Fast & Full of Fun February

February 11th and 12th two coworkers and I went to Savannah for the Georgia Science Teacher Association Annual Conference. While there we presented, tabled, and attended several seminars. Some of my favorite seminars included: Inquiry, Technology, Graphic Organizers...Oh My!; Using STEM to teach Physical Science with LEGO Education; Bag of Science and Math Tricks; Cross the Digital Divide-Technology Assessments that Really Work. We debuted, My Sea Turtle Journey To Go, a project that I have been working on for quite some time now. I also got to meet Kathy Cox the State Superintendent of Schools. My coworkers and I had a great time exploring Savannah and eating yummy food as well!

My parents came to Jekyll February 13th-15th. We had a blast celebrating Valentine's Day at The Driftwood Bistro (complete with a cheesecake swirl brownie with strawberry ice cream along with complimentary tea cup roses) and my 25th Birthday the next day at Longhorn. My Mom and I also had a wonderful time making heart shadows on the beach while looking for shells. The celebrating continued after my parents went home with a bowling party with some friends from work.

Renee and I continued celebrating the twentieth anniversary of my fifth birthday in true style by going to DISNEY WORLD!!! But first we stopped in Gainesville for a Gym Dog meet against the University of Florida. I realized at the meet that it was my 12th anniversary of cheering on the Gym Dogs as my dad took me to my first meet when I turned thirteen! Thanks Dad!!!

We spent fifteen fantastic and magical hours at the Magic Kingdom in which we were Honorary "Voluntears" in the three o'clock parade (AH!!), met several characters, and rode almost every ride.

The following day was spent at the Animal Kingdom where Renee showed me all that she did while working there, danced with the Harambe Tribesmen, rode Expedition Everest twice, watched the Festival of the Lion King and the Finding Nemo Musical (in which I cried during both because they were absolutely beautiful), ate at the Rain Forrest Cafe for my birthday, met up with an old mutual friend from UGA, and traded pins like crazy women!!

Needless to say, it has been an unforgettable month :-] I am thankful for another year of life and for dreams coming true!!

Girl Power!!

Today Alicia, Jennifer and I presented at an Expanding Your Horizons conference at the College of Coastal Georgia. Expanding Your Horizons encourages and motivates middle school aged girls to get involved in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math through hands on conferences like today which showcase these particular fields and provide female role models in these professions. We had two full sessions of girls participate in our Sea Turtle Rescue 911 class, in which they make a medical diagnosis through investigating a plush sea turtle patient that is based on real patients at the GSTC. These girls were quite impressive, thoroughly enjoyed our program, and made excellent sea turtle doctors!!

Susan Shipman, the first female Director of the Department of Natural Resources was the keynote speaker. Her account of growing up, loving to explore bugs on her way to school, and working all over the world (including Africa, Alaska, Washington, Hawaii to name a few) was very inspiring! Mrs. Shipman is also an UGA Alumna, photographer, scuba diver and honeybee keeper. Needless to say, this woman absolutely fascinated me!! Closing the conference were amazingly talented Jabali African Acrobats from Kenya. It was a great day!

I just love the logo for Expanding Your Horizons! I wish my hair was that cool :-]

AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service

On Saturday January 16th, Albany Police Department AmeriCorps Members joined us for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service celebration. Working together we were able to de-weed four diamondback terrapin nesting boxes in preparation for nesting season this spring. A team also went to the local library and distributed educational/interactive packets about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. It was encouraging to hear about their AmeriCorps program and to likewise have them learn about our AmeriCorps program by visiting the Exhibit Gallery, Rehab Pavilion, and meeting the sea turtle patients. We are looking forward to visiting them in Albany!

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wednesday evening, January 13th, the GSTC received 13 additional cold stunned sea turtles from Florida. One of my best friends, Paul, was in town visiting during their arrival and was able to lend a helping hand.

Dr. Norton nicked his thumb during all the commotion of examining sea turtles. Albeit a rather small boo-boo a boo-boo is still a boo-boo in my book so I was quick to grab a band-aid and doctor up the Doctor. I was honored and he was humored. Last I checked, he is recovering well!

Paul jumped right in and photographed the sea turtles as part of their identification information. He sure is a fantastic photographer regardless the subject and I was thankful to have him assist us! Amanda and I were at work removing the epibiota (particularly barnacles in this case) from several of the sea turtles.

All in all it was a busy, rewarding, and teachable night. I am thankful and honored to be among people who are so passionate in their work and who care so deeply for this remarkable species.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Check out articles about our newest cold stunned/hypothermia patients here:

http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11792464

http://www2.wsav.com/sav/weather/storm_center/article/turtles_saved_from_the_cold/84513/

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2010/01/09/Coldstunned-sea-turtles/1263069136.html

http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2010-01-09/story/cold_stunned_sea_turtles_being_treated_at_georgia_center?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+JacksonvillecomGeorgiaNews+(Jacksonville.com:+Georgia+News)

SEAsons Greetings :-]

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Helping Out In Husbandry

This past month has provided many hands on opportunities in helping out with husbandry at the GSTC. I thoroughly enjoy helping out as I learn so much while doing so!

On December 19th, I helped Steven as he removed medihoney from the boat strike wound along the spine of Emma and administered her dry-vacuum therapy. Her name is short for Emerald as she is a green sea turtle. Green sea turtles are vegetarians and their fat is dyed green from all the chlorophyll they consume.

On December 16th, I assisted with getting Talbot ready for his potential release. Talbot was given a satellite transmitter, flipper tags, and a pit tag. I was thankful there were several helpful hands as I administered my first pit tag (it is quite an intimidating first-time task). Talbot is a sub-adult male loggerhead sea turtle that had marine debris wrapped around his flippers causing a loss in circulation. We had to amputate about four inches of his right flipper.

On December 10th, I helped Jessica with Griffin's weight-belt therapy. Griffin has experienced an event similar to a human stroke therefore forgetting how to be a sea turtle. His weight-belt, which was fashioned by Georgia Tech (and is coincidently yellow and black), helps neutralize his buoyancy. This allows Griffin to more easily be able to dive and stay submerged.

I love my job!!

Christmas Time is Here!

Even if it is 70 degrees outside, holiday cheer is in full force here on the island! The palm trees and cottages are decked out with lights, wreaths, and ribbons. The festivities started with the Jekyll Island Tree Lighting Festival. I had a great time as my parents were in town, Scutes Christmas Adventure puppet show and the sea turtle "wreef" craft were both a big hit and several third grade sea turtle experts impressed us with their knowledge from the STEP Program. There were fireworks after the tree lighting. It was quite different to watch fireworks while listening to Christmas songs and wearing my heavy jacket!!

I have also enjoyed getting to learn about Hanukkah as one of my friends on the island is Jewish. We had a fun time the first night of Hanukkah playing with dreidels and making yummy dreidel cookies.