Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is launching new immersive and educational sea turtle experiences for the summer! These events will run from May through August, and registration is now open.
During summer, LMC treats “nearly 100 sea turtles and 1,000 hatchlings at their oceanside facility” every year, according to the media release. And thanks to this active turtle nesting season in the summer, visitors “can encounter sea turtles through experiences that are only available at LMC,” according to the LMC press release.
The New Summer Sea Turtle Experiences
Hatchling Discovery Program
Wednesday – Sunday
7 – 8:30 a.m.
Ages 10 and up
The Hatchling Discovery Program allows visitors to witness “a live sea turtle nest excavation” and log scientific data, according to the media release. Enjoy a beach walk and learn about sea turtle crawls, nesting and their hatching process. If a nest is located during the walk, “guests will witness trained staff excavate the eggs from a sea turtle nest and release any healthy hatchlings found along the way.”
Guided Turtle Walk
Tuesday – Saturday
9 a.m. – Noon
Ages 10 and up
On the Guided Turtle Walk, visitors can observe “the nesting and egg-laying process of loggerhead sea turtles in June and July, when nesting is at its peak,” according to the media release. When a turtle starts the egg-laying process, “the group is led down to the beach by the Center’s authorized scouts to witness this unforgettable experience.”
Evening Guided Tours
Tuesday – Saturday
6 – 7 p.m.
Ages 10 and up
During June and July, visitors can participate in an Evening Guided Tour for chance to meet “current sea turtle patients,” according to the media release. Visitors will also learn about their nesting behaviors.
Hatchling Release
Monday – Sunday
8 – 10 p.m.
Ages 10 and up
The Hatchling Release allows visitors to see hatchlings on their journey to the ocean! This experience includes a presentation about sea turtles nesting behavior and their hatching process, according to the media release. Afterward, visitors head down to the beach with a staff member “to view hatchlings being released into the ocean using night-vision technology for the most authentic experience.”
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), established in 1983, is located in Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach. It is a sea turtle research, rehabilitation, education and conservation center that also manages the Juno Beach Pier across the street, according to the media release. It “seeks to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles,” and “has been named the third ‘Best Free Attraction’ in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2023,” according to the media release.
Photo courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Deano Cook, Christian Del Rosario and Jeff Beige.