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Project Origin and Goals:

The challenge I hope to address through this project is the disconnect many children and families have from the natural world and the lack of accessible, engaging environmental education that helps them understand not only why conservation matters, but how they can be part of it.

My goal is to use storytelling, educational resources, presentations, and hands-on experiences to turn curiosity about wildlife into understanding, connection, and action. Through Turtley Yours Foundation, I create free educational materials for teachers and families, conservation-focused children’s books and stories, articles, videos, activities, and community learning opportunities.

The project is already underway. Over the past year, I have reached more than 900 elementary students through free author and environmental education presentations and have developed classroom lesson plans and activities that educators can use at no cost. I am continuing to expand these resources and the environmental topics they cover.

Progress will be measured through the number of children and families reached, educational programs delivered, free resources created and used, participating schools and community organizations, and opportunities provided for hands-on conservation action.

Turtley Yours Foundation has received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which will help create opportunities for grants, donations, and partnerships while allowing educational resources and programs to remain free and accessible to children, families, and educators. The project has been primarily self-funded during its first year of development, and we are now pursuing grants, donations, and community partnerships to support its continued growth.

Our project is guided by two interconnected philosophies: Conservation Begins With Wonder™ and Everything Matters™. We believe that inspiring a child’s sense of wonder about the natural world sparks curiosity, fosters understanding, and nurtures a desire to protect it. Through our educational programs, we help children discover that every living thing has a role in nature, that all ecosystems are interconnected, and that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference.

The project is well underway and continues to expand. To date, I have written and published four conservation-themed children’s books. One, which explores the life cycle of sea turtles and the challenges they face, was named a 2026 Nature Generation Green Book Award Long List Honoree. Proceeds from all four books are donated to coastal conservation efforts, including the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Save the Manatee Club, REEF, SEE Turtles, and sponsorship of the 2026 and 2027 FWC Marine Turtle Permit Holder Annual Meeting.

The Turtley Yours Foundation website has been developed as the project’s central educational hub. (TurtleyYours.com). Its Education section provides access to the books, free downloadable lesson plans, and additional learning resources. Current lesson plans are aligned with Florida B.E.S.T. Standards and Florida Science Standards. A future goal is to expand this alignment to include NGSS and relevant ELA/literacy standards, making the resources easier for educators outside Florida to incorporate into classroom instruction.

Eight original educational blog posts have been published to date, incorporating original writing, photography, and video along with appropriately licensed media when needed. Five original Ocean Encounter videos have also been created and published. These short educational videos encourage observation and inquiry through a brief explanation, a Wonder Question, and a Look Closely feature.

The website also includes a request form for schools, libraries, homeschool groups, and other organizations interested in author visits and environmental education programs. I am currently scheduling visits for the 2026–27 school year, with tentative programs in Texas, Florida, and Ohio serving students in grades 1–5.

Community outreach is another growing component of the project. A free community event held in February 2026 was successful and may be repeated in 2027. An additional free community event is currently being developed, pending venue availability. 

The project is also moving toward greater organizational sustainability. I am currently working to complete the application for 501(c)(3) status and have assembled a five-member board with backgrounds spanning education, nonprofit work, business, and conservation-related science.

Project Updates 11/1/2026
Turtley Yours Foundation received 50(c)(3) status on 9/2/2026! Since then, we have hosted a Jellyfish Discovery Workshop for children ages 4-13 and are hosting a Discover the Galápagos Islands Lunch and Learn at the Melbourne Beach Library in Melbourne Beach, FL. We are also co-hosting a Citizen Scientist REEF Fish Identification Survey with Kung Fu Divers at Blue Heron Bridge in Rivera Beach, FL. In addition, we have developed Everything Matters™: The Ocean Connection Challenge, a new PreK–12 environmental education program featuring age-appropriate, hands-on activities that help students explore marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and the interconnectedness of nature.

Finally, we are developing Earthvocates™, a youth environmental stewardship program designed to encourage children and teens to explore the natural world, develop conservation knowledge and skills, and take meaningful action to protect the environment through hands-on activities, conservation challenges, and opportunities to earn achievement badges. We are especially excited about the potential for Earthvocates™ to bring children and teens of different ages together through a shared love of nature, creating opportunities for younger participants to learn from older youth, for older participants to develop leadership skills, and for everyone to discover that, regardless of their age, they have the power to make a difference. And, if I may say so myself, the achievement patches are pretty adorable!

We have also established an initial Board of Directors that brings together individuals with backgrounds in education, nonprofit leadership, business, and conservation-related science. As Turtley Yours Foundation continues to grow, we hope to expand our board to include additional members who share our passion for environmental education and can contribute their expertise, perspectives, and connections to help us further our mission.

To date, Turtley Yours Foundation’s educational initiatives have been primarily self-funded. Now that we have received our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, we are excited to begin pursuing grant opportunities, charitable donations, and community partnerships that will allow us to expand our educational outreach, develop additional hands-on learning experiences, and provide more free resources to children, families, and educators. Our goal is to build a sustainable foundation that will allow us to reach more children while keeping environmental education accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances.

We are continuing to build awareness of our programs through our website, social media, community events, and relationships with local educators and conservation organizations. Our website includes free educational resources and a dedicated Author Talk scheduling page, making it easy for schools, libraries, homeschool groups, and community organizations to request presentations. Lesson plans are currently being update to align to NGSS and Common Core Standards as well as Florida Sunshine Standards and Florida B.E.S.T standards.

We are also preparing to reach out directly to local schools throughout Brevard County to introduce Turtley Yours Foundation, share information about our free environmental education programs, and invite educators to explore opportunities for classroom visits and hands-on learning experiences.

Community support has been encouraging. Wild Florida Rescue recently shared information about our upcoming Galápagos Islands Lunch & Learn, helping us introduce our educational programming to a broader audience. We hope to continue building relationships like these, where organizations support one another’s efforts to inspire environmental awareness and conservation action.

In terms of challenges at this point, one of our greatest challenges has been increasing awareness of Turtley Yours Foundation and the free educational opportunities we offer. As a relatively new nonprofit, we are still working to establish our presence in the community and build relationships with schools, educators, and organizations that share our commitment to conservation education.

Fortunately, we have begun developing meaningful connections with local conservation organizations and community partners. We are exploring opportunities for future collaboration with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society and other organizations, and we are hopeful that these relationships will lead to additional educational programming and outreach opportunities in 2027. We recognize that collaboration is essential to expanding our impact, and we are excited about the possibilities ahead.

Another ongoing challenge is securing the educational materials and supplies needed to offer engaging, hands-on learning experiences while keeping our programs free and accessible. We are hopeful that pursuing grant opportunities, charitable donations, and community partnerships will help us secure the resources necessary to expand our programs while keeping them free and accessible.

To date, our free educational presentations and author visits have reached more than 900 children, demonstrating both the community’s interest in accessible environmental education and the potential for continued growth.