By Griffin Page
Naturalist ~ Eco-guide

At the beginning of the present school season, a group of 5th and 6th graders from the Anglo Americano School of Puerto Vallarta visited the area of La Cruz de Loreto. On the beach, they encountered numerous burnt turtle shells, which after description, were determined to be Olive Ridley marine turtles. They had evidently been consumed, simply, over a camp fire. As most of you already know, all 8 species of marine turtles are endangered.

This heartbreaking situation engendered the idea of a school project on Marine turtle conservation. So, in early September of 2005, I had the good fortune of receiving a phone call from a very talented teacher: Lee-Anne Hemingway . She explained the idea to me and asked if Natural Treasures would be interested in participating in this wonderful project. I gladly accepted.

Seth at turtle camp
Photo by Lee-Anne Hemingway

After a brief discussion, it was agreed that I would go to the school, present a beautiful video on the conservation of Marine turtles in Mexico followed by an interactive oral presentation on Olive Ridley's. I invited a special friend as well: Oscar Aranda Mena, a marine biologist from www.eco-logica.org who had the kindness to join me. He brought along some live hatchlings and a male Desert tortoise to show them the difference between land turtles and marine turtles. Needless to say all the kids were very excited at the sight of these marvelous creatures.

The excitement in the classroom is hard for me to describe. We had 37 interested students who had tons of intelligent questions and all wanted them answered at the same time. Can you picture it? Of course, the excitement only grew as the hour of the departure for the turtle camp grew near. They thanked Oscar profusely for his visit and off we went to the largest government operated marine turtle conservation camp in the bay.


We had a most successful photo session with the hatchlings where every child left with a picture of him(her)self holding one of these precious creatures. Then came the presentation on how marine turtles are protected here in the bay of Banderas and what the work of the volunteers at the camp consists of. We discussed threats, diet, reproduction cycles and the main reasons why they are endangered. We saw the nursery where all the collected eggs are protected and we discussed what each and everyone of us can do to help. We had a blast!

My second and most recent visit at their school was heartwarming! A chorus of so many voices sang: ì Griffin !!!!!!î upon my arrival. It made my year! I received a beautiful card made by them and signed by all, which I just had to show you. The artwork is incredible! It looks exactly like an Olive Ridley! Wow! I also received from Sarah Monroy, a sculpture of myself standing next to a turtle. The turtle is complete with even it's long tail (sign that it's a male) made with small pieces of sea shells. I, myself, am made of shells and have a small rock used to represent my head. Well it's also quite accurate, I do indeed have a hard head! I love it! Her note reads: ìThank you Griffin, I learn too much about turtles, I make a present for you. It is you and over a rock is a turtle. I do with things of the ocean. I wait for another trip with you!î
Sarah at turtle camp
Photo by Lee-Anne Hemingway

Jaime at turtle camp
Photo by Lee-Anne Hemingway


I also just had to include some of the sweet things they wrote for me in the card and here are a few literal sics: Maria Fernanda: ìThank you for talk about the turtles. I loved the trip, there was so interesting.î Lourdes Fabiola Fausto Gutierrez: ìI learned that the turtles are in danger. The world has many types of turtles and bad people killed and this are the cause of the danger turtles. I knew like are most better take care turtles than killed and all people can protect them.î Carlo: ìThank you for taking me on this trip and thank you for teaching me things about the turtles. I had a lot of fun.î Jose Alberto: ì Thank you because in this time we learn about other animal.î Mara: ìTurtles are very interesting and beautiful.î Seth: ìThank you for taking of turtles. I have 4 turtles and I go put in river.î Juan Pablo: ìI like a lot seeing turtles they are very interesting. I will like to go another time to take care of turtles.î Alberto: Thank. I learn now to save the turtles. It was so fun.î Gaby: ìI like a lot of the turtles and I want to learn more. The most funny was when we was taking photos. Thank you for show us a beautiful thing.î

Dany: ìThank you for all the explication because I learn new things of the turtles. I like to visit you another time.î Santiago : ìThanks for everything. It was incredible to go to the turtle watching.î Frida: I liked to learn all about the turtle care.î Diego: ìI loved going to the turtle camp and learning about the turtles.î Unsigned: ìThank you Griffin . I learn of turtles, and I touch a little turtle and that was my favorite part.î Paulina: Thank you for talk about the turtles. Thank you for the trip, I like the turtles.î Cassandra: ìThank you for teach me about turtles. I had never know that.î Luis Ernesto: Thanks for all. I learned a lot about turtles.î David: ìThank you for giving us information of turtles. Thank you.î Monica: Thank you to talk about, now I know how care him.î Priscila: ìThank you for turtles, so beautiful. Thanks.î Juanita: ìThank you for teach me about turtles, is so fun learn about turtles. Thank you so much.î Eduardo Z.L.: ìHello my name is Eduardo in the trip. I know how to save the turtles and how it reproduce.î

Griffin and Paulina at turtle camp
Photo by Lee-Anne Hemingway

Card drawn by 5th grade students of
Anglo Americano School 		My heart feels too big for my chest, I'm only sorry I couldn't copy them all hereÖ.so many sweet words, so many sweet kids.

I want to thank Lee-Anne for giving me the opportunity to plant a few seeds. Seeds that we hope will create a future generation that is aware and cares. A future generation willing to take positive steps toward the conservation of our environment and our natural treasures. I also want to thank Oscar for giving some of his time along with me and Miguel Ángel Peregrino, head manager of the marine turtle conservation camps for the CONANP in Nayarit, for so readily allowing me to take the group at this camp. And most of all, I want to congratulate all 37 students along with their teachers for their interest and hard work in this inspiring project on Marine turtle conservation.

ìNature could be such a wonderful teacher if only we saw it for what it really isî ~ Monachí

Natural Treasures invites you to witness the beauty and to lend a hand in the conservation
of our natural environment.

Griffin Page is a nationally certified whale watching guide as well as a very knowledgeable eco-tour guide. She helps in the research and conservation of Humpback whales and Olive Ridley marine turtles by conducting informative tours here in our Bay. Information on how you can reserve your activities, give donations and other necessary materials is available through her. Join her in this wonderful endeavor!

You can contact her through:
Natural Treasures Vallarta at:
011-52-322-297-6525 or
044-322-888-4617 (from Puerto Vallarta )
naturaltreasuresvallarta@yahoo.com