Gumbo Limbo Nature Center

Our April 2026 volunteer of the month is...Al Pelligrinelli!

Al is one of our superstar volunteers. He began volunteering at Gumbo Limbo in 2009 and has amassed over 3,580 hours of service! Al comes in week after week as an aquarium guide and fish feeding presenter. He is also the leader of our free program 'Early Birding with Al', offered the fourth Thursday in October through May. Al is a member of the Volunteer Advisory Committee and serves as a volunteer trainer. He is an incredible educator, mentor, and friend of Gumbo Limbo. Thank you, Al, for everything you do. We are immensely grateful to have you on our team!!!🐠

Happy World Turtle Day! 🐢🌎🎉

Turtles have been celebrated and featured in stories and legends throughout history. Often representing strength, creation, wisdom, and perseverance, turtles hold a special place in cultures around the world. From ancient myths to modern conservation efforts, they continue to inspire people of all ages with their resilience and remarkable journeys.

Learn about some of the incredible turtle tales from around the world and join us in celebrating turtles today and every day!

Nesting season is in full swing here in South Florida! Every night, sea turtles come ashore all along the coast to lay their eggs in the sand. Soon, tiny hatchlings will emerge from those nests and make their journey to the ocean. You can help protect them by keeping our beaches clean, dark and flat!

🗑Clean: remove all trash and other manmade objects that could entangle, harm, or prevent sea turtles from nesting.

💡Dark: Do not use white lights on the beach at night and turn off beachfront lighting. Artificial lights can disorient turtles and cause hatchlings to crawl the wrong direction on the beach.

🏖Flat: Fill in holes, knock down sandcastles, and remove beach equipment before you leave. Sea turtles can become trapped in holes or blocked by objects preventing them from nesting or returning to the ocean.

Even small actions can make a big difference. Let’s share the shore and give our sea turtle neighbors the safe beach they need! 🐢💚