Hatchling Release and Ticket Information: Members-Only Presale

We are sorry, but the the Hatchling Release Tickets are Sold Out.  Thank you for your interest.

Have you joined Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Inc., upgraded or renewed your membership for 2009?  In order to be eligible for the Members-Only Pre-Sale for the 2009 Turtle Walks, be sure to join or upgrade by July 10 for the Hatchling Release Presale.  You cannot become a new member and purchase tickets during the Members Only presale.  Please inquire about ticket limits when you join, or see below.

The hatchlings released during this program are a result of the Turtle Specialists’ hard work.  Nests that hatched three days earlier are excavated and inventoried by the turtle specialists; any remaining hatchlings are released during this night program. After a short video and informative discussion, participants are led out to the beach.  After a line is drawn in the sand to keep feet and hatchlings from interacting, the hatchlings are freed to make their way to the water. 

Hatchling Releases will be held on Monday though Thursday evenings, July 27 – August 13 (8:00 pm - 9:30 pm) and August 17 - September 10 (7:30 pm - 9:00 pm).  This program is for all ages, and an adult must participate with children under the age of 18.  Tickets are $5 each for members, $8 each for non-members. 

The Member Presale will begin Saturday, July 11 at 9:00 am and continue through July 17 or until the allotted tickets are sold out.  The General Sale will begin on Saturday, July 18 at 9:00 am and continue until tickets are sold out. 

Note:  It is likely that the tickets allotted for members during the pre-sale WILL SELL OUT.

Tickets are cash, Visa, MasterCard or check (checks payable to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center).  Tickets must be purchased in person, and you will purchase tickets for a specific date. 

Please note:  The hatchling release tickets will SELL OUT extremely quickly on the morning of July 18.

Ticket Limits:
Individual Memberships:  2 tickets per member at the presale
Family Memberships:  6 tickets per member at the presale
Contributor Membership:  10 tickets per member at the presale
General Sale:  6 tickets per person

Members wishing to purchase additional tickets may do so at the general sale.

Please note the following:
No flashlights or flash photography
No cell phone use on the beach
No refunds or rescheduling
You must be able to walk approximately 200 yards in the sand.
This is a hands-off program. The sea turtles may only be handled by permitted individuals.

The following facilities also conduct Hatchling Releases

1. Haulover Beach Park and Crandon Beach Park (Miami):
(305) 361-6767 ext. 121.  Three nights a week (one weeknight TBD plus Friday and Saturday nights) starting in late July; $6 per person. Reservations start July 1; call to reserve space with credit card.  Reservations for both beaches will be taken at this phone number.  Space is limited.

2. Anne Kolb Nature Center (Hollywood):
(954) 926-2480.  Wednesday and Friday nights at 8:00 pm, July 8 – September 4, 2009.  Cost is $5 per person; open to all ages; call to reserve space with a credit card.  Tickets on sale now.

Additional information about these popular programs.

We are limited to the number of programs we can hold, and to the number of people who can attend each program by the guidelines stipulated in our Marine Turtle Permit, issued by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.  We cannot bend the rules.  For our Hatchling Releases, we are also limited by the number of sea turtle hatchlings that are available for release.  Unfortunately, this number has been decreasing each year, reflecting the continued decline in the number of loggerhead nests.  For both of these programs, 75% of the tickets will be made available during the Member Presale, and the remaining 25% will be held for the General Sale.  We are unable to accommodate private walks or releases, or group reservations

Members have long had the opportunity to purchase tickets before they went on sale to the general public.  This benefit will continue for the 2009 programs; however it will only be available to those individuals and families that join before the Members Only Presale for each program.  New members who join during the presale week must wait to purchase ticket until they go on sale to the general public.  Current members are eligible as long as they do not allow their membership to expire.  Membership upgrades must be completed by before Members Only presales.  Please note that members are not guaranteed tickets, however are given first opportunity to purchase a set number of tickets.

We will generate a waiting list once the tickets have sold out.  We will call the list, in order, if there is a cancellation.  Cancellations are normally received the day of the program, so please leave a phone number that you can likely be reached on a weekday.  Please note we receive very few cancellations for these programs

A final note:  Because of the popularity and limitations of these programs, if you cannot attend the program you purchased tickets for, regrettably, we are unable to reschedule you for another night.  We can add you to the waiting list.  We would appreciate a call letting us know you cannot come, so that we can call someone on the waiting list.  Tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be resold.

We appreciate your understanding of the guidelines we have placed on these programs.  Our goal is to provide these tickets to both our members and non-members alike in the fairest way possible.  We apologize for the inevitable disappointment felt by the many that are unable to obtain tickets for these programs.  Thank you for your continued support of the Boca Raton Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program and the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.

Supervision Required: An adult must participate with children.
Age range: Open to all ages
Instructor: Turtle Specialist
Length of Event: Until alloted tickets are sold out.
Member cost: $5 per person
Non-member cost: $8 per person

This program is offered on the following dates:

Reservations required for all programs (unless otherwise indicated): 561.391.8110
Pre-payment is required for all programs; no refunds. Payment may be made by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard.

All of our programs are subject to cancellation 2 days prior to the scheduled date due to low sign-up. Please sign up at least 3 days before a scheduled program to help ensure that your favorite program will not be cancelled . Registrations will be accepted after this point if the program has not been cancelled and if there are openings. Programs are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather.

Many of our programs are family oriented. Children must be accompanied by an adult unless otherwise specified.