The Florida Youth Ocean Summit brings together young leaders, students, and educators to learn, connect, and take real steps toward ocean conservation. Through interactive workshops, educational sessions, and networking opportunities, you’ll gain the tools and confidence to become a strong voice and take action for our marine environment. During the 2026 Florida Youth Ocean Summit Breach will be leading a Sea Turtle Excavation Workshop where participants will get hands-on experience in conducting sea turtle nest staking, surveys and excavations.
Where to find us:
1. Harmony Dawson’s Panel: 1:15p – 2:15p
2. Workshop Session 4: 3:15p- 4:00p
3. Veronica Morejon’s Panel: 4:15p-5:00p
4. Workshop Session 5: 4:15p- 5:00p
How to enter: There are a couple on-campus events going on that day, so i’m being told that gates will be open for public access.
Address: The summit will take place at the Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory located at exactly (27.710563067276283, -82.68952399169096). The lab does not have a unique address so if you follow what google says: 4200 54th Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, you will get to Eckerd, but not the exact building.
Parking:
Attendees: Parking Lots 18a & 18b
Eckerd Parking Map (waiting on public view access here)
Eckerd Campus Map (waiting on public view access here)
What to expect at our Sea Turtle Excavation Workshop:
- We begin the workshop in Workshop Area A where we will give a quick presentation on how to stake a nest and why securing these nests are important.
- After educating the attendees, we will divide them into 2-3 groups, arm them with surveys, clip boards and pens.
- The attendees will then follow us onto the beach/ excavation area where additional team members and materials will be waiting.
- Attendees will first learn to stake a nest then they will move into conducting an excavation.
- We will wrap by handing out fun certificates of completion, take a quick picture of the group, then set up for the second and final workshop!
We’re partnering with Coastal Crusaders!
Who are the Coastal Crusaders? I would like everyone to meet Zoey! She is the president and founder of Coastal Crusaders, they work on various efforts to protect Florida’s shoreline including various sea turtle conservation efforts. Zoey will be our workshop Session 5 lead!