5 Summer Activities at Loggerhead Marinelife Center

The Juno Beach landmark will host an array of recreational and educational events and activities through August

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To help locals and visitors “seas” summer days, Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach will host an array of recreational and educational events and activities through August.

Guests of all ages will enjoy activities that raise awareness of sea turtle rehabilitation and ocean conservation. Each year, the center’s team and volunteers treat nearly 100 sea turtles and 1,000 hatchlings at the facility.

Sea turtle nest excavation with staff. Photo courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Sea turtle nest excavation with staff. Photo courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Sunrise Nest Excavation

Guests ages 10 and older can witness a live nest excavation and log their own data at a Sunrise Nest Excavation, available daily from Thursday to Monday. The program begins with a brief beach walk and ecology introduction to educate guests on sea turtle crawl identification, nesting, and the hatchling process. If a nest is located, guests will witness trained staff excavate a sea turtle nest.

Virtual Reality Experience. Photo courtesy Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Virtual Reality Experience. Photo courtesy Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Rescue to Release Virtual Reality Show

Head to the center’s auditorium theater to follow a sea turtle’s digital journey from rescue to release. With virtual reality headsets, viewers are transported into scenes from the beach rescue to the sea turtle hospital, then to one of Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s turtle releases. The program is available Tuesdays-Saturdays for $5 per person (all ages).

Guided Turtle Walk and Evening Guided Tours

Observe the nesting and egg-laying process of loggerhead sea turtles at the height of nesting season in June and July. When a loggerhead sea turtle emerges and begins the egg-laying process, the group is led down to the beach by the center’s authorized scouts to witness the unforgettable experience. The program is available Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. and guests aged 10 and older are welcome. Participants must be able to walk at least half a mile on the beach.

Before hitting the beach, get a glimpse of the center after-hours and meet sea turtle patients. With an experienced guide, guests will learn about sea turtles’ nesting behavior. This tour is a perfect complement to the Guided Turtle Walk. (The program is available Tuesdays-Saturdays from 6 to 7 p.m.; $25 per person; age 10 and up.)

By-The-Sea Lecture Series. Photo courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center
By-The-Sea Lecture Series. Photo courtesy of Loggerhead Marinelife Center

By-The-Sea Lecture Series

Join the center for an after-hours monthly lecture series featuring local scientists, conservationists, and photographers, plus local brews. Registration includes one beer (or nonalcoholic drink), an entry ticket, and access to the center’s Sky Deck for an engaging presentation by the beer garden. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the lectures run from 6 to 7 p.m. Registration is $20 for adults aged 21 and older, and $18 for seniors.

For more information on the season’s activities, click here.

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