By Patricia Lee
Beach Flags & Turtles, Oh My!
For the past month I have seen a lot of talk in our local Destinites Facebook Group about how crowded we are and the lack of beach flag and turtle awareness. More people means more water rescues and more trash left behind. Many residents and business owners are stepping up with ideas to help in these areas. Read about some of those ideas below and see if you can join in to help or come up with an idea of your own.
Flags: Visitors walk right by the flag charts and sigs at the beach entrances. We have to be more creative to get their attention. Here are some things currently being done. Some businesses are flying colored flags in coordination with the color of the beach flags. If all businesses would do this, visitors would notice and ask what it is all about. Some restaurants actually print the flag chart on their to-go bags. Little things like this could make a big difference if all businesses would participate. One citizen recently started an awareness campaign with volunteers wearing flag awareness T-shirts on the beach during red or double red flag days. Another citizen has started a wristband campaign where the colored bands coordinate with the colors of the flags and info is inserted into each package. Hotels, resorts and condo owners are buying these to give out to their guests.
Turtles: We all know that more needs to be done to help visitors be aware of our turtles nesting and the importance of them being able to get from the beach to the water at night. Here are some suggestions made by Destinites. 1. Resorts should hand out packets of turtle info including red stickers to cover flashlights. 2. Resorts who have beach patrol should hand out fines when they see people leaving their trash, chairs, toys, etc., on the beach. 3. Beach rules/turtle info should be included in the contract the visitor signs with the resort or condo owner. 4. Small, colorful turtle signs should be placed around the dunes and beach entrances. 5. Hotels and Condos could provide turtle shaped soaps in a gift basket along with awareness info.
If you would like to know more about any of the campaigns mentioned and how you can get involved, email me at DestinitesFounder@gmail.com or join us at www.Facebook.com/groups/Destinites (locals only, please). Thank you and remember to also visit us at www.Destinites.com.
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