We're Home!

   We woke up this morning, packed our stuff.  Checked our spaces twice (becuase sometimes you miss things).  Then we carried our stuff up to our transportation location and headed to breakfast.  Sausage biscuits and fresh fruit for our last meal at camp.  The last meal didn't dampen the noise level in the dinning hall.  Our campers are still happy to be together.

  After breakfast we went into the rec hall and sit by groups.  After the lost and found show (and claiming of items we had left around the camp) it was time to get down to business.  Our groups were called up and our counselors gave each of us a personalized award.  Some got awards like super camper, others got the Riddler award for asking the most questions.  Our youth got awards that showed their kind spirits, generosity, supportiveness, and knowledge.  Could not have been more proud.

  We had a quick slide show of photos from the week and then it was time to load up and head home.  Our campers missed home but so many this year cried about leaving camp.  For many this was their first sense of something normal since the pandemic.  For that we are grateful that we could offer them something that felt normal.  

We pulled in right at 1 pm and our campers found their stuff and their adults and headed home.  We had a few hugs and hope to see you next years.  I think most of us (including myself) were ready for a quick nap.  

What we need to say is thank you.  Thank you to those parental types who allowed our youth to go.  Thank you to all the folks at our Extension office that made this happen (it really is a team effort).  Thank you to the camp staff for taking such good care of our campers and making sure they had fun and stayed safe.  Thank you to the state staff for coming up with a plan to make it happen this year.  Stay tuned as we announce our dates for next year (probably in November) and offer special pricing for next year.

To see the last of our photos please check out our photos at this link.

For more information about our year round 4-H program please download our app from 4-H Now! When you open it, chose Robeson County 4-H to see everything going on.

Our Last Full Day!

   It's hard to believe this is our last full day at camp.  It feels like we just got here.  So we will need to pack it all in today.  Of course our day started with the cabin cleaning (winner takes all today) and then we were off to breakfast.  Today we had

After flag raising it was time to hit the camp and do everything we hadn't done today.  Everyone had a little pool time, and even had more water time on the lake canoeing.  Some of our campers had a chance to pick up fishing poles and see what they could find in the lake (to our knowledge no one pulled up the bulldozer that was lost in the lake when they built it).  Some of our campers were getting creative at the Arts and Crafts Shelter.  Our Earth and Sun campers climbed up the hill to the high ropes course and challenged themselves and supported their peers while they climbed, jumped, swung, and zipped their way through this course.  I must say as daunting as it is for our youth it is amazing what they learn about themselves by having faith in the staff and leaping into this exercise and off of the poles.  

After all of that exercise, fun, and accidental learning it was time for a fuel break.  For lunch today we had pulled chicken sandwiches.  The pulled chicken comes from a local restaurant that is know for its pulled meats and have partnered with the camp to offer their services to make this an affordable treat for our campers.  We also had tator tots and everyone had access to the salad bar.

After lunch we took a little break from the heat and to let the food digest.  Then it was back at it as we played GaGa Ball, went on a Beaver Hike, learned archery, and had a spending spree at the camp store.  Our last day at the camp store we can spend what is left on our store cards which means we can get flashlights, bags, friendship bracelets, cards, pins, hackey sacks and more.  It is kind of like stocking up on everything BJP as a memory of an awesome week of camp.

After our afternoon events it was time to head to dinner.  You could feel the excitement in the air as the campers were anticipating the dance.  Our girls and guys couldn't wait to get dressed up and see 

The dance was a little different from past years.  Instead of dancing one on one there were a lot of group dances and line dances.  We also had a chance to play games outside and decorate the sidewalk with our own personal artwork.  When it was all over it was time to head to our final campfire.  This was bittersweet.  We love campfire and we have had a great time at camp but this is our last one, and the last one at BJP this year, as we are their final week of camp.

After campfire we headed back to our cabins and started cleaning up, packing, and at some point our heads hit the pillow.  There were vows of being friends forever and keeping in touch.  Tomorrow we will see what happens as we say our final goodbyes to this place that was so scary for some on Sunday and has become our home.  

To see more of what our campers were up to today please check out this photo link.  

Is there Enough Time?

 We woke up this morning and it was WEDNESDAY already!  Where has the time gone?  We have had so much fun and there is so much to do.  So our campers got up and really worked hard cleaning to try to obtain the elusive golden faucet award.  Once things were cleaned they headed to breakfast to fill up for what would be an exciting day.  This morning for breakfast our campers had French toast sticks and a choice of fresh fruits, cereal, and other fun stuff.

After flag raising it was time to spread out and get the day's activities going.  Our younger campers make up the Head, Heart, Hands, groups.  Our older youth are in the Earth, Sun, Adventurer, and Trekker groups.  Being this is Wednesday our Trekkers are packing up this morning for their trip to canoe in a river and do real rock wall climbing so they will be headed out on an adventure.  These older campers will return on Thursday afternoon and we can't wait to hear all about their fun.

Our campers today got to go on a fossil hunt, go creek stomping, they visited the arts and crafts shelter, there was the Yoga and meditation time, and of course the pool.  All of this before lunch which was grilled chicken sandwiches, chips, and it was just right for our campers who are expending a ton of energy having fun.

In the afternoon we had the climbing wall, pool, creek stomping, horses. and more.  Also in the afternoon we have our ever popular camp store.  Camp store is where our youth can get a snack and drink and have a little rest time in the rec hall playing four square and other team building games.  After a quick break it was time to hit the camp and finish our fun activities today.

Tonight for dinner we had a camper favorite of meatballs and spaghetti.  Of course we needed some breadsticks to make this a complete Italian feast.  It was topped off by vanilla cake with icing.  Let me just say we had some happy campers.  Of course after dinner it is time for flag lowering and the announcement of the cleanest cabin award.  Tonight was a total upset.  The girls swept the top three positions with cabin 3, 2, and 1 taking the golden faucet, the silver toiler seat, and the bronze tooth brush.

Our evening activity was the ever popular talent show.  We had youth dancing, singing, doing magic, gymnastics, slight of hand and more entertainment.  We had so much talent there we had to take an intermission and then go back for the big acts.  After the talent we hit the showers (really) and then off to bed.  Tonight we noticed many of the cabins shut lights off early and campers were out cold even before our normal lights out.  

To check out our day's adventure in photos please check out this link.  Please stay tuned for Thursday, our last full day at camp's adventure.  

Day Two Forecast Hot with a Ton of Fun!

 After the adventures of day one we slept so well that day two started bright and early.  Most of our campers are energetic about morning cabin clean up.  Got to win the golden faucet.  Breakfast was mini bagels, eggs. bacon, cereal, and of course the fresh fruit bar.  It seems like sleeping even worked up an appetite for these campers.

  Morning activities started in the pool, at the beaver station, on the climbing wall, and at horses.  What fun it was to try to climb to the top of the wall and be lowered back down.  It let the group work as a group to encourage and spot each other on the wall.  Every step closer to the top was also a great way to increase self confidence and there was a lot of decision making going on as you planned each pull and step on the way up.

  Horse back riding started with some safety lessons and grooming the horses.  Brushing them is a great way to get to know a horse and learn about some of their more subtle communication cues, such as how their ears move when they are listening, scared, relaxed etc.  Then it was time to put on our helmets and ride in the ring learning how to hold the reigns and steer them where you want to go, start and stop.  By the time they were done they might have been cowboys and cowgirls.

  The campers also had a yoga meditation period.  This is when they have a chance to go into an air conditioned classroom and learn breathing exercises, that might just allow them to relax enough to fall asleep.  It was actually some of our campers favorite time.

Our Trekkers and Adventurers spent part of the day at the high ropes course.  This is where they are harnessed and attached to safety ropes before climbing and doing amazing things in the air.  There are challenges like the pamper pole that is a straight pole that they climb up and jump off of to catch a swing in mid air, before being lowered to the ground.  There are mid air obstacle and walking courses and of course everyone's favorite, the zip line.

In between activities there was lunch.  I think everyone enjoyed their cheeseburger and curly fries. plus a little break from the heat.  After lunch it was time to hit the camp again and learn about beavers before hiking to the beaver pond.  Let's not forget our afternoon break at the camp store for snack and drink.   

Dinner tonight was BBQ Chicken with mac and cheese.  Of course there was access to the salad bar and other goodies.  The bellies were filled with the food in anticipation of tonight's fun!  In case you are wondering about the race for the cleanest cabin...things have switched up.  Tonight at flag lowering Cabin 3 received the golden faucet while Cabin 7 slid into second place.  It appears it was tight just a one point difference.  Tomorrow could be a nail biter.

Our evening activity tonight was watersports for our older youth and pioneer cabin for the younger youth.  They actually played old fashioned group games while making and enjoying their very own smores.  

After evening activity it was off to the cabins for showers and bed.  Our youth were really excited about the fun they had and we noticed a couple of cabins had lights off early because they were so very tired.  That's ok becuase we are gearing up for the adventures of Day three!

Please check out this link to see all of our photos from day two.

Day one is in the Books

 Our first official day of camp was AWESOME!  Our campers got up this morning and ate breakfast and cleaned their cabins.  According to our cabin inspection officers they did a really good job cleaning.  They also did a really good job eating.  Breakfast was pancakes, turkey sausage, and the always available fresh fruit bar.  That is where they can get grapes, bananas, apples, etc. every morning to add to their filling breakfast.  We need them well fed because they will burn it off with the day the camp staff has planned for them.

Activities today included games, archery, arts and crafts, and rock wall climbing.  Different age groups sometimes do different things.  For example our older youth (Trekkers and Adventurers) will spend more time on ropes courses and in the lake the first couple of days, while our younger youth have fun with some of the more traditional activities.  For example the Trekkers spent the morning on the lake learning how to guide their canoes and how to get back in them if they flip over.  

Lunch time was a camper favorite with pizza, carrots and celery.  Our campers also had access to the salad bar to make salads if they chose to.  After lunch was a rest period.  On hot days and being so engaged a little down time is built into the schedule which is awesome.

Adventurers hit the canoes in the afternoon.  According to one of their counselors they really worked well as a team on the low ropes course working on team building.  They naturally clicked and all did a great job working together.  Their counselors were quite impressed.  All of our counselors have talked about how well our youth have done and how much fun they are having.  We certainly can tell by the smiles on their faces.  As a mater of fact one Adventurer told me that camp was the most amazing place on earth.  That speaks volumes to me.

After our taco dinner and flag lowering it was time for our evening activity.  Awards are also given at this time for cleanest cabin.  First place today went to the boys in cabin 7, and they were presented with the golden faucet award.  According to the judges it was very close for second place and the girls in cabin 3 received the silver toilet seat award for their hard work.  The third place cabin was awarded the bronze tooth bush award.  As soon as this was announced plans were made to see if that coveted gold faucet could be taken tomorrow...so stay tuned.

Water sports are always a favorite evening activity for our youth.  This year the stations were swimming in the lake (always with a life jacket on), swimming in the pool, the ever popular slip and slide, as well as games that have been adjusted to use water such as duck duck goose, relays, etc.  This was just wide open fun for our youth who had the best time ever and burned off some serious energy tonight.

When it was all over campers headed to their cabins for showers and to get into bed. To see all our exploits today, click this link. Tomorrow will be just as adventurous and everyone is looking forward to lots more fun!

Safe and Sound

 

 It's overnight camp week!  We couldn't be more excited about it.  We started this morning by meeting all our campers and their families at our office.  We must give special thanks to our 4-H Volunteer Tanya Underwood and Family Consumer Science Agent, Jessie Jones for their help with our check-in and paperwork this morning.  We checked in, had a brief meeting and headed out to our buses for the three hour ride to Betsy Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center in Reidsville, NC.

  Ms. Miranda and our Leader in Training (LIT) Kennedi were in charge on one bus and Mr. Scott and LIT Tomas were in charge of the other bus.  Our 4-H Agent, Ms. Shea Ann lead the way.  We did make a brief stop for a mask break and lunch.  Golden Coral in Asheboro was so kind as to work with us on  box lunches for our campers.  We had chicken tenders and fries, chocolate chip cookies, tea and lemonade.  We could not have asked for a better box lunch.  Special thanks to Ms. Wendy, our 4-H Program Associate for driving all the way to Asheboro and picking up lunch then driving to our meeting location along our route.

  With the pitt stop and lunch it was just before three when we made it to camp.  There was a lot of luggage hauling to our drop off points.  Then it was time to go in, turn in our paperwork, and find out which group and cabin everyone is in.  This year our youngest campers are in Head, Heart, and Hands group this year.  Our older ones are spread between Earth, Sun, Adventurer, and Trekkers,  We found out that our boys and girls that are younger will not be doing co-ed activities this year.  Instead they will stay within their own groups the entire camp stay due to our COVID protocols.  However our older youth will still be working together as they plan their trip down the river.

  After a quick dinner that included hot dogs, with all the fixings, chips, watermelon, and chocolate chip cookies it was time to head out for our evening activities.  Today is a little slower than the rest of the week becuase we ware learning our way around camp and the rules of our new location.  Starting with the sun rising we will hit the ground running tomorrow.

    We were fortunate enough to have our first campfire.  Our counselors sang songs and there were a bunch of funny skits.  It is safe to say that we had a lot of fun.  After campfire everyone headed to their cabins and got ready to settle in for a long night sleep.  That way we can be fresh for in the morning.

  Today was not full of a lot of photos but stay tuned, we are sure to have more tomorrow.   

NC State Olympic Dreams

 NC State community:

As you are enjoying the remainder of your summer and gearing up for the fall semester, I hope you will find the time to tune in and cheer for our outstanding NC State student-athletes and alumni who are competing in the 2020 Olympic Games. We have a record-setting 12 Olympians affiliated with NC State who will be competing in Tokyo over the next two weeks.

NC State’s representatives competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are: Lucas Kozeniesky (USA, shooting); Gabriele Cunningham (USA, women’s track and field); Anton Ipsen (Denmark, men’s swimming); Alexander Norgaard (Denmark, men’s swimming); Andreas Vazaios (Greece, men’s swimming); Simonas Bilis (Lithuania, men’s swimming); Tatyana Forbes (Mexico, women’s softball); Nyls Korstanje (Netherlands, men’s swimming); Kacper Stokowski (Poland, men’s swimming); Andrea Podmanikova (Slovakia, women’s swimming); Sophie Hansson (Sweden, women’s swimming); and Noe Ponti (Switzerland, men’s swimming). In addition, NC State head volleyball coach Luka Slabe is an assistant for this year’s Team USA women’s volleyball squad.

I encourage you to read this Bulletin article and learn more about our competitors and NC State’s long and proud Olympic history. It is truly impressive what our current, former and future student-athletes have achieved so far, and I am confident that the best is yet to come.

I am always proud to be chancellor of NC State, but moments like these — when members of our Pack have such incredible opportunities for success — make being part of this community even more special. I hope you enjoy the Olympics. Go Team USA, and go Pack!

Randy Woodson
Chancellor

Congress Wrap Up

 

Thanks for joining us for North Carolina 4-H Congress 2021!  Throughout our week together we have:

• Participated in great workshops led by our fellow 4-H’ers;

• Recognized the great work and significant accomplishments of our fellow 4-H'ers;

• Heard from an awesome set of State 4-H Officer candidates and participated in the Electoral Process electing our 2021-2022 State 4-H Council Officers;

• Danced to our favorite songs with a 4-H virtual dance; 

• Celebrated our 2020-2021  State and District Officers and installed our 2021-2022 State and District Officers; and

• Learned from and engaged with our friends from across the state. 

While this was not the traditional Congress, I hope you will agree it was a great Congress and a fun time together.  This was all possible thanks to the hard work and support of so many people, especially your 2020-2021 State 4-H Council Officers.  This team stepped up, said yes, supported this event, and made it one to remember. Don’t forget to visit the State 4-H Officers Shout-Out Wall on Padlet.  Take a minute and give our outgoing officer team a shout-out for their year of service.  You can find the padlet here . The password is clover (all lowercase). They have done an outstanding job leading this year! 

Every year we ask for your feedback and this year is no different. We would appreciate it if you would take the time to fill out the 4-H Congress evaluation found here.  This evaluation will remain live through Monday, August 9th.  Your feedback will help shape 4-H Congress next year and will be shared with the teams that help plan 4-H Congress.

Thanks again for being part of NC 4-H Congress 2021!

Sarah

Congress Wrap Up Day #2

 

Thanks for joining us for Congress Day #2.  Today we used our hands for larger service, had the chance to recognize some of our 4-H friends, and heard from our State 4-H Officer candidates! Later tonight we will visit campaign rooms and have fun at a virtual 4-H dance!  A few reminders to help us wrap up today and set the stage for tomorrow.

* Be sure to use #NC4HCongress in your social media posts!

* Tomorrow workshops begin at 1:30 pm.  It is very important you join these workshops on time.  Once the workshops begin, the sessions will be locked, so being on time ensures you are able to join the session you would like to attend. All of the workshops will be great! 

* If you plan to join the Many Voices Many Stories: The Cherokee workshop, we have created a passport to complement your workshop experience. You can download and print the passport at this link: Many Voices Many Stories Passport. For the best result, print it double-sided and select the option to flip on short edge. You will be able to fold the stack in half and staple it to make a book. If you do not print the passport, that's okay - you will still be able to fully participate! We just ask that you do not look ahead at the activities before the workshop!

* Don’t forget to take a picture of you in your Congress t-shirt and submit it in our Google Form to earn Spirit Stick points for your District!

* You will need to register for tomorrow afternoon's session just like you did for today.  Instructions for how to do that are listed below.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me or to your 4-H Agent.  

Many thanks everyone for a great Day 2!  See you tonight! 

Marine Biologist?

 Our last day of 4-H Animal Science Day Camp has the potential to get us all wet.  However our youth were a little too smart for that.  Our day started with a trip to Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach.  This is always a fun trip for our youth becuase they have a great variety of Marine Life.   

  Our youth had the chance to see all types of different fish from around the world.  There are piranhas from South America, clown fish from the salt reef, and tiger fish.  Some of the fish they got to see are very dangerous while others are not the prettiest but have important jobs.

  Probably one of our favorite attractions wsa the shark tank.  Being able to go through a tube that allows sharks to swim around you is amazing.  It is kind of fun to try to figure out the types of sharks like hammer heads, saw tooth, and even none shark creatures are in the tank like huge sea turtles.

  This year Ripley's has a special Penguin habitat.  This is really cool becuase you get to see King Penguins up close and personal.  All of the penguins have tags with their names on them.  The red tags represent female penguins and the blue tags males.  While we were there the penguins had some play time with a unique toy, ice cubes.  Some of them jumped into the water and it was amazing how fast they moved in the water.

   After lunch and a little more looking around we headed up the road to Alligator Adventures.  This place is really cool and has Alligators, Crocodiles (there is a difference) wombats, land turtles, and other really cool reptiles.  While there, we saw the alligators get fed with raw chicken.  We saw a really huge alligator, and an albino alligator.  It is best that the albino lives in captivity because it can't camouflaged its self in the wild.  We also learned that they are really rare.

  After all that fun we headed back home to leave notes about our favorite and not so favorite parts of camp this week.  It was good to be back face to face and our youth did great jobs at keeping masks on and following directions.  Hope are youth will stay tuned becuase all these photos are about to be turned into a special gift for our youth.

Zoologist You Say?

  

Nicole Kidman was once quoted as saying, "I love acting but taking the kids to the zoo is a lot more fun!"  We couldn't agree more.  That is why today we loaded up the vans early and headed to the NC Zoo in Asheboro.  We have to admit the excitement level was high as we had talked about the animals they wanted to see which included the elephants, gorillas, and puffins...not to mention a few other animals that don't actually live at our zoo.

  Once we walked in we saw a crocodile and learned about the conservation efforts of the zoo.  We walked on to see the seals, puffins, and of course the Polar Bear.  The majority of the animals were cooperative however there were a few that were not on display like the otters.  Although a favorite we learned today that otters and giraffes could be susceptible to COVID.  It was something most of us had not thought of.

  In several of the habitats today we got to see the zoo staff working with the animals on everything from cleaning filters in one of the snake habitats to working with the flamingos.  By the way did you know flamingo's coloring comes from the food they eat?  They like a steady diet of shrimp, hence their pink coloring.  This trip their were more signs talking about different careers at the zoo and some of the things that you can do if you want to work with the animals.  

   As always the elephants were a hit and even the Gorillas even if they were just laying around.  We saw bison, black bears, and even more exotic birds than we found at Skywatch yesterday.  By the end of it all we had walked a little over three miles, and most of our campers were hot and exhausted.  Somewhere in there they got to see something that made all of them happy, and they accidentally learned something along the way.  Just another benefit of 4-H.

To see all the fun we had check out our photos.

 Stay tuned.  The week isn't over we still have more adventures to come.

It Was Like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but with Birds...

   We are at the half way point and it is amazing how fast they come out of their shells (the campers not the animals)...today they walked in and gave me a list of what they liked and learned at the Sea Turtle Rescue.  What they soaked in during the time we were there was amazing.  After processing yesterday we prepared for today. Then we headed to our vans to hit the open road and learn about some birds of prey.

  Part of our COVID protocols has us stopping part way through each road trip for a mask break.  While we are taking a mask break it seems to be a good time for a snack and water or juice break.  Sometimes the locations of where we stop can be as interesting as where we are going.  Today we stopped around the corner from the Columbus County Extension Office at a fitness park.  There was a great shelter so we could get out of the sun and enjoy some time outside and just breathe before putting our masks back on, jumping in the van, and getting to our destination.

  We headed to Skywatch in Castle Hayne today.  It was our first time and we really weren't sure what to expect.  We came up on an old house and went to the driveway door to ring the bell and the door magically swung open.  A very nice volunteer let us in and we were also greet by three emus just running around inside.  As the volunteer explained about the rescue center and where we could go and what we could see, our eyes got lost look at the myriad of birds around us.  From domestic, to wild, farm, to donkeys (yes the four legged kind) we had a veritable adventure that our eyes were feasting on.

  Right away everyone was taken with the emus.  They would come up and let you pet them, and would walk with you just in case you might have a grape to fee them.  The peacocks were probably the second biggest attraction.  They were coming into mating season and feathers were flying as the race for a mate took place.  We had the opportunity to see ducks, geese. and chickens. There were parrots, partridges, and a turkey vulture (that has a stuffed animal chicken to play with.  there were also donkeys and horses at the center.  I suppose they keep the barn owls company.

  After wandering, playing, learning and make new friends it was time to climb into the van, take a moment at a local park for lunch and head home.  It was a day filled with the knowledge of birds and birds of prey and their important roles in our world.  To see more of this great adventure please check out this link to our photos.

Sea Turtles to the Rescue!

                                     

 You might say day two of our first face to face camp was hybrid.  Scratching your head?  Our campers did too, but only for a brief moment.  You see we broke out the VR Goggles and the Clorox wipes (sanitation is key in our post COVID world) and we introduced them to all sorts of interactive video learning.  This morning our campers visited a hog farm, swam in the ocean with hammerhead sharks, and may have ridden a roller coaster with dinosaurs.  

  By 10:30 we were on the road again headed out to learn all about Sea turtles.  We landed in Surf City at the Karen Beasley Turtle Rescue and Rehab Center.  It was a complete tour learning about the five types of sea turtles (that's really all there are) in the world.  We learned about the center's history, and how there many many many volunteers help protect and save sea turtles.

  We learned about the anatomy of these sometimes large creatures.  For example their shells are made from something similar to our finger nails that can grow with them.  We also learned that the unique structure of their bones is what allows them to float and swim.  Did you know that sea turtles actually can't hide in their shells like land turtles?  So for these creatures its a case of fight or flight.  

Our campers got a small history lesson as well.  In 1973, then President Nixon, enacted a law that made owning any part of a turtle illegal.  So that is why things such as tortoise shell combs and jewelry are generally made of plastic.  It is also a federal offense to be in possession of a sea turtle or any part of it from what we were told.  So as neat as they are...don't save a shell if you find one on the beach.  

We also got lessons in how trash effects our turtle population and why it is important not to release balloons, leave fishing lines out and how plastic bags can be confused underwater for jelly fish.  Imagine going in to eat your favorite treat and swallowing a plastic bag instead.  That is a common cause of something that makes these amazing creatures so sick.

Did you know sea turtles can lay up to 200 eggs in a nest?  Mama sea turtles will lay eggs for a couple of weeks and could have several nests, but then they don't lay eggs again for a couple of years.  When sea turtle hatch out of the sand they follow the light of the moon towards the sea.  The volunteers at the rescue center actually go out looking for nests and mark them.  They they sit out around hatch time to help these little guys find their way to the sea.  The sea turtles have a small survival rate due to environmental concerns, predators, water temperature fluxuations and these folks do all they can to help increase their survival rate in the world.

I think the highlight of the tour was actually meeting the turtles that have been rescued.  Some are getting ready to be released after months and even years of being cared for.  Others will not be able to be released.  For example the female turtle that is blind, or the turtle that was hit by a boat propeller and now his back is damaged causing his tail to float above the water and not his head.  These ingenious folks made a device out of PVC pipe that he can go under and it holds his backend down and he can reach up above the water for air with no issue.  He is much loved and frequently comes to the surface of his tank for belly rubs.

We learned that the center makes it's own salt water for these turtles using pallets of salt every week to ensure their clienteles safety and health.  they even have a physical therapy tank for the turtles and give them baths and tend to all of their medical needs.  This was a great place to go and learn about a creature we don't often see and none of us knew about before.  A big thank you to our tour guide and the centers willingness to give us a tour.  We appreciate your time, expertise, and what you are doing for our sea turtle population.

To see more of our adventure in photos please click this link.