Ethan Hochberg (M3) Partners With Bermuda Turtle Project

A school pupil inspired younger children to raise funds in support of a turtle research programme after he delivered an “impressive” presentation about the creatures.

Ethan Hochberg, 12, used a service-as-action — or civic engagement — exercise as an opportunity to spread awareness about the animals and potential threats they face.

The Somersfield Academy M1 student teamed up with Gaelle Roth, a co-director at the Bermuda Turtle Project, to put together the talk, which included a PowerPoint presentation and featured a puppet.

He said: “I researched a lot about turtles and I found it very interesting.”

When he was ready, Ethan attended a class of lower primary pupils at his school, taught by Kelly Rodday and Shampagne Simmons, where he presented the information.

The children were also given wooden carvings of turtles to paint.

Their artwork was later displayed at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, which the pupils visited, sustaining their interest in the animals and conservation work.

Ethan said: “They did a bake sale to raise money to give to the turtle project.”

He added: “That made me feel really happy because I spread awareness about it.”

The Bermuda Turtle Project is a joint research and protection programme of the Sea Turtle Conservancy and the Bermuda Zoological Society.

Dr Roth said she worked with Ethan on what he thought was important to convey in the presentation and how to make it suitable for a younger audience.

She added: “I was very impressed.

“He brought the science, he brought humour and he brought fun facts, all perfectly accustomed for the age that we were talking to.”

Dr Roth said the primary pupils were focused and eager to listen.

She added: “It’s very satisfying to see that the younger generation, no matter what age, show an interest. It feels like it’s just ingrained in them, it’s almost like a natural care that they have.

“Then to be able to be involved to work on that, bring that out a little bit more and give them a direction and focus, is very satisfying.”

Dr Roth said: “As they grow, we can take it to the next level, and then hopefully one day they become research scientists.”

Ms Rodday, who taught Ethan when he was a pupil at St George’s Preparatory Primary School, said yesterday: “It was a full circle moment. I was ridiculously proud of him.”

She added that the younger children “wanted more and more” after the presentation and enjoyed a lesson about turtles when they visited the aquarium.

Ms Rodday said the pupils asked to put on a bake sale so they could donate money to the Bermuda Turtle Project.

She explained: “They organised the whole thing. They made posters, they talked to their parents, they went around to different classes explaining the cause and how they wanted to help.

“I’m just doing the grand total now, but it’s about $450 that they raised.”

The funds will go towards expenses such as the purchasing and maintenance of equipment or trips for data collection.

This article was originally published on www.royalgazette.com.