Georgia Sea Turtle Center at Chic-Fil-A on St. Simons Island

Thursday May 13th – 7pm – 9pm: Movie Night
This year’s movie – A Shark Tale. Popcorn and bottled water provided. Free. Reservations Required. To register for Movie Night, please call the Georgia Sea Turtle Center directly at 912-635-4444.

Friday May 14th – 6 pm – 8 pm: Pasta Dinner with Scute (register and pay in advance)
Join your favorite Sea Turtle, Scute, for a pasta dinner before the Turtle Crawl Triathlon the next morning. After, explore the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, open late for this special occasion.  $15 per person ages 3 and older, 3 and younger Free. Reservations Required. To register for this event, call the Georgia Sea Turtle Center directly at 912-635-4444.

Saturday May 15th – 12 Noon – 4 pm: Nest Fest Beach Fest (FREE!)

For more information call 1-877-JEKYLL or visit www.jekyllisland.com

National Coastal Educator to Headline May 1 Fair

by

Daylong Environmental Education Fair Hosted by Friends of A1A

A nationally acclaimed presenter, Michael Klubock, will serve as the guest speaker and lead a beach clean-up at the Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway’s first ever Environmental Education Fair on Sat., May 1 in Marineland.

Klubock is the Founder and Executive Director of the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and his specialty is inspiring youth to become good stewards of the coastal environment.

The event, which is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be at the University of Florida Whitney Labs on the west side of SR A1A in the Town of Marineland. Registration for the free event begins at 8:30 a.m. and it is expected to draw 500 persons, ranging from environmental advocates to families and children.

Klubock said he shares with his audiences the impact that carelessness – such as leaving broken lawn chairs on the beach or cutting fishing line and tossing it into the ocean – can have on the coastal environment.

“Litter is a thing that is visible,” he said. “If people realize that one piece of trash has importance, that’s one more level of protection. We have to honor and appreciate the beauty of our environment and with that love and beauty comes protection.”

In the afternoon, Klubock will lead the event participants on a short beach clean-up that will conclude with an aerial fly over to photograph the event.

Other activities will include 14 indoor and in-the-field workshops, 40 exhibitor and vendor booths, science fair projects, environmental activities, storytelling, clowns and face-painting and music.

Friends of A1A is a non-profit organization that implements the corridor management plan for improvements along the 72-mile Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway through St. Johns and Flagler counties.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Frank Gromling, an author, radio host of “Cover to Cover” on WNZF and publisher for Ocean Publishing in Flagler Beach. Others expected to be on hand at the Fair are the Mayor of Marineland, Jim Netherton, and the President of Friends of A1A, Barbara Jenness.

Box lunches ($5) and beverages will be available on-site for a nominal charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about the Environmental Education Fair please visit www.scenica1a.org or call the Friends of A1A at 904.425.8055 in St. Johns County or 386.585.3679 in Flagler County.

Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway protects, preserves, and enhances resources along the A1A National Scenic Byway. This citizen’s advocacy group partners with municipalities, governmental agencies and other civic groups to maintain and improve resources along the corridor.

Designated in 2002, the Byway is rich in history, nature, archeology, culture, scenery and recreation. The Friends of A1A’s efforts benefit residents and travelers alike by maintaining the identified intrinsic resources while allowing economic development.

Florida’s Birding and FotoFest 2010

by

Experience northeast Florida’s abundant bird life and photogenic natural beauty at more than 110 exciting birding and outdoor photography events during the 2010 Florida’s Birding & FotoFest! In addition to the ever-popular nature tours and excursions, new discoveries for this year’s event include workshops on preparing your images and composition, photographing birds in flight, selections and layer masking, flash techniques and many in field photography workshops.

Program presenters include Tim Grey, Rob Sheppard, Lewis Kemper, Roy Toft, Chas Glatzer, Maxis Gamez, Robert O’Toole, Deb Sandidge, Kevin Karlson, Scott Elowitz, Greg Downing, and Reinier Munguia. The festival is headquartered a the Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience at Marineland, located 15 miles south of St. Augustine on A1A. Discover the region’s phenomenal bird life and the abundant natural habitats that sustain them with bird walks and boat and kayak trips to undisturbed areas. This Festival is guaranteed to excite nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

The Festival Headquarters is at Whitney Lab for Marine Bioscience at Marineland, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd, Marineland, FL
904.829.1711

Thursday, Apr. 22 – Sunday, Apr. 25, 2010
For more information visit www.Getaway4Nature.com

Butterfly Festival 2010 – Jacksonville, Fl

by

At the Butterfly Festival you will experience a close encounter with 1000 of the gossamer-winged creatures. The festival takes place at Treehill Nature Center on April 24, 2010, from noon to 5:00 p.m. and culminates with nature’s fireworks – a live native butterfly release. This is something you don’t want to miss.

If you ever thought about starting your own Butterfly garden, come to the festival to find out more. You can visit the butterfly exhibit and there’s lots of activities for children, live music, vendors, and much more.

There’s also Art in the Park where local artists showcase their art. In the Get Back to Nature area you can meet experts from local nurseries who can tell you all you need to know about native plants and herbs. You can also shop at the Monarch Mall for everything from plants to jewelry and much, much more.

Thousands of visitors come to the popular butterfly festival. So plan on getting here early, and staying all day. Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors/military and $2 for children. Click here for a $1.00 off coupon
The proceeds goes to support Treehill Nature Center.

Watch our video from last year’s event – and below it the Tour of Treehill Nature Center!

Watch the Tour of Treehill Nature Center!