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.

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.

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

June 6, 2010, World Oceans Day at the New England Aquarium
By Joy Olaes Surprenant

Catching Joy was pleased to be a part of World Oceans Day at the New England Aquarium on June 6, 2010. World Oceans Day is an opportunity every year to honor the world’s ocean, celebrate the products the ocean provides, such as seafood, as well as marine life itself for aquariums, pets, and also a time to appreciate its own intrinsic value. Catching Joy hosted a children’s activity table where we made turtle projects to promote the National Marine Life Center’s (NMLC) efforts to help protect and care for marine wildlife. Kids enjoyed decorating the paper turtles and learning about NMLC’s efforts to help save them. It was great to see so many families at this special event and enjoy all that the NE Aquarium has to offer.

The Aquarium is redefining what it means to be an aquarium: combining education, entertainment and action to address the most challenging problems facing the ocean. Through a wide variety of educational programs and conservation initiatives, NE Aquarium makes a lasting impact globally. For more information and upcoming events, check out www.neaq.org.

The National Marine Life Center is dedicated to rehabilitating for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, and to advancing scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. For more information and to learn how to get involved, check out www.nmlc.org.

Katherine recently held a drive to collect donations from the National Marine Life Center’s wish list.  She collected arts and craft supplies, medical supplies, miscellaneous cleaning supplies, as well as cash donations.  Thank you, Katherine, for your passion and dedication to helping marine wildlife! you are an inspiration!

Editor’s Note:  This is a special guest post from NMLC Trustee and Catching Joy Founder Joy Surprenant.  Thank you Joy, and thank you children! ~kaz

The Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) lives on coral and is distributed throughout the world's tropical oceans. Climate change leads to ocean acidification which can lead to coral bleaching which would result in this animal - and many others - being homeless. Photo by Richard Ling.

In case you haven’t seen it, there are some interesting comments in response to the postings on marine animals and climate change.  One of my favorite is from 11-year old Mia.  She writes:

“…all i want for christmas is for the climate to improve.i try to get people to recyle more things and use less paper,plastic,etc.,but it seems to me that i can not make a difference.i really love animals and i just want them to live happy lives like that animals that lived when there was not as much climate change or when it was what it was supposed to be.i can only hope some people will help and try to do something.this is what i really want for christmas.do not get me wrong i love wrapped gifts as much as the next 11 year old , but i think that climate recovery is more important.who needs the newest video game ,or a new twilight shirt(which is not all that bad),but to know the climat eis better and animals can live better , that is much better then any toy.Sure you could have the hottest new toy out there,or you could help make a difference.”

Thank you, Mia, for helping to make a difference!

Alison of Gray Gables and her two cousins Jordin and Taylor have enjoyed visiting the National Marine Life Center’s Marine Animal Discovery Center.  Excited about NMLC’s construction project to build a new marine animal hospital, they decided to help.  Late August, they held a lemonade stand and car wash.  The proceeds went towards NMLC’s new hospital.  Thank you, Alison, Jordin, and Taylor!

Bourne sisters Sierra, Molly, and Bella have been long-time supporters of the National Marine Life Center.  For several years, they asked their friends to give donations to NMLC in lieu of birthday gifts.  This year,  they decided on another approach.  Along with two friends, Ali and Danielle, the triplets set up a lemonade stand over Labor Day Weekend.  They sold lemonade, ice tea, brownies, and cookies, and were excited at the response from their neighbors.  Thank you Ali, Sierra, Molly, Bella, and Danielle!