A Safe Place for Sea Turtles

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

The Barrier Island Turtle Sanctuary in Florida’s Brevard County, on the Atlantic Coast, provides a safe place for sea turtles to lay their eggs. On this fragile swath of coastline, Loggerhead, Green, Leatherback, and other turtles find shelter and the nesting ground they need.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are fascinated by sea turtles.

We learned about this special place that plays an important role in the marine ecosystem from Sunny’s sister Rose Singer, who moved from California to Florida with her husband Bob, and is a volunteer at the sanctuary.

Charmed by the windswept beach, Rose looks forward to seeing the turtle eggs and new hatchlings. Depending on the species, sea turtles typically lay 80 or more eggs in nests on the shore each season (March – November).

“Every year the sanctuary celebrates the hatching season and people gather to watch the release of turtle hatchlings into the ocean,” says Rose. “The eggs usually hatch during the night when the moon is out. You can also watch the turtles coming in to dig nests on the banks to lay their eggs. It’s quite a sight to see.”

With sea turtle populations decreasing because of the destruction of their natural habitats and wild spaces becoming fewer, this sanctuary provides a home for the turtles and gives scientists a chance to observe and learn from them.

SurfWriter Girl Patti and her husband Greg saw turtle nesting sites on a trip to Costa Rica’s rainforest and Manuel Antonio National Park.

SurfWriter Girls friend champion long distance ocean swimmer Lynne Cox has written about sea turtles, capturing the essence of their ocean journeys in her beautiful book Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius.

The book chronicles the true story of Yoshi, a Loggerhead turtle, and her record-breaking 23,000-mile swim from South Africa to Australia, returning to the place of her birth to lay her eggs.

Driven by a primal need to reproduce, sea turtles everywhere need places for their nests. Florida’s Atlantic Coast sea turtles are fortunate to have a special piece of coastline waiting for them at the Barrier Island Turtle Sanctuary.

Sea turtle sculpture at beginning of story by artist Dave Reynolds.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Girl Scout Designs New Patch

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Summertime is Scouting time! Since the Girl Scouts were founded on March 12, 1912, by Juliette Low in Savannah, Georgia, Scouting has been introducing girls to the outdoors and camping.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti (shown here in the paper weights they made as Girl Scout Brownies – junior Scouts) have strong memories of camping, making friends, earning merit badges, and of course, selling Girl Scout Cookies.

We were excited to learn that Maya Takeuchi of Orange County’s Niguel Coast Service Unit Junior Troop 1487 designed the patch for her troop’s participation in the 2026 International Food Fair, an annual event that teaches girls across America about food, crafts and traditions from other countries.

As the Patch Design Winner, Maya’s embroidered patch will be worn on each girl’s vest or sash, providing a colorful memory of the event. Maya said, “I came up with the idea for the patch design because it’s a food fair so the earth should be eating. And I wanted to show all the different countries’ flags.”

Her troop participated in the fair by learning about Japanese food and traditions, preparing and eating Japanese food, and dressing up in bright, cherry blossom-pink kimonos.

Maya’s Grandfather (shown here with Maya and her Dad) is Japanese so it was special for her to be able to learn more about his culture and to share it with the other girls.

Sara Salehpour, the troop’s leader and Maya’s proud mom (here with Maya), told SurfWriter Girls, “I’ve been working with this troop since they were in kindergarten and now they are fourth graders. It’s been great watching them grow and feel more independent and creative each year.”

Along with outdoor activities, the Girl Scouts helps girls to be confident and independent and to develop skills to accomplish their goals. Girls can earn merit badges in everything from nature and science to cooking, fine arts, computers, robotics and entrepreneurship.

The sky’s the limit. Just ask Maya!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Holiday Hugs and New Year’s Hopes

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel 

Part of the fun of the holiday season is sending greeting cards to friends and family. A nice change from the ads and bills that jam people’s mailboxes, greeting cards let us send a smile, love, and wishes for a Happy New Year. Religious, heartfelt or humorous, whatever we send, it shows people we’re thinking about them and keeps us connected.

This year SurfWriter Girls found a box of cards created by greeting card giant Hallmark with UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund). It’s a partnership that dates back to 2006 with part of the proceeds going to UNICEF to “spread kindness and help support kids around the world.”

UNICEF has been making greeting cards since 1949 when a young Czech girl sent it a handmade drawing of children dancing around a maypole to thank the organization for its help to the war torn Czech nation. UNICEF utilized the art for a fundraiser and the positive response was so enormous that it launched its greeting card program.

Over the years the cards’ designs have showcased artworks submitted by children around the world and even famous artists, including Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse.

SurfWriter Girl Patti began sending UNICEF cards as a college student. “I loved the cards’ whimsical, uplifting messages and they were an affordable extravagance that fit into my limited student budget.”

Sunny is a longtime fan of the cards and was excited by this latest assortment. In looking through the box, we learned about the traditions behind the greeting card themes because each card has a note inside explaining the history of the images.

As noted, the cardinal symbolizes the “beauty and warmth of the holiday season.” Evergreen wreaths and trees, which remain green even in winter, represent “eternal life.” Stars symbolize “strength and unity.” The deer represent “kindness and gentleness.” The dove is a “universal symbol of peace.” And Christmas trees represent the decorating of trees that began in 18th Century Germany.

So many choices and ways to spread cheer! Now, this story is SurfWriter Girls Season’s Greetings card to you!

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

The Beauty of Imperfection

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

During the holidays when everyone is looking for gifts that are shiny and new, SurfWriter Girls invite you to stop and think a moment about the gifts we already have.

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection and aging and of things that are impermanent and incomplete.

It is the beauty of things both humble and modest. It is the beauty of things that have been used, are raw, unrefined and unconventional.

Old Levi’s jeans, a comfortable chair, a weathered fence, a tree that’s been in your yard forever, your favorite surfboard, classic cars, watches that wind by hand, the neighborhood diner.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have been learning about Wabi-Sabi, which dates back 5,000 years, and its emphasis on self-acceptance and finding joy in everyday things as they are.

We learned that in Japan cracked vases or bowls are often repaired with gold, highlighting the flaw and turning it into a mark of beauty that represents part of the object’s history.

Originally derived from Buddhist teachings, the word Wabi refers to rustic simplicity, freshness, and understated elegance – both in nature and in man-made works.

It can describe a uniqueness or elegance, too. Sabi represents the beauty and serenity that come from age…with visible flaws and worn patina adding to its charm.

Drawing from nature, Wabi-Sabi reminds us of the simple reality that things don’t stay the same, changing from day-to-day and season-to-season with different shapes and colors unfolding through the passing of time.

Putting aside the quest for air-brushed perfection in our lives, selves and surroundings, Wabi-Sabi is a way to de-stress. To relax and slow down, to embrace each moment, the people we love and the things we have.

Rather than searching for the next new thing to buy or do, we can find something much more valuable – an inner calm and the happiness that comes from being ourselves.

Wabi-Sabi is the perfect holiday gift to give yourself – the gift to be imperfect.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Thankful for Colors of the Reefs!

 Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

November is Coral Bleaching Awareness Month, drawing attention to the need to protect the world’s coral reefs from losing their vivid colors and sustainability.

During this time of Thanksgiving when autumn’s red and gold leaves are taking center stage, it’s easy to overlook the dazzling colors hidden from sight below the sea in the ocean’s coral reefs.

Exotic and mysterious, coral reefs around the world, from Hawaii and the Caribbean to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef exist in an endless variety of color – color that is at risk of fading to white as reefs lose their nutrients due to environmental factors and can potentially die.

More than just objects of beauty, coral reefs are underwater living ecosystems that provide food and shelter to more than 25% of the ocean’s sea life. Coral reefs have been called the “rainforests of the sea.”

And like trees protecting the land from the elements, coral reefs protect the world’s shorelines from storms and erosion and help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

The different colors of the reefs – red, orange, yellow, blue, pink, and more – come from the mix of algae in their tissues and varying light conditions and water temperatures. The brighter and bolder the colors, the healthier the reefs.

Marine scientists are working to keep the vivid colors in the reefs – no easy task given the threats from climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and overfishing.

In her children’s book The Great Barrier Thief author Dr. Sue Pillans (AKA “Suzie Starfish”), a marine scientist and visual artist, tackles the problem of coral bleaching and the reasons that many coral reefs are losing their colors.

With the help of her protagonist, a pink fish named Anthia, Pillans hopes to ensure that the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t lose its dazzling colors.

SurfWriter Girls are excited about the world of beautiful colors under the sea and are thankful for the coral reefs.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.