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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Birds Flock to Huntington Beach Safe Haven

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

The very first story SurfWriter Girls wrote for Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine (in 2014) was about a special place for migrating birds that is even more special now – Huntington Beach’s Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.

We’re excited to revisit Bolsa Chica now because it’s a local treasure. With fewer natural wildlife areas due to urban development, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve has been designated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a protected coastal wetland.

For our initial research, SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti talked to Joe Shaw, who was then the President of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, and learned how important it is to keep Bolsa Chica in its natural state…something that can be challenging in an era of beachside property development.

Seeing the wetlands for ourselves we were entranced by it. More than just its raw beauty, Bolsa Chica – which means “little pocket” in Spanish – is a sanctuary for migrating birds and provides a tranquil habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife.

Among the birds and wildlife sheltering here are the snowy plover, Savannah sparrow, least tern, great blue heron, snowy egret, red-tailed hawk, and great horned owl, cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, and more.

In the wetlands birds can rest on their long journeys and have a safe place to breed, nest, and rear their young.

Without these pit stops along the way, migrating birds become exhausted and disoriented, unable to reach their destinations and even dying for lack of food, water and shelter.

An oasis of primitive beauty in an urban setting, the 1,700-acre Bolsa Chica reserve wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the efforts of community volunteers, environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation, and especially the Bolsa Chica Land Trust.

For over 30 years the BCLT has been working to protect all of Bolsa Chica’s mesas and wetlands. “Our mission is the preservation of the entire eco-system,” Kim Kolpin, Executive Director of the Land Trust, told SurfWriter Girls.

In 1997 the BCLT was instrumental in saving 921 acres of wetlands. Since then it has been involved in the ongoing process of restoring the wetlands and educating people on the essential role they play in the environment.

In addition to protecting Bolsa Chica’s wetlands, the BCLT is working to save an area within the preserve known as the Sacred Cogged Stone Site, which was once an ancient village and contains a treasure trove of carved stones.

The cogged stones – over 500 in all – are a mysterious archeological find that could be linked to similar sites discovered in Chile over 9,000 years ago.

Researchers are eager to discover the true meaning of the stones and what they meant to the cultures that created them. Some think that the stones served a utilitarian purpose, while others believe that they were used in religious ceremonies.

By preserving Bolsa Chica, we and future generations will be able to learn more about the stones, this connection with our past….and how the Native Americans lived in harmony at the wetlands.

To the casual observer Bolsa Chica’s raw landscape, dotted with scrub brush and wildflowers, might not seem important, especially when compared to million dollar homes and luxury resorts. But, to migrating birds it’s a lifeline on their journeys home.

On a bright Saturday morning SurfWriter Girls talked to volunteers who were working to restore the wetlands – removing invasive plants and planting drought-tolerant, native vegetation.

Everyone was excited about being able to safeguard this unspoiled stretch of land and maintain a key link in the birds’ migration route.

To surfers everywhere Huntington Beach is famous for being Surf City USA , but to migrating birds it’s a “little pocket” where they can rest.

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Flip Flops Keep Us Movin’ and Groovin’

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

“Blew out my flip flop, stepped on a pop top.

Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home.”

– Jimmy Buffett, Wasting Away in Margaritaville

Flip flops are an essential part of summer…from the 99-cent bargain specials grabbed on the run at convenience stores to high-end fashion statements and eco-sport Tevas that can hold their own on any terrain.

Dating back to 1500 BC and the ancient Egyptians, flip flops got a toehold in the U.S. after WWII when returning GIs brought Japanese-style zori sandals home with them.

Flip flops, thongs, shower clogs, go-aheads – by any name these rubber-soled sandals take us wherever we want to go.

Flip flops moving us

on a carefree day of sun

and balmy breezes.

– SurfWriter Girls, Huntington Beach Haiku

 Colorful, flexible and fun… no sox or laces needed.

Just wiggle your toes in and you’re ready to cross hot, sandy beaches, wade into the surf, climb over slick rocks or dance the night away.

Keeping your feet ventilated and your stride syncopated, flip flops keep on flipping along.

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Mugging it Up!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Soon after the island-themed Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic’s restaurants started serving tropical island cocktails in the early 1950s, the tiki mug came on the scene.

Fun to drink out of and to take home as souvenirs, the ceramic mugs with the smiling tiki god faces became a permanent part of our culture.

Exotic and irreverent, the mugs tell of far-away lands and adventure.

They invite us to indulge in a drink and give in to escapist fantasies far from the maddening crowd.

Filled with Polynesian drinks from rum punch and Singapore slings to mai tais and zombies, the tiki mugs take us away to the South Seas.

More than just kitsch, tiki mugs are recognized as an art form now and are even displayed in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Like the American spirit itself, the tiki mug represents a feeling of optimism and a sense of endless possibilities freed from everyday conventions.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel love the playful tiki mugs and the gods themselves, beckoning us to merriment and mischief.

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Natural Beauty of Channel Islands

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Springtime is a great time to visit California’s Channel Islands. There are eight islands off the coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego that are wonderful to see. Called “California’s Galapagos Islands” because of their ecological diversity, they have over 2,000 animal and plant species, 145 that are unique. With cute, tiny island foxes and screechy Scrub-Jays, many are rare or endangered.

Since 1980 the Northern five islands have been designated as Channel Islands National Park. These include San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Island.

San Miguel. One-day trips, multi-day boat trips and overnight camping are all possible. The farthest West of the eight islands, it takes a 4-hour, 70-mile boat ride to reach it. The trip is worth it! Point Bennett, at the tip of the island, is a breeding ground for some 30,000 seals. You can also see numerous species of seabirds, dolphins, porpoises and whales, and island foxes that are smaller than a typical house cat.

Santa Rosa, the second largest of the islands, with two mountains and rolling hills, has 500 plant species, including pre-Ice age Torrey Pines that are only found in one other place in the world – San Diego. You can camp on the island and go on hikes surrounded by unique native bunchgrass and island bush monkeyflowers. There are over 100 bird species, mammals and amphibians and colonies of seabirds, seals and sea lions.

Santa Cruz is only an hour away and perfect for one-day trips or overnights, with the best weather and the most recreation activities. There are minimal services, though. There is a variety of seabirds to see, especially around Scorpion Rock.  Birdwatchers generally go to see the island Scrub-Jay, which is only found on Santa Cruz. The island also has some of the world’s largest sea caves that kayakers can explore.

Anacapa, also an hour away, is good for one-day or overnight camping trips. Its name comes from the Chumash Native Indian word Anypakh, which means mirage. Ancient shell sites show where the Chumash people lived thousands of years ago. The island’s a breeding ground for thousands of birds and California sea lions and harbor seals. A kelp forest and tide pools make it popular for kayaking, snorkeling, and diving. But, with little shade and no drinkable water, you need to bring your own provisions.

Santa Barbara, the smallest island, has impressive cliffs and one of the world’s largest colonies of rare Scripps’s Murrelets seabirds. There is an elephant seals rookery, blooming yellow flowers, and magnificent coastal views. The Horned Lark, Orange-crowned Warbler, and House Finch birds are only found on the island. One day trips and overnight camping are available, but Island Packers offers trips only from April through October.

The National Park islands are kept mostly in their natural states to preserve their ecosystems. So, it’s important to plan your visit – supplies, transportation, and lodging – because amenities vary and can be minimal. Companies providing access and tours include Island Packers, Channel Islands Expeditions, and Channel Islands Adventure Company.

Farther South are San Nicolas and San Clemente Islands (which are both used by the U.S. Navy and don’t allow visitors) and the most well-known of the islands Santa Catalina – of song and celebrity fame.

Santa Catalina Island is known for its two resort towns Avalon and Two Harbors, accessible by Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer boat service. You can also reach it by private boat, plane, or helicopter. Its charming coastal towns are perfect for relaxing getaways and the Art Deco casino in Avalon Harbor is a true showstopper, visible for miles. Nearby there’s wildlife, scuba diving, and Mt. Orizaba, the island’s highest peak.

Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. (here on Catalina with his wife Ada) bought the island in 1919 and the Wrigley family still owns and preserves it. Home to nine endemic plant species and a thriving population of island foxes, it also has a herd of buffaloes descended from buffaloes left by a movie crew in the 1920s.

SurfWriter Girl Sunny knows Santa Catalina Island well because she’s visited it many times. She even had a job with the Santa Catalina Island Company selling tickets for island attractions on the Catalina Express boats. “The bus trips around the island and the glass bottom boat rides were really popular,” says Sunny.

Whichever islands you visit, your trip is sure to be a magical experience and a step back in time.

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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.

Greek Philosopher’s Way to Make Decisions

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

People, through the ages, as represented in Robert Frost’s famous poem The Road Not Taken, have struggled with making decisions.

When you have a difficult decision to make or are trying to make sense of something, one of the best ways to figure things out is to use the Socratic Method – ask questions.

Named after the Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates (469 – 399 B.C.), who used this technique in teaching his students, the method asks ever more pointed and challenging questions to get to the root of the matter and come up with ideas.

Much like a news reporter’s Who? What? Where? When? Why? questions to get at the heart of a story, Socratic questions help you to unearth the facts you’re looking for and to reflect on the issues that are important to you.

Rather than jumping to conclusions, ask such questions as: What am I trying to accomplish? When can I get started? Where can I do it? Who can help me? Why is this important? You can ask questions of yourself or get someone to join you in a back-and-forth dialog where you challenge each other to dig deeper into the questioning process.

SurfWriter Girls friend Linda Van Den Brink, a financial advisor (her clients call her “Ms. Life”), told us that using the Socratic Method helps her to see the different aspects of a situation and make thoughtful decisions that lead to purposeful action.

Van Den Brink also finds that the teachings of Raymond Charles Barker (1912 – 1988), a leader of the New Thought spiritual movement, are a good complement to the Socratic Method because they help to tap the creative, inspirational part of the mind. In making decisions, she says, “I am conscious that my body is vitalized by the living currents of life and my mind sets the course.”

Barker wrote in his book The Power of Decision that there is an Infinite Mind that continuously creates, “expecting us to stay curious and express its limitless potential through our own growth and expansion.” So, in addition to questioning the options we already know, Barker emphasizes tapping this expanded consciousness to explore new, outside-the-box ones.

Socrates and Barker both believed that to make good decisions we must be open to change and build trust in ourselves and our own judgment, rather than blindly accepting the status quo or popular opinion.

By combining the rational, continually questioning approach of Socrates and the intuitive, creative approach of Barker, you can utilize the best of both to successfully make decisions.

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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.