1. Listen to some turtle tunes:
2. Become a hero in a half shell with a sustainable turtle costume:
- Cut out an oval-shaped piece of cardboard and attach elastic or cloth straps to the back using a glue gun or stapler.
- Flip to the other side of the shell and use paint or fabric to create scutes (the hard plates on a turtle’s shell). Tip: You can use sequins to make barnacles!
- Use a sponge and a net to paint on some turtle skin with face paint.
3. Plan a sea turtle soirée:
- Veggie Platter “Coral Reef”
- Want to graze on a reef like a sea turtle? You can with this snack!
- Onigiri Seaweed Snacks
- Green sea turtles like to eat seagrass. Onigiri is a delicious Japanese snack that uses seaweed to wrap up a ball of rice and a filling of your choice.
- Pudding Sand Cups
- For dessert, let your guests dig through sand like turtles do! You could even hide a chocolate egg in these sweet sand cups.
- Ocean Water Punch
- Sea turtles drink ocean water for hydration. This option is much less salty.
- Jellyfish Lanterns
- Decorate your party with a sea turtle’s favorite snack: jellyfish! These paper lantern jellyfish promise not to sting, but they will leave a mark on your party.
4. Put on a turtle movie:
Turtle: The Incredible Journey. Rated G. Available for rent on Amazon Video and Apple TV.
Finding Nemo. Rated G. Streaming on Disney+, available for rent on Amazon Video and YouTube.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Rated PG. Streaming on Amazon Video and Paramount+
5. If you aren’t in the mood for a movie, watch a turtle livestream!
Like and subscribe to these sea turtles.
- Florida Keys Turtle Cam
- Mavis’s Rescue Hideaway Cam (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)
- Sea Turtle Rehab Cam (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)
- Vanderbilt Beach (Naples, FL)
6. See a sea turtle at a conservation center or on a late-night turtle walk:
Conservationist-led nighttime sea turtle walks give you the chance to witness a nesting female or hatchlings racing their way to the ocean.
You can use this FWC page to find public sea turtle walks and hatchling releases in your nearest coastal area. If late-night turtle walks don’t fit your schedule, you can visit any of these state-permitted sea turtle rehabilitation centers to view these endangered species during open hours.
Since these processes are critical to the survival of these endangered species, guides may have specific rules to avoid disturbing the turtles.
7. Save the turtles with a sustainable DIY craft:
- Teach recycling with a bottle cap, egg carton, or bottle bottom turtle craft.
- Decorate your garden with a painted pet rock turtle.
- Reduce plastic waste by making your own grocery bags out of old t-shirts
- Keep plastic bags out of the trash by weaving with plarn (plastic bag yarn)!
- Customize a reusable water bottle with washable vinyl stickers.
- Attend or host a coastal cleanup!
8. Slow down and cozy up with a sea turtle story:
9. Test your turtle knowledge with a crossword!
