We spent a day last weekend at a popular beach for a Coral Reef Awareness day. Human contact is damaging much of the coral in heavily used areas, and this was an event aimed at helping people – visitors and residents alike – understand the importance of the reefs. We learned that one type of coral actually spawns in June/July at night, two days after the new moon. We hope to get to the tide pools where this happens, so we can actually see it. We are always amazed at the people who stand on coral while swimming/snorkeling and have no idea that it is a living thing.

The kids identified different varieties of coral, touched (and smelled) baleen from a whale, and learned about tracking systems that are being used to monitor honu, or green sea turtles. They have actually seen a turtle with a monitor and wondered what it was – it was nice to have that mystery solved.

Here’s a picture of E holding a red-spined sea urchin.