Vacationing in a Sanibel or Captiva Florida Timeshare

Today’s Guest Post on The Timeshare Authority blog is by Marge Lennon, founder of Lennon Communications Group Inc.  Marge began her career in the vacation ownership industry in 1978 as the public relations director and chief writer for Captran Resorts,  co-authoring a major book on timesharing for Captran founder, Keith Trowbridge. She later served as PR Director and communications chief for The Mariner Group, which became Hilton Grand Vacations Company and served on the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) Board of Directors during the mid-80s. Her company, founded in 1985, has won numerous awards. With many years of experience writing about and publicizing the vacation ownership industry,  Florida timeshare resorts, and as a long-time resident of Florida’s southern Gulf Coast herself, Marge is a unique resource on all the reasons people love their Sanibel and Captiva, Florida timeshare. Her insights today on the famous turtle hatchlings of Sanibel and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation remind us all why Florida timeshare vacations are so very special.

Turtle Time on Sanibel

by Marge Lennon

Sea turtles are among the world’s oldest creatures. These ancient reptiles have long fascinated people around the world. On Sanibel and Captiva, where the beaches provide a subtropical nesting area for threatened loggerhead and endangered green turtles, more than 100 island residents volunteer each summer during nesting season to help protect the nests, assisting the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation’s (SCCF) Sea Turtle Research and Monitoring Program.

Every year, female turtles return to the same beach from which they hatched and lay between 50 and 175 eggs with the hatchlings ultimately making their way to the Gulf.

Here’s how they help: Since the turtles lay eggs at night, at first light (around 6 a.m.) these “protectors” walk the beach and look for telltale tracks in the sand, placing flags when they see tracks. They must arrive on the beach before the sun comes up and visitors begin to arrive. If a nest is discovered, they notify the SCCF who mark-off and number the nest, to keep track of any hatchlings and let the public know that a nest is present and is not to be bothered. The Foundation is encouraging everyone to remind beachgoers to fill in the holes they dig for the safety of both adult and hatchling sea turtles and any unsuspecting person walking the beach.

During nesting season, from May 1 to October 1, the 18 miles of Gulf beaches from the Sanibel Lighthouse to the tip of Captiva are checked each day beginning at dawn. In some areas, volunteers walk designated zones of beach. On other stretches, the patrol is done by beach vehicle. Nests are identified and marked for monitoring and protection.

Of course, everyone wants a turtle nest to be near their property, so they can keep an eye on it, and by chance be around to see all those baby turtles hatch and try to make their way to the water’s edge.

Visit the SCCF

Since its formation in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation has played a significant advocacy role in preserving the natural environment of the islands and making it a unique place to live and vacation.

Today, the SCCF is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva and in the surrounding watershed, managing over 1,300 acres of land on the islands and an additional 500 acres it owns on nearby Pine Island. The Marine Laboratory actively conducts research in areas including sea grasses, mangroves, harmful algal blooms, fish populations and shellfish restoration.

For Island visitors, the non-profit organization located on San-Cap Road offers a wide array of educational programs for people of all ages, from beach walks to trail walks, boat tours, wading trips and kayak tours plus classroom-based activities.

SCCF has been involved in sea turtle research through the years but formally took over coordination of the islands’ Sea Turtle Conservation program in 1992. About a hundred volunteers help patrol the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva every morning during sea turtle nesting season, from May through October. Resort staff members involved with the turtle walks include Irene Knowland and Paula Daly. Recreation Director Lillie Clark has attended several classes on turtles and other island wildlife and is happy to share her knowledge with resort guests.

Ecological and wildlife research projects conducted by the Wildlife Habitat Management staff include studies on gopher tortoises, snakes, frogs and nesting shorebirds. At the SCCF Nature Center, there are four miles of trails (with an observation tower), exhibits, a touch tank, butterfly house and Nature Shop. The Native Plant Nursery has a wide selection of native plants for sale, and also offers landscaping and educational services. For a scheduled listing of special activities, go to www.sccf.org