The Loggerhead Center
A highlight for both golfers and FoGs was visiting the Loggerhead Marine Life Center (marinelife.org). 40 years ago, Eleanor Fletcher became curious about the many sea turtle hatchlings on Juno Beach's heading landward after hatching, rather than back to sea. She began some of the earliest sea turtle research in the area. Seeing that the turtles were threatened by the encroachment of buildings along the shoreline, she decided that educating children about sea turtles was the best hope for turtle survival over the long term. She began giving classes, first in her home, then above her family real estate office.
More and more children and adults attended, and in 2007, the organization relocated to a new 12,000 square foot certified "green" facility and changed its name to Loggerhead Marine Life Center. The new facility includes a state-of-the-art full service veterinary hospital, exhibit hall, outdoor classroom, research lab, and resource center.
SGA members will be delighted to learn that Koa, a subadult loggerhead found entangled in fishing line and admitted to the Marine Life Center February 12, has completed his series of antibiotics and was pronounced ready for release. Koa made his re-entry into the ocean at Juno Beach just last week!
