Stella Maris Environmental Research

06/17/2026

Happy World Sea Turtle Day!

Cheers to protecting our oceans, preserving nesting beaches, and ensuring our favorite ancient mariners continue their incredible journey for generations to come.

Every action matters. 💙🌊

06/15/2026

Wowza!!!

We had an AMAZING first week of Wesley's Island Eco Camp: Girls in Survival Edition!

🏄🏿‍♀️Surfing
🦀Seining
🐟Fishing
🌴Exploring
🛥Nautical Knot Tying
& More!!

We are so beyond thankful for everyone's support over the years to make this dream a reality where we can impact future girls in STEM. We want to also thank all of our guest speakers who presented to our campers: FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute , One Lagoon - Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program , Coastal Connections Inc. , Manatee Center , & Swim For Bri ! You helped us make an impact and we will always be grateful for that ♥

Please note that all marine life was handled with care and empathy under the supervision of a permitted marine biologist. Animals were only out of water in circumstances that were safe to them and campers.

06/14/2026

Summer is officially underway at Stella Maris! 🌊☀️

We’ve already completed two incredible camps and have kicked off another amazing week at Wesley’s Island Eco Camp. From exploring the Indian River Lagoon to discovering marine life, fishing, kayaking, beach science, and making new friends, our campers are becoming the next generation of coastal stewards.

Stay tuned this week as we share highlights from all of our summer adventures!

06/14/2026

It's Hawksbill Day for !

Fun fact: Hawksbill sea turtles are basically the reef's expert snack hunters. Their narrow head and sharp, bird-like beak let them reach deep into cracks and crevices in coral reefs to find food—and they're picky eaters, dining almost exclusively on sponges.

Nature really said "specialist."

Learn more about them and their threats 👇
https://www.seaturtleweek.com/hawksbill-day

06/09/2026

📣 Attention Sea Turtle Besties! 📣

It is officially Sea Turtle Week (June 8th - June 16th) and we are super excited at Stella Maris to share such an incredible week with you and our reptile friends! To celebrate, we wanted to share with a you an amazing resource we have been working on to help spread awareness about sea turtle safety.

I mean after all, it is Sea Turtle Week, and besties have to look out for each other! 👭

In collaboration with CLICk (Coastal Lighting Impacts Coalition), we have created this flyer and website resource to help educate on protecting our majestic friends that bring us together: sea turtles. The website includes an introduction on sea turtles, how to keep beaches safe for them, and links to organizations that offer sea turtle experiences in the Archie Carr Refuge. If you live in Melbourne Beach, this may look familiar as we mailed these to residents near the Barrier Island Center (that's pretty cool, right?!)

Thank you for helping us celebrate and appreciate our besties! ♥🐢

Website link: https://www.stellamarisenvironmentalresearch.org/have-impactful-vacations.html

06/08/2026

💙 Donor Appreciation Post

Every sea turtle nest viewed, dug, & conserved, every child inspired, every beach cleaned, and every conservation project completed is possible because of the generosity of our supporters.

To our donors and partnerships: thank you for believing in the mission of Stella Maris Environmental Research. Your contributions help us connect people to science, protect coastal ecosystems, and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of environmental stewards. Variety- the Children's Charity of Florida Sebastian Inlet District Compass Boat Club LLC. Teri E Horn - The Keyes Company Fort Pierce Yacht Club Marine Cleanup Initiative Inc Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Brevard County Natural Resources Management Brevard County Save Our Indian River Lagoon Brevard County Parks & Recreation Department Leaky Waders On Local Time Fort Pierce Tours Manatee Center Fort Pierce Yacht Club Foundation St. Lucie County St Lucie County Historical Museum FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Blair and Dawn Witherington Sea Turtle Conservancy at the Archie Carr Refuge Sea Turtle Conservancy Friends of the Carr Refuge
Fluffy Fund and the Summerlin Family Fish Fry

Whether you gave Time, meeting space,services, $10 or $1,000, you are part of every success story we celebrate. Thank you for investing in conservation, education, and the future of our coastlines.

We are grateful for your support and honored to have you as part of our Stella Maris family. 💙🌊🐢

erhery

06/05/2026

🎣 A huge THANK YOU to Fish Florida for helping provide fishing poles through their grant program to support our summer camps!

Because of their generosity, campers at Stella Maris Environmental Research will have the opportunity to learn basic fishing skills, connect with Florida’s natural resources, and gain a deeper appreciation for our local waterways and aquatic ecosystems.

Hands-on experiences like these help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards, scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts. We are grateful for partners like Fish Florida who help make these opportunities possible for our youth.

Thank you for investing in outdoor education and helping us create memorable experiences for our campers this summer! 🌊🐟☀️

FishingFun EnvironmentalEducation FutureStewards

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

We had such a wonderful day with everyone!! Thank you for having us!