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The Volvo Ocean Adventure (VOA) is working with the Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) to increase awareness about sea turtles and the marine environment during the round the world Volvo Ocean Race. The Volvo Ocean Race, one of the world's major sailing events, will be the connection between environmental education and ocean related issues.
Map of race route with the species of sea turtles the sailors might see during each leg of the race.
VOA is a web site developed by environmental and educational experts that will focus on environmental issues related to oceans, lakes and rivers. The web site follows the sailboats around the world on their 9-month-long voyage, highlighting hot environmental topics along the way. The web site includes lesson plans and suggested student assignments.
CCC will be a part of the marine aspect of the VOA educational program. During the race, CCC will provide information about the sea turtles and marine habitats in the areas visited by the boats. VOA is funding the satellite tracking of a green sea turtle from Tortuguero, Costa Rica, named Freija. Freija's release will coincide with start of the Volvo Ocean Race in September, 2001. Like the sailboats in the race, the migration route of the satellite tagged turtle will be followed on both web sites.
In addition, VOA sponsored a cultural and ecological field trip to Tortuguero, Costa Rica for two teachers and ten students from the United States. Maribel Toledo of Miami, FL and Stacy Gwartney of Jacksonville, TX, and their students, selected from over 150 entries, participated in CCC's green sea turtle research program. Volvo covered all expenses for the teachers and students to travel to Tortuguero, Costa Rica. While in Tortuguero the teachers and students visited the local schools, spent time with local students, went on a boat ride through the canals, learned about the lowland tropical rainforest and took part in the capture and release of Freija, the first satellite tagged green sea turtle of the 2001 project. Click here for more information and images of the group's trip to Tortuguero, Costa Rica!
For additional information, visit the Volvo Ocean Race website and the Volvo Ocean Adventure website.
Sponsored Turtle:
Tortuguero, Costa Rica Sea Turtle Tracking Project
• Freija (2001)
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