If you’ve ever visited Florida’s beaches, you know they’re something special—pristine powdery sand, a variety of national and state beach parks, and rich marine and bird biodiversity—but behind the sand and surf, there’s a lot of work going on to protect these beautiful coastal areas. Much of that work is led by everyday people who care deeply about the environment, and in Indian River County, Florida, is the amazing team of volunteers at Coastal Connections—and its founder, Kendra Bergman, is at the heart of this effort.

Kendra Bergman is not your average marine biologist. She’s a conservation rockstar with a passion for protecting sea turtles and coastal ecosystems, and what sets her and Coastal Connections apart is how they bring the whole community into the fold—from kids to local businesses and visitors to retirees, everyone gets a chance to make a real difference for the environment.

Kendra Bergman and The Sea Turtle Rescue Squad

If you’ve ever seen a sea turtle in the wild, you know just how incredible these creatures are. They are beautiful, gentle animals who can live to be hundreds of years old, each one becoming a key piece of its ecosystem. 

Unfortunately, sea turtles also face a ton of threats, from habitat loss and pollution to being caught in fishing gear. That’s where Coastal Connections steps in: each year, hundreds of volunteers help patrol the beaches, making sure that sea turtle nests are safe and that the baby turtles make it to the water. 

Kendra herself is hands-on in leading these efforts, and it’s clear her passion is contagious. She’s built a community of volunteers from all walks of life—teachers, retirees, college students, parents, etc— who are just as dedicated to the cause. These folks all share two things: a love for the ocean, and a desire to give back.

Coastal Connections is powered by more than 150 volunteers, and they take the time to receive extensive training, so that they really know what they’re doing when they’re out there—whether they’re patrolling the beaches, assisting adult or baby turtles in distress, or giving community talks.

It’s not just a one-time thing, either; these volunteers go through extensive training to understand sea turtle biology and conservation practices: everything from understanding how to read turtle tracks to identifying nest sites (and even how to safely relocate a nest if it’s in danger.) 

What’s more, this training is strictly guided by the research efforts they are helping to move forward, as well as conservation laws, so they learn to do all of it without disturbing the turtles’ natural behavior.

The Power of Everyday People

I just returned from one of the Coastal Connections trips that Kendra led, and I have to say, it changed me in too many ways to count. What’s so incredible about this organization is how it shows the power of everyday people to make a difference. You don’t have to be a marine biologist or have a degree in environmental science to help save sea turtles or protect coastal ecosystems. All you need is a passion for the environment and the willingness to lend a hand.

You’ve heard it said a million times:

 “It takes a village.”

When it comes to saving sea turtles and protecting our coasts, that couldn’t be more true. Just before the conservation trip, I also visited Vero Beach, where Coastal Connections is headquartered, for a few days, and I was able to see one of their “turtle nest digs.” The goal is to collect important data on the success of turtle nesting, and rescue any live babies that did not make it out. 

The dig I watched was fortunate enough to discover and release three lively babies who had been trapped in their nest by hard, wet sand that formed over top of it after a high tide! It was like watching the work of a professional science team, and the dose of warm celebration when they released those little guys into the waves was the cherry on top of the experience.

Kendra has done an amazing job of creating a space where people from all walks of life can get involved in conservation; from the volunteers patrolling the beaches to the kids learning about sea turtles in school programs, everyone has a role to play.

Community Outreach: Zero Vero Project 

Protecting sea turtles isn’t just about what happens on the beach—it’s about changing how we live—and more specifically, living in a way that protects the environment on land and sea.Volunteers also learn to speak with beachgoers about the importance of protecting sea turtle habitats, and it’s this community-first approach that makes Coastal Connections so special. These well-informed ambassaders are empowered to take real action, and in turn, they inspire others to get involved. 

For example, Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to marine life—including sea turtles, who often mistake floating plastic for their favorite food—jellyfish. There is very little that can distinguish an aimlessly floating plastic bag from a tasty meal. 

That’s why Kendra and her team started the Zero Vero Project—a community initiative aimed at reducing plastic waste in Vero Beach, Florida, aimed at educating the community on how to cut down on single-use plastics.

The project doesn’t just stop at education, though; Coastal Connections works with local businesses and restaurants to reduce plastic waste, too. By encouraging businesses to go plastic-free, the Zero Vero Project is creating a ripple effect of positive environmental change throughout the community.

Additionally, as if that weren’t enough, these volunteer teams also spend their time combing the beaches for single-use plastic trash (especially those easily mistaken for fish food.) They don’t just throw them into the nearest trash receptacle, though; they donate them to a company called Trex, which makes all kinds of items for the community—like park benches and outdoor decks—out of these discarded, supposedly useless pieces of trash.

Whether it’s swapping plastic bags for reusable ones, ditching plastic straws, participating in local beach cleanups, or keeping reusable materials out of landfills, their mission is showing people how small changes can have a huge impact on the environment.

Taking Conservation Global: Turtle Trips to Costa Rica and More

While the beaches of Florida are the main focus, every year, Kendra leads small groups on this amazing adventure, where they work side by side with local conservationists to protect sea turtles, coastal habitats, everything in between, on or around some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

These trips are more than just a vacation—they’re an opportunity for volunteers to immerse themselves in the world of conservation, see how different countries are tackling the same challenges, and come back with a renewed passion for protecting the environment at home.

Of course, they also get to help protect sea turtles in one of the most beautiful and biodiverse places on the planet!

This conservation trip is currently the only one they offer, but they are planning to begin offering a more local version of the Turtle Trip right in Florida, to allow more people to get in on the wonder and magic—and to relax in a beautiful environment that they are helping to protect in the process.

Looking to the Future

Kendra’s vision for Coastal Connections is big—and it has to be. With climate change, pollution, and habitat loss threatening the coastlines and sea turtles we love, the work is far from over—but with her team of enthusiastic volunteers, the power of community outreach through the Zero Vero Project, and the global perspective gained through conservation trips, Coastal Connections is making a tangible difference.

What’s next? Kendra hopes to expand their community programs, continue growing their volunteer base, and reach even more people with the message of conservation. With her passion and the dedication of her volunteers, it’s clear that Coastal Connections is on the path to making an even bigger impact in the years to come.

So whether you’re a local in Vero Beach just passing through, or even just an interested, faraway admirer, consider how you can get involved.  Even if you can’t make it to Vero Beach in person, consider donating to their cause—those donations will help them to fulfill more of the endless requests they get for in-school education programs. 

After all, as Kendra and her team have proven, it’s everyday people just like you who are making the biggest difference for our coasts and our sea turtles!

• Website: Coastal Connections
• Website: Trex Recycled Decking Material
• Podcast: Dr. Nathan’s Robinson’s First CoG Episode #25
• Podcast: Dr. Nathan Robinson’s Second CoG Episode #120

• 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
• 03:25 – Sea Turtle Nest Excavation Story
• 06:28 – Conservation Challenges and Success Stories
• 11:28 – Coastal Monitoring and Florida’s Conservation Network
• 16:20 – Sea Turtle Nesting Process and Hatchlings 
• 25:38 – Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Plastic Pollution Initiatives
• 41:14 – Break
• 43:30 – Costa Rica Sea Turtle Advocacy
• 50:17 – Data-Driven Conservation and Future Plans
• 1:06:05 – Closing