Our 2025 Conservation and Research Intern, Christina, spent her summer gaining valuable hands-on experience in conservation for the first time. It was an unforgettable experience that taught her more than she ever expected about preservation, teamwork, and the impact one organization can have on the environment.
Coastal Connections works to advance sea turtle survival by educating and connecting people to the environment, which means every task has a purpose. Morning monitoring on the beach allows our team to identify sea turtle tracks, record nest locations, and monitor the health of the beach; nest marking ensures these sites can be protected throughout the season; and our Turtle Digs, where our team excavates hatched nests, help us determine nest success while sharing the process with our community. Each step adds valuable information that contributes to the bigger picture of conservation.
What surprised her most was how much of this work comes down to people. Every conversation at a Turtle Dig, every question answered on the beach, and every moment spent explaining why our actions matter builds a community that understands and supports sea turtle conservation. At Coastal Connections, we do more than protect wildlife; we inspire people to become part of the solution.
“I am taking everything I learned here with me for life. The science, the communication skills, the dedication, and the passion of this team will stay with me as I move forward in my career. If you are a student thinking about a marine conservation internship, I cannot recommend Coastal Connections enough. You will work hard, you will learn more than you imagined, and you will leave with an even deeper appreciation for the ocean and the species that depend on it.”
FB – @coastalconnectionsinc
IG – @coastalconnections_inc
For more information, visit www.coastal-connections.org, like and follow the socials listed above, or visit our gift shop at 3321 Bridge Plaza Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963
- Photo by: Joe Rimkus Jr – Coastal Connections intern, Christina Bullard, and volunteer, Holly Ferreira, excavating a loggerhead sea turtle nest. ↩︎
- Photo by: Joe Rimkus Jr – Nighttime Turtle Walk event to view a nesting loggerhead sea turtle. ↩︎
- Photo by: Celeste McWilliams – Coastal Connections intern, Christina Bullard holding a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling that was found during a nest excavation. ↩︎
All Sea Turtle work is performed under FWC – MTP #259
