My name is Cayla Federman, and I am working on my Girl Scout Gold Award. This project is something many girls complete before finishing high school!

My project is focused on raising awareness around tidepool habitat protection. I am raising funds to pay for signs to be placed at the top of stairways to help raise awareness and protect tide-pools in Santa Cruz County California at locations along the coastline where many people access the beaches and tidepools. I am working with local parks to get these up so that I can protect all the amazing animals in tidepools. I have to raise the money myself for these signs and I was hoping for your to help!

So many people go to tide pools because they’re so great. Yet, a lot of us don’t realize that what we do in the tidepools really does affect the ecosystem and it’s important for us to be mindful. These signs will help remind people to leave the animals and shells and minimize their disturbance to their habitat while visiting the beach. There’s only so much I can do as a high school student but putting up signs to make visitors aware of the amazing ecosystems they’re about to enter is a step towards protecting our beaches better. Currently there is no signage. I worked with my high school Graphic Design class to create the signs and now I need the funds to make them and the County of Santa Cruz has agreed to post them at four locations where people access these beaches and tidepools. Thank you for your help in protecting our oceans!