We are partnering up with the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) to assist their conservation efforts in counting turtle species found in local waterways for population studies!
Join us on Sunday, April 12th and/or Monday, April 13th from 6:30 am-2:30 pm at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida.
We would love for your participation in one of the longest-running freshwater turtle surveys in the country! Three roles that are needed during this event are: canoers to collect turtles, and shore support to transport bins of turtles and keep them organized (and escape-proof). They will also have opportunities to rotate volunteers into the processing of the turtles, including measuring and weighing roles. (TSA will try our best to accommodate your preferences in roles.)
This is a limited capacity event (10 people total), so please only RSVP if you can confirm that you will be in attendance.
Some additional information is provided below to help answer some common questions
- If you cannot commit to the full shift, that is ok!
- TSA's largest need for volunteers to assist is in the first ~4 hours, while turtles are being caught and received on shore from the snorkelers
- Canoes are graciously lent to us by the Central Florida Aquatic Preserve and will not need to be rented.
- If you have done a turtle survey like this before, you will be permitted to snorkel and assist with catching turtles to be surveyed. A full-length wetsuit, snorkel, mask, and fins are required for our snorkelers and are not provided.
- Transportation from the Zoo will not be provided, so plan to meet at Blue Springs State Park at 6:30am, no later than 7:00am.
If you have any questions, please contact Bob.Chabot@centralfloridazoo.org
If you have specific questions about this volunteer event with TSA, you may contact sletcher@turtlesurvival.org
