Our mission is to provide a network of volunteer opportunities centered around ocean and marine life health. Once you become a member of the Turtle Team, we ask that you do your educated best to help keep all marine life healthy. Certificates for verified volunteer hours will be issued upon request. Proceeds from sales of our volunteer apparel and donations are used to support marine hospitals and rehabilitation centers in addition to sea turtle nest protection programs.
In the summer of 2020, our Youth Founders: Hunter, Amanda, Logan & Morgan set out to create an organization to help their friends earn community services hours.
As native Floridians who have had the privilege of enjoying the environment, they decided to establish a community service network to educate their peers about the importance of ocean & marine life health. Proceeds from sales of volunteer apparel and donations are used to support marine hospitals and rehabilitation centers in addition to sea turtle nest protection programs.
Hunter has grown up spending time in the Florida Keys enjoying a variety of water recreational activities that expanded his appreciation for marine life. He helped start his elementary school's first Green Team and went on to join his middle school's Green Team while taking many green studies classes.
Amanda is a certified diver who has participated in multiple reef cleanups with the Coral Restoration Foundation. Amanda's love for the ocean began when she was little inspiring her desire to protect and improve the health of marine life.
Growing up in South Florida, Logan has always been involved with a variety of community service activities. The creation of the Turtle Team was a perfect way to combine his love and appreciation for the ocean with his drive to help and work for his community.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic Morgan's usual community service projects were slowly limited. Even as an 8th grader Morgan was used to volunteering his time with larger initiatives such as food vulnerability and animal welfare. After talking with the other founders, the idea for the Turtle Team was born as a way to provide community service opportunities for himself and others.
Angelina is a college sophomore who joined Turtle Team in 2021. Angelina has been a dedicated volunteer who has actively expanded our network. She intends to continue her leadership role throughout college, which will provide many more students with opportunities for community engagement that is focused on ocean health.
Nico is a freshman at Florida International University who became an Ambassador soon after our inception in 2020. Nico's outgoing personality, energy, and enthusiasm for protecting marine life make him a strong advocate and community engagement leader. Collaborating with local municipalities and programs is a priority for him as Turtle Team moves forward.
Ariana is a senior at Miami Palmetto Sr. High who joined Turtle Team in 2021. Even with her rigorous academic & extra-curricular schedule, she has always found time to present to classrooms of younger students and administered our information booths at many community events.
Sofia is a senior at Miami Palmetto Sr High. She joined our team in 2023 to consult on matters of partnerships, collaborations, and new implementations to spread the reach of Turtle Team and promote Climate Awareness in the community. Sofia founded her own non-profit, TerraServe Inc. She also serves as President of the Miami Youth Climate Summit.
We have Turtle Team Ambassadors in different schools, cities and states who organize activities to promote our mission while helping their peers earn community service hours. You are encouraged to apply! We welcome you!
Reach out to an Ambassador near you or at your school to find out about volunteer opportunities. You can also email us at keysturtleteam@gmail.com
Miami-Dade County Ambassadors
Ammons -
Archimedean Upper - Sofia Moreyra
Belen - Amadeo Esteva, John Luca Monteiro
Boating Comm - Luca Levins
Biotech - Zoe Englander, Erin O'Sullivan, Gabriela Gonzalez, Sebastian Rementeria
Braddock Sr -Vivianna Loredo
Carrollton - Sofia Lee, Ella-Jules Mendez, Sofia Moya
Center for Intern'l Ed - Alora Garcia
Columbus - David Gil, Raphael Martinez
Coral Reef High - Jaydee Morgan, Dorys Rodriguez, Brianna Perez
Cutler Bay High - Aiden Da Cruz, Mattea Sirulnik
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
Downtown Doral Elem - Olive Newcomb
Downtown Doral Upper - Jenny Santos
FLVS - Matthew Elliot
Frank C Martin - Anthony Zeigler
Gulliver Prep - Luciano Perez
John A. Ferguson High - Lorenzo Montero
Kids Learning Center 3 - Zuri Delgado
MAST - Napat Sriboonrod
Mater Bay Academy - Alexander Cruz, Christopher Martinez
Miami Palmetto High - Ari Defalco, Lucas Cerda, Yassin Hassan, Matt Vazquez, Cesar Zunjic
Miami Killian High - Sofia Arzadon
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
Miami Killian High - Sofia Arzadon, Aidan Cruz
Lourdes - Veronica Gonzalez
Palmer Trinity - Caitlin Cleary
Palmetto Middle - Carolina Cerda
Richmond Heights Middle - Eilen Salgado / Wilber Marrero
Riviera Preparatory - Giulia Suarez
Robert Morgan EC - Jacob Velasco
School of Advanced Studies - Daniel Nunez Somerset Academy Gables - Charlotte & Daniel Alonso
Southridge HS - Samuel Montero
St. Brendan - Sara Casanovas / Sabrina Henriquez
St. Luis Covenant - Soleil Vina
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
Vineland K-8 - Emma Preston
Terra Environmental - Alexis Bertot
True North Classical Academy - Davis Mallas Miami Dade Schools Police Explorer Post - David Hernandez, Emilie Tello
Colleges
UCF Hunter Sosa keysturtleteam@gmail.com
FIU Christefan Corteguera H.E.A.L. Program
Katie Johnson katie2923@gmail.com
FSU Amanda Gonzalez / Shulien Hernandez Shulienhernandez@gmail.com
MDC Angelina Rodriguez angelinarod4@gmail.com
Nova Southeastern Univ. Luna Aguilar lunaaguilar025@gmail.com
United States Military
Army CDT Amir Morales / keysturtleteam@gmail.com
Pinellas County
Palm Harbor University High School
Sean Shanahan / gulfturtleteam@gmail.com
Leah Park / leahpark00@gmail.com
Alamance County, North Carolina
Elon University
Katy Haerbig / khaerbig@gmail.com
Taylor Haerbig / thaerbig@gmail.com
JOIN OUR regular CLEAN UP on the 2nd Saturday of the Month at Black Point Marina.
Steps to becoming an active Turtle Team member?
1. Search our Ambassador list for your school or email us for more information: keysturtleteam@gmail.com
2. Buy some gear to get ready for an activity. *You do not have to buy our gear to earn community service hours but our net proceeds will be donated to sea turtle hospitals, rehabilitation and nest protection programs.*
https://stores.stationamerica.com/turtleteam/shop/home
3. Sign up for a clean up with a local organization or coordinate your own activity.
4. Request certificate(s) for volunteer hours by Emailing us at keysturtleteam@gmail.com with a description of your activity.
As a charitable non-profit, the Turtle Team can issue certificates for volunteer hours that are accepted by most schools and agencies.
Email us about your initiatives & projects to request a certificate.
Don't forget to show us your photos!