We’ve simply concluded our second annual Turtle Camp: a week-long journey camp, totally funded and arranged by the Turtle Conservancy in collaboration with The Thacher College. Our campers, a bunch of enthusiastic seventh and eighth graders from faculties throughout Los Angeles and Ventura County, launched into a transformative journey stuffed with invaluable classes, profound conservation efforts, lasting friendships, and, in fact, unforgettable turtle encounters. Because of the beneficiant assist of nameless donors, we offered twenty-five younger minds with the chance to embrace their roles as budding conservationists. This beneficiant grant has ignited a brand new technology of wildlife advocates, instilling a way of objective and dedication in every participant.

The Turtle Camp contributors got here from various backgrounds; most of them have been unfamiliar with each other previous to the camp, and for a lot of, it was their first prolonged time away from dwelling. Through the lengthy drive from Los Angeles to Ojai, the campers have been initially silent, feeling apprehensive concerning the upcoming week. Nonetheless, by the third day, laughter, smiles, and inside jokes had blossomed amongst them. It was a pleasure to witness the transformation, not solely in every particular person camper however within the group as a complete.