At just 14, Zoey Yuhasz, a junior at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School, transformed her passion for protecting sea turtles into a full-fledged nonprofit, Coastal Crusaders. What began as a small group of friends doing beach cleanups quickly grew into an organization dedicated to creating environmental awareness and getting the community involved.
Zoey’s main message to beachgoers is simple: “Clean, Dark, Flat.”
- Clean: Pack up your trash and remove all items like chairs, umbrellas, and toys at the end of the day. This keeps the beach safe for sea turtles and other wildlife.
- Dark: Sea turtle hatchlings are guided to the ocean by the moonlight. Artificial lights from flashlights, cell phones, or beachfront homes can confuse them, causing them to move inland where they can dehydrate and die. Coastal Crusaders educates people to turn off lights and keep blinds closed after dark.
- Flat: Fill in any holes and flatten sandcastles before you leave. This makes it easier for baby turtles to navigate the landscape and reach the water safely.
Coastal Crusaders also hosts community initiatives like “Hole Patrols” and the Beach Box program. The Beach Box initiative tackles the issue of abandoned beach gear. Zoey noticed that many reusable items like toys and chairs were left behind. To prevent them from ending up in landfills, she started placing uniquely painted boxes on the beach. Visitors can borrow items they need or leave behind items they no longer want, promoting upcycling and reducing waste.
The organization relies on community donations and a portion of the funds from Florida’s “Endless Summer” specialty license plate to support their activities, including providing supplies like buckets, bags, and pickers.
To get involved or donate, you can email CoastalCrusadersFlorida@gmail.com or visit their website at CoastalCrusadersFlorida.com.
