OUR MISSION
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.
YOUTH FOUNDERS
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.
About Our Youth Founders
Hunter
Hunter
Hunter
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. He is currently enrolled in a marine and environmental studies high school magnet.
Amanda
Hunter
Hunter
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.
Logan
Morgan
Morgan
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.
Morgan
Morgan
Morgan
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.
Our Youth Board
Vice President of Volunteers
Vice President of Community Engagement
Vice President of Community Engagement
Angelina is a college freshman 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.
Vice President of Community Engagement
Vice President of Community Engagement
Vice President of Community Engagement
Nico is a senior at Miami Palmetto High 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.
Vice President of Branding and Marketing
Vice President of Branding and Marketing
Vice President of Branding and Marketing
Alba is a senior at the School for Advanced Studies who joined Turtle Team in 2021 and quickly became our social media management lead and brand advisor. Alba's keen brand awareness, content management skills and youth perspective are essential for the expansion of our digital platform.
Consulting Director
Vice President of Branding and Marketing
Vice President of Branding and Marketing
Sofia is a junior at the Miami Palmetto Senior. 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. She also serves as VP of the Miami Youth Climate Summit.
Our Ambassadors
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!
Our Ambassadors
Find An Ambassador
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
Florida
Miami-Dade County Ambassadors
Ammons Middle - Samuel Montero
Belen - Amadeo Esteva, John Luca Monteiro
Boating Community - Luca Levins
Biotech - Erin O'Sullivan
Braddock Senior -Vivianna Loredo
Carrollton - Sofia Lee, Ella-Jules Mendez, Sofia Moya
Center for Intern'l Ed - Alora Garcia
Columbus - David Vina, David Gil
Coral Reef High - Jaydee Morgan, Tristan Tazi-Sidqui, Ariyaan Whittaker
Cutler Bay High - Isaiah Ali, Erica Kong, Sienna Sochin, Mattea Sirulnik
Florida continued
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
FLVS - Matthew Elliot
Frank C Martin - Anthony Zeigler
Gulliver Prep - Victor Gordon / Luciano Perez
John A. Ferguson High - Lorenzo Montero
Kids Learning Center 3 - Zuri Delgado
Miami Palmetto High - Hunter Sosa, Logan Shapiro, Nico Cerda, Ariana Defalco
Miami Killian High - Sofia Arzadon
Miami Southridge High -
Lourdes - Veronica Ines Gonzalez
Palmer Trinity - Caitlin Cleary, Alex Keeping, Mackenzie Metka & Isa Monzayet
Palmetto Middle - Carolina Cerda
Florida continued
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
Riviera Preparatory - Giulia Suarez
Robert Morgan EC - Jacob Velasco
School of Advanced Studies - Penelope Heller Somerset Academy Gables - Charlotte & Daniel Alonso
Vineland K-8 - Emma Preston
Terra Environmental - Alexis Bertot & Brielle Martinez
True North Classical Academy - Davis Mallas
Miami Dade Schools Police Explorer Post - Luis Collado, David Hernandez, Emilie Tello
find an ambassador page 2
Florida continued
Miami Dade County Ambassadors
Colleges
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
Gulf Coast of Florida
Pinellas County
Palm Harbor University High School
Sean Shanahan / gulfturtleteam@gmail.com
Leah Park / leahpark00@gmail.com
find an ambassador page 3
North Carolina
Alamance County, North Carolina
Elon University
Katy Haerbig / khaerbig@gmail.com
Taylor Haerbig / thaerbig@gmail.com
ways to Earn community service hours
Seashore Clean-ups
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Search for upcoming shoreline cleanups near you that have been posted to the website www.volunteercleanup.org. Let us know you attended and we will give you community service hours.
OR
JOIN our regular clean up on the 2nd Saturday of the Month at Black Point Marina.
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Haulover Coastal Cleanup
(1st Saturday of every month)
Citizen Science Project at Crandon
(2nd Saturday of every month)
Crandon Coastal Cleanup
(4th Saturday of every month)
Sea Turtle Trackers on the Gulf Coast
Miami-Dade Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Sea Turtle Trackers on the Gulf Coast
Along with many other activities Sea Turtle Tracker volunteers patrol the beaches of St. Pete, Shell Key and Outback Key during nesting season (from May to October). Volunteers find, mark and protect new nests, so hatchlings can make it safely to the Gulf.
FAQs
Volunteer Hours Certificate
Sea Turtle Trackers on the Gulf Coast
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.
Volunteer Hours Certificate
Volunteer Hours Certificate
Volunteer Hours Certificate
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!