Abstract
The objective of this project was to gauge the public’s attitude prior to attending Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s hatchling release program and to evaluate behavioral changes as a result of an experiential environmental outreach program. To meet this objective, I conducted four surveys to gauge the participants’ knowledge and attitudes pertaining to the ocean. The first survey was conducted prior to the start of the program, a concept map was handed out for completion before the presentation started, the intention to act survey was emailed to the participants the morning after the program, and the last survey was emailed out six months following the program. Out of the 363 participants in the hatchling release program, I was able to obtain 16 six-month follow up survey responses. This is a 4% response rate and not a large enough sample size to generate useful data. Despite the limitations of this study, this methodology will be able to be used for future years to evaluate the success of educational programs at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida.