Sea Turtles join a new eco education program for kids in San Juan

The InterContinental San Juan Resort &  Casino has started a new environmental education program for kids in line with World Sea Turtle Day.

The new program is the latest addition to the resort’s Planet Trekkers Kids Club – a club that lets kids ages 4-12 learn the importance of the Earth, water, plants and animals. It teaches youngsters how caring for the planet and its creatures can be fun.

Working together with the nonprofit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC), the resort adopted a leatherback sea turtle. Listed by the U.S. federal government as endangered worldwide, the leatherback is known to nest in southeastern Florida, Puerto Rico and St. Croix.

All kids enrolled in the full-day program at the Planet Trekkers Kids Club gets a free “sea turtle adoption kit” that includes a personalized adoption certificate with the picture of the InterContinental San Juan’s leatherback sea turtle among other goodies.

The really cool part is that kids can track the the “adopted” turtle’s migratory patterns online for a whole year on CCC’s website via satellite tags and transmitters.

The turtles will also be participating in the “Tour de Turtles: A Sea Turtle Migration Marathon” starting August 1. For three months, Tour de Turtles will follow four species of sea turtles, using satellite-tracking technology, as they travel from their respective nesting sites to unknown feeding grounds, with the goal of being the first to complete the 2,620 km (1,628 mile) marathon.

“We hope our guests of all ages will enjoy learning about these endangered species and what measures we can all take to prevent their extinction,” said Sharon Kilmartin, general manager at the InterContinental San Juan Resort & Casino. “Our resort is excited to work with the CCC to build awareness of the endangered species of sea turtles that grace the waters of Puerto Rico. It gives our guests a glimpse into the mysterious life cycles of sea turtles, which represent a special part of the natural world.”

The resort is also making a significant financial contribution and will continue to support CCC on its ongoing efforts to study and save sea turtles across the Caribbean.

“The waters and beaches of Puerto Rico provide critical habitat for sea turtles,” said David Godfrey, CCC executive director. “We applaud the InterContinental Resort for its support of sea turtle conservation. Efforts to protect and recover sea turtle populations benefit greatly from the kind of partnership they are forming with CCC.”

A race for survial

With as few as one out of 1,000 hatchlings surviving to adulthood, sea turtle conservation must focus on combating human-caused threats through research and education. By tracking sea turtle migrations using satellite technology, scientists can learn more about these mysterious mariners and the routes they take. This knowledge helps researchers, conservationists and governing agencies make more informed decisions about sea turtle conservation methods and policies.

Just as with human marathons, each turtle will swim to raise awareness about a particular “cause” or threat to their survival. Utilizing interactive online maps, videos and games, Tour de Turtles will focus on the biology and conservation of sea turtles and their habitats.

For more information, visit www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/sanjuan.