Matura Beach Cleanup 2009

Host: Trinidad Leatherback Project
Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009
Time: 7:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Matura Beach
Street: Orosco Road,
City/Town: Matura, Trinidad and Tobago
Phone: 668-7337, 366-1031
Email: natureseekers@gmail.com

The objectives of this exercise are to ensure that the beach is free from all debris that can prevent the successful nesting. Nature Seekers is confident that this activity is of great significance to the 2009 turtle season and the survival of marine turtles. By ensuring that successful nesting takes place we all will be securing the future population of marine turtles nesting on Matura beach and in particular Trinidad and Tobago.

As an added attraction to a day of fun and excitement, Nature Seekers will be having its annual Sand turtle Competition at 11:30pm sharp. If more information is needed please let us know. Also if you can share this email with any one who may be able to assist we will appreciate it. After all, the more support towards the protection of sea turtles in T&T the greater our impact their survival

Sand Turtle Competition
There will be a competition for children (individuals under 12 years). There will also be a competition for the adults of which only a ‘5 persons team’ could participate at any one time.

Eligibility, Rules & Conditions:
•Competition is open to all ages and gender
•Groups must be register before 10:00am on the day of the beach clean up
•All groups must participate in the beach clean up activities in order to register a team for the sand turtle competition.
•There is no registration fee
•Group size must be larger than 10 persons to register a team for the competition.
•Only five persons per team
•No assistance from the crowd will be allowed
•The competition will begin at 11:30am and end at 1pm.
•No members of Nature Seekers will be able to participate.

Criteria for judging
Judging will be based on:
Accuracy/ Shape
Accuracy/ Size
Originality
Team Coordination

You need to bring
•Lunch
•Gloves
•Extra Tools, shovel, rakes etc

What to Wear/Pack
•Comfortable, preferably a worn pair of waterproof boots, sneakers
•T- shirt and jeans or sweat pants ( short pants if preferred)

What to Eat and Drink
•You want food that will give you energy, not weigh you down: good, low-glycemic carbs with some protein and just enough fat to be satisfying. Meal replacement bars are actually a good choice. FOOD - high-energy snacks, light weight, nutritious, high in carbohydrates
•Food – Picnic style (sandwiches, nuts, raisins, chocolate, fruit and especially snack bars)
•At least two bottles of water (soft drinks do not quench thirst adequately)

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February 17 2009

All beach cleanup activities are proceeding as planned – We start at 7:00 and end at 12:30. The sand turtle competition will start at 11:00.

When you arrive there will be a brief orientation, you will be incorporated in a group or if your group is large enough you will form you own group with a team captain from the community. A zone will be assigned to your group and the cleanup activities will commence.

We are initiating another competition called the “garbage hunt”. In all the zones there will be questions placed on garbage (pay attention to what you are picking up) - You will need to find the questions during the cleanup and provide the answers after the Sand Turtle competition activities. All group that answer two question out of 3 or more will receive a prize. Question will be based on sea turtles and pollution.

The Red Cross Society will be providing First Aid Support.

We are also using the opportunity to launch the Turtle Season 1st March to August 31st 09. Also if you are wondering we are making arrangements for permits so we will all be covered under the law.

Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Dennis Sammy

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Confirm your participation at the following Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=29816137999

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Nature Seeker would like to thank all of you who participate in the cleanup activities. The event was indeed a success. We had a number of groups participating making a total of over 450 volunteers. We had over a mile & a half of beach cleaned. This represents about 20% of the Matura beach. We also collected over 200 bags of plastic, bottles, Styrofoam and metal.

The sand turtle competition first and second place went to the 1st Trinidad Sea Scouts. The third place went to the International School of Port of Spain. See the
photos about the event

On another note, Turtle season also opened today (1st March 2009) and as such everyone interested in turtle watching require a permit to visit matura beach. Visit our website www.natureseekers.org and download the ppt file to guide you in organizing a trip for Turtle Watching.