PAMS Student Council President and Representative.

Over two thousand miles away from Cape Cod, in the heart of the Navajo Nation, students at the Pinon Accelerated Middle School recently held a talent show to raise money for the National Marine Life Center’s new marine animal hospital.

Stating he “saw a sticker on a box,” one student researched NMLC on the internet and suggested the talent show fundraiser to the Student Council.  Another student cheered “Go turtles!”

PAMS teacher Ms. Kristin Monts

Ms. Monts, the students’ teacher, explained that in the Navajo culture, turtles are very important.  The students wanted to help an organization that helps turtles.  They did the internet research and selected the National Marine Life Center.  During the talent show, one student even brought in a pet turtle as a mascot!

The students read poetry, danced, sang, and played the guitar.  Over the course of an evening, they raised $500 for the National Marine Life Center!  Here is a video the students produced about talent show.

On behalf of our future marine animal patients who will benefit from your donation, thank you students!  You are an inspiration!

Student presenting a reading at the PAMS talent show.

Some of the student talent!

Students dancing in the PAMS talent show.

Students show off their guitar skills!

Announcing the next act!

Another talented musician!

Student checks out the turtle mascot.

It's all about the animals!

Graphic from: http://www.powermin.nic.in/kids/lets_save_energy.htm

Join us this Saturday for an Energy Fair!

Enjoy exhibits, hands-on energy activity tables, games, energy craft bracelets, energy DVD presentations, refreshments, many other activities, and special guests.  Learn about what YOU can do to save energy, save water, and save our planet!

Date: Saturday, June 11, 2011
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Place: National Marine Life Center, 120 Main Street, Buzzards Bay, MA
Click Here for Directions

This event is a community service project by 5th and 6th graders from Saint Margaret Regional School. It is sponsored by the Cape Light Compact, National Marine Life Center, and Saint Margaret Regional School.

The National Marine Life Center is proud to join with hundreds of other educational institutions, conservation organizations, and thousands of individuals in dozens of countries around the world in celebrating World Oceans Day, an opportunity to celebrate the oceans’ wide array of wonders and resources, and consider ways that each of us can help with ocean conservation.

This year’s theme, “Youth: the Next Wave for Change,” emphasizes the important role that ‘tweens and teens in particular can play, and are playing, in conserving our oceans.

Recent research has revealed that youth, especially those between the ages of 12 and 17, are especially important to ocean conservation. According to reports from The Ocean Project, youth not only have the highest level of concern about the problems facing the world’s oceans, from oil spills and overfishing to climate change, but also are the most confident in their ability to make a difference, and increasingly looked to by the adults in their families for ways to be part of the solution by ‘going green,’ or perhaps more appropriately, ‘going aquamarine!’

We’ve seen this concern time and again at the National Marine Life Center from youth who participate in our education programs, volunteer their time, hold fundraisers, and organize community service projects like the upcoming Energy Fair organized by 5th and 6th graders from nearby Saint Margaret Regional School .  Click here for more stories of “Kids Who Care”.

World Oceans Day is held every June 8th, and is coordinated by The Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network. For more information, including a comprehensive list of events locally and globally, please visit the website of World Oceans Day.

Today, Marisa and her family stopped by for our Patient Update.  I had the chance to thank her and ask some questions.

KZ:  Why did you decide to collect money on Halloween?

Marisa:  I like sea animals.  I like sea turtles a lot.  I’ve done this for other groups too.  In fourth grade I collected donations for the Sea Turtle Conservancy and in second grade I collected donations for the Defenders of Wildlife.

KZ:  What did your neighbors think?

Marisa:  They thought it was a good idea!

KZ:  What is your favorite animal?

Marisa:  The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, because they’re cool and a lot of them come up here and get stranded.

KZ:  What is your one wish for the National Marine Life Center?

Marisa:  To have a really good marine hospital and help a lot of animals.

Thank you, Marisa.  With kids like you who care enough to make a difference, the National Marine Life Center will be able to build our hospital and help lots of animals.

The students are using mold resistant sheetrock to enclose the room. After the drywall is completed fiberglass reinforced panels (FRP) will be added to create a waterproof surface that can be cleaned and disinfected. There are strict guidelines in place regarding the preparation of food for protected species of animals undergoing rehabilitation. All food prepared for our patients will be restaurant grade and thanks to the new walls we will be able to keep the food preparation area clean and sanitary!

The Upper Cape Tech’s Horticulture and Landscape shop is new program that prepares students for many job opportunities, both in and out of doors. Horticulture deals with fruit and vegetable plants, foliage plants, flowers, trees, shrubs, and turf. In Landscape Contracting students learn the art and science of planning, constructing, and managing landscape spaces. Students study plant materials, planting design, plant maintenance, business management, soils, plant nutrition and pest control.

We are so grateful to these students, as well as to their instructors Joshua Greeley and David Consalvi, for improving NMLC’s “curb appeal”!  Thank you!

Thank you, Catching Joy kids!  Thank you, Blue Bunny!

Editor’s Note:  The above note was written by the artist.  Ariana’s unique Sea Me slate tiles are available for sale in NMLC’s Marine Animal Discovery Center & Gift Shop.