"LIGHTS OUT FOR SEA TURTLES" - MAY 1 - OCTOBER 31. ITS THE LAW!

Female nesting sea turtles can be distracted by artificial light resulting in a false crawl. Eggs that would hatch to preserve the species are lost. Hatchlings can be distracted by artificial light causing them to waste their precious energy going toward the light and not the ocean. So keeping your lights out for sea turtles is imperative to the preservation of the species.

The following cities in Brevard County have ordinances that restrict lighting to protect sea turtles from May 1 to October 31: Cape Canaveral; Cocoa Beach; Indialantic; Indian Harbor Beach; Melbourne Beach; Satellite Beach.

Read the ordinance for your city: http://www.myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/ordinances/

ART CONTEST OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS GRADES PK-12

STPS is sponsoring an art contest for students in grades PK-12 which includes 3 divisions. The theme of the contest is "Helping Sea Turtles Survive." We encourage all students to research what needs to be done to help sea turtles survive. Then depict their concept in either a drawing or painting. Submit it to STPS using the criteria described in the flyer below. We look forward to all your submissions!

This contest is in coordination with the World Sea Turtle Day and Archie Carr's Birthday which STPS wil be celebrating on June 16 at an Open House. This is when the winners of the art contest will be announced.

Click on the link below to read about the contest requirements:

• ART CONTEST: HELPING SEA TURTLES TO SURVIVE

RESERVATIONS FOR THE 2013 WALK SEASON ACCEPTED BEGINNING MAY 1

Reservations for the 2013 Walk Season will be taken by phone starting May 1. The walks will be held in June and July.

Click on the following link to read about all the information for making a reservation.

• IMPORTANT WALK INFORMATION NEEDED FOR MAKING RESERVATIONS

NEXT BEACH CLEANUP

The next Beach Clean-up will be Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Coconut Point Park, in Melbourne Beach (8am). Click on the following link to find out how to report your beach cleanup efforts as an individual or family.

• INDIVIDUAL CLEANUP REPORTING

STPS MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

JUNE, JULY and AUGUST 2013 MEETINGS

There are no Membership meetings held during June, July and August. During this period, our volunteers are busy with Turtle Walks and Nest Surveys.

SEPTEMBER 2013 MEETING

The Membership meeting will be held on September 5. Rodney Smith will be the guest speaker. His topic is on the status of the reef in Satellite Beach.