Turtle Talks

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Turtle Talks

Honolulu, United States
Team Contact: Turtle Talks
Team Type: Youth Venture
Team Phase: Sustaining Venture

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About Us

The Turtle Talks team is a sea turtle conservation program. The team spreads the message that youth are the generation that will preserve sea turtles.

The Turtle Talks team was founded in 2001. The main focus is on sea turtle conservation. The team speaks to youth at schools, libraries, and special events about preserving these ancient reptiles. The message is that we are the generation that will save sea turtles from extinction. What is good for sea turtles, is good for all sea life, and ultimately human life. Zander Srodes, the team leader has authored a childrens activity book. The book is given away free at all presentations. It has been taken by team members to 5 countries in the Caribbean and mailed to children all over the world. The book is available in 3 languages. Over 100,000 copies have been printed and given away. Zander has recently written a childrens book on the threatened gopher tortoise. Turtle Talks is an eco-literacy project!
Currently, the team is promoting a sister school program with children in coastal communities around the world. The students are sharing their culture, language, and turtles.
The team is active in supporting eco-tourism in remote communities. The team encourages residents to create a cottage industry around their natural resources. It can be a win win for both the village and sea turtles. The team is collaborating with the Turtle Village Trust in Trinidad.
Turtle Talks has mentored a new group of conservationists. The Pick Up Posse is an elementary/middle school team in Florida. They have adopted a waterway, the Hudson Bayou. This polluted and littered canal flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This team of youngsters are determined to clean it up and keep it clean.

Interests

Animals, Community Beautification, Community Development, Cultural Awareness, Education, Employment, Environment, Literacy, Mentoring, Youth Empowerment

More about us...

How does your group impact your community?

The team has created awareness in the global community. By translating the English version of the sea turtle activity book into Spanish and French. The booklet expanded the community awareness of youth and adults internationally. The turtles that nest along the Florida coast, are also the turtles that graze the sea grasses off the Islands of the Caribbean. Children everywhere are looking out for the same turtles.

How many people have been impacted by your group?

The team has printed over 100,000 books and given them away free. This eco-literacy aspect is fun with a purpose. It gives young people something interesting to read. While sharing the message that extinct means forever. The founder of Turtle Talks is currently on the back of 25 million bags of cool ranch: Doritos. These bags will have great impact on spreading our word. The large size blue bags of Doritos, have a picture of Zander Srodes on the back and the mission statement of Turtle Talks. They are now on shelves at stores around the U.S..

Looking back we did a great job at...

Writing the sea turtle activity book! Zander penned the book, in 2004. Our team had no idea how many conservation groups and schools would be so supportive. The team kept expecting that an adult conservation team would write a similar book. However, we continue to get requests for the books from enviromental agencies all over the country and the world. They always say, "why should we re-invent the wheel? " When your activity book is great.

What we really enjoy about being young changemakers is...

The respect that people share with our group. Adults and young people always thank us for the work we are doing for turtles. This has encouraged other students to join our gang. It has also motivated youth to form their own programs. It makes us all feel good, when other kids tell us that we have inspired them to make a difference in the world.

What other youth networks are you involved in? What other websites do you belong to, other youth organizations, etc.?

1. The team is a chapter of Roots and Shoots 2. Brower Youth Awards alumni 3. Ocean Revolution 4. Do Something

3 Month Survey

Describe your recent Venture activities. What have you accomplished since selection?

The team focus is work and play. We found a way to combine both. So when we are out in the boat, we work to play. Growing up on the Gulf of Mexico, our fun is being out in the boat. We love to go wake skating off Englewood, in Ski Alley. So we adopted the channel and when we are out there, we pull out derelict crab traps, tires, and trash. It makes it safer for us and sea life.

Have you faced any difficulties? Were you able to solve them? If so, how? If not, what would have been helpful to you?

This year while attending the Sea Turtle Symposium on the Bahia in Mexico. Zander was approached by a woman from India, named Supraja Dharini. She told him that she enjoyed the activity book and wanted to have it available for children that live on the Chennai coast. However, the principal turtle that nests there is not in the book. It is a very small rare turtle that never swims near the Florida coast. When the book was written, the focus was that it would be for students in Florida. Zander, decided to re-write the page with a similar turtle on it, the Kemps Ridley. He did just that and Linda re-drew the page and put the Olive Ridley in the book. To ship books to India is very expensive, so a PDF was emailed and 10,000 copies were printed to be given away to children.

What upcoming plans do you have for your Venture? How will your Venture continue to benefit the community?

A part of the long term Turtle Talks plan is to become a partner with communities that are starting eco-tourism in their communities. Team members have traveled to Trinidad on three different trips and are currently associated with the Turtle Village Trust. This is a co-op of three remote villages along the North East coast, where the critically endangered leatherback turtles come to nest. A species of turtle that maybe extinct in the next 20 years. The townships are working together to protect their turtles, that they once slaughtered on the beach for income. They are now, guiding tours on the beach at night with tourists and hosting visiting scientists that come to see the leatherbacks. The team has been to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. There are many areas that have natural resources that are treasures that can be protected and utilized as income to residents.

Describe your relationship with your Ally and your Partner Organization.

Our ally is Linda Soderquist, a teacher/artist. Linda is the sea turtle permit holder on Little Gasparilla Island along the West Coast of Florida. The Island is small and has no bridge. To get there you have to travel by boat. When Zander was in the 6th grade, he met Linda on the beach and she told him all about the endangered sea turtles that come there to nest. That summer Zander joined the sea turtle patrol. The would mark the beach with yellow signs to let beach goers know, that a turtle had nested on the site. Linda told Zander all about the dangers that sea turtles face as they swim around the globe. It was that summer that he knew, that he needed to inform other youngsters about the plight of these ancient mariners. Linda has mentored our team for the past seven years. When Zander would complain about the printed hand outs that he was able to obtain to give out at Turtle Talks. He told her that he could write a better booklet. Linda once said to him, "If you write it, I will draw it." Which is exactly how the activity book came to be written.

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Youth Venture

Turtle Talks

Turtle Talks

About Us

Interests

How does your group impact your community?

How many people have been impacted by your group?

Looking back we did a great job at...

What we really enjoy about being young changemakers is...

What other youth networks are you involved in? What other websites do you belong to, other youth organizations, etc.?

3 Month Survey

Describe your recent Venture activities. What have you accomplished since selection?

Have you faced any difficulties? Were you able to solve them? If so, how? If not, what would have been helpful to you?

What upcoming plans do you have for your Venture? How will your Venture continue to benefit the community?

Describe your relationship with your Ally and your Partner Organization.

How would you like to continue your involvement with Youth Venture?

Members

Team Content

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