Sixth Annual Sea Turtle Camp a Success!

Press Release – The St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) held its Annual Sea Turtle Camp this year July 17th-20th and July 24th-27th. Sixty children were accommodated over the course of the 2 weeks at the environmentally themed camp, which was held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.

Carefully excavating a leatherback sea turtle nest and learning about the various stages of embryos that did not survive. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012	Feeding the green sea turtle his favorite food in captivity, bell pepper. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012

Through a combination of presentations, arts and crafts, educational games, and field trips, participants learned about sea turtles, the importance of preserving both the turtles and the ecosystems they inhabit, and how they can get involved in sea turtle conservation in St. Kitts. Field trips included a trip to the St. Kitts and Nevis Aquaculture Pilot Project (SNAPPER) where participants met the sea turtles housed there for rehabilitation and a trip to North Friars Beach where they participated in a beach scavenger hunt and excavated leatherback sea turtle nests and released leatherback hatchlings.

Very carefully cleaning the carapace. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012	Learning that plants in the beach ecosystem have special adaptations. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012

This was the 6th year that the SKSTMN has held Sea Turtle Camp. Since its inception in 2007, over 500 children have graduated from this Camp, earning the designation of Junior Conservationists with the SKSTMN. Sponsors for the Camp this year were the SKSTMN, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Harper’s Office Depot, and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Hatchlings on their way out under the careful watch of Sea Turtle Camp participants. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012	Leatherback hatchlings headed out to the ocean. Photo by Alexandra Newton 2012

For more information on sea turtles in St. Kitts please visit www.stkittsturtles.org. Please report any sea turtle sightings, nesting events, etc. to the Sea Turtle Hotline at 764-6664 or the St. Kitts Department of Marine Resources at 465-8045.

Sea Turtle Camp 2012 Session 1 Graduating Junior Conservationist’s and 2012 Camp Counselors

Sea Turtle Camp 2012 Session 2 Graduating Junior Conservationist’s and 2012 Camp Counselors

St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network
The St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) is a registered Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) in St. Kitts and a qualifying Public Charity under the United States Internal Revenue Code Sections 501(c)(3) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). The SKSTMN was founded in January 2003 with the mission to: implement a long standing sea turtle conservation management program under the direction of the St. Kitts Department of Marine Resources; promote community awareness of the plight of sea turtles; and provide non consumable sources of income to communities as an alternative to the sea turtle harvest in an effort to decrease pressure on St. Kitts turtle populations. For more information on the SKSTMN visit www.stkittsturtles.org.