Did you know that Southwest Florida hosts the state's largest population of nesting loggerhead sea turtles each year from May 1 through Oct. 31?
Or that you can go online to follow Mote-tagged sea turtles as they travel our oceans?
Or that on April 4 and 5 Mote will be offering a series of special turtle-themed events including our 23rd Annual Run for the Turtles on Siesta Beach and the opening of our newest Mote Aquarium exhibit: Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors? The exhibit was made possible through a generous donation by volunteer Penelope Kingman in honor of Barry J. Kingman.
The Sea Turtle Celebration kicks off early on Saturday, April 4, with the 23rd annual Run for the Turtles at Siesta Key Public Beach. Race-day registration for the 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk and the 5K Run begins at 6:30 a.m. in the gazebo south of the pavilion. The Fun Run starts at 7:30 a.m. followed by the 5K at 8 a.m.
Pre-registration is already available online at www.active.com.
Registration fees:
• Now through March 21: Adults, $20; children 10 and younger, $10
• March 21 through race day: Adults, $25; children 10 and younger, $15.
Proceeds from the run benefit sea turtle conservation and research at Mote. For more information, call Paula Clark at (941) 388-4441, ext. 257 or pclark@mote.org.
The Sea Turtle Celebration continues with the opening of the new Mote Aquarium exhibit, Sea Turtles: Ancient Survivors in the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Marine Mammal Research and Rehabilitation Center.
Mote sea turtle trainers will do public feedings at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 4 and 5 and talk to visitors about sea turtle care and training. Visitors may also have their pictures taken with Shelley, Mote's sea turtle mascot, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
All Run for the Turtles participants will receive a $5 discount on the price of admission when wearing their 2009 Run for the Turtles T-shirts to Mote Aquarium on April 4 and 5, 2009. Mote Aquarium is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $17 for adults and $12 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and younger get in free and Seniors pay $15.
Other special sea turtle and ocean-themed happenings in April include:
• All Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are invited to Scout Day at Mote Saturday, April 4 beginning at 9:30 a.m. The day starts with a self-guided tour of the Aquarium and includes an interactive broadcast from Mote's SeaTrek team and badge and patch workshops for the scouts. Cost is $8 per scout. All participants must pre-register before Friday, March 27. For more information, or to register, call 941-388-4441 ext. 229 or visit www.mote.org.
• The "Turtle Tracks" edition of Mommy and Me at Mote where kids will learn all about sea turtles as they participate in fun games and crafts. Parents can register to bring their kids ages 2-5 to Mommy and Me, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for four sessions on Thursdays* and Saturdays April 2 through April 25. *PLEASE NOTE: THURSDAY SESSIONS ARE FULL. Cost for the four sessions are $44 for Mote Members and $54 for non-members. Sign up for a single session is $12 for Mote Members and $15 for non-members.
• Mote Island Quest for children ages 8-11 features "Dive Deep," which teaches children how Mote's scuba team studies and improves ocean life. Island Quest runs for three consecutive Saturdays beginning on the first Saturday of the month. Cost is $125 for Members and $150 for non-members for three classes. Cost is $45 for Mote Members and $55 for non-members for a single class.
Pre-registration is required for all education programs. For more information, or to register, call 941-388-4441 ext. 229 or visit www.mote.org.