Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary August Recap

Gray’s Reef Education and Outreach Team Welcomes New Fellow!

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary is ecstatic to add a new team member to the education and outreach department! In partnership with the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, Gray’s Reef welcomes Jessie Rivera Lafreniere as the new Education and Outreach Fellow! Jessie joins us from Georgia Southern University where she earned her Master’s in Biology in 2026. Jessie’s passion for marine science education stems from her work at Biscayne National Park where she led hands-on education programs focusing on marine preservation and conservation for summer camp groups throughout Miami-Dade County. She will use her background in marine biology and education to manage Ocean Discovery Center volunteers, attend outreach events, and to oversee the social media presence of the sanctuary! 

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary Team Completes Safety Week

Safety is our sanctuary's top priority! The Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary team recently spent five days reviewing safety and emergency preparedness around the office, at the Ocean Discovery Center, and on the vessels. Emergency response plans were reviewed and revised for various incident possibilities such as tornado, hurricane, fire, and intruders. The team assessed ways to improve safety and had critical discussions with seasoned and new employees. Additionally, the team experienced hands-on training with flares, PFDs, fire extinguishers, and immersion suits and received insight from members of the Small Boat Safety Board that were visiting during their weeklong meeting in Savannah. 

The Ocean Discovery Center Wraps Up Super Sanctuary Summer

The third annual Super Sanctuary Summer at Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary has officially come to an end! Over the course of seven weeks, the center offered non-stop interpretive programming centered on weekly themes ranging from shark science to stewardship in the sanctuary. Our staff wants to extend a huge thank you to the over 800 visitors who stopped by the center during Super Sanctuary Summer. We can't wait to start planning for next year! 

Gray's Reef dive team members and small boat crew practice in-water rescues using a backboard. Photo by Alison Soss/NOAA

Gray's Reef welcomes Jessie Lafreniere as the 2026 - 2027 Education and Outreach Sea Grant Fellow! Photo by Jessie Rivera Lafreniere/NOAA

The ODC celebrates the end of Super Sanctuary Summer in our Marsh Madness salt marsh, with crafts from previous weeks! Photo by Mary Quinn/NOAA

Upcoming Events with Gray's Reef

Turtle Shellebration at the Ocean Discovery Center!

Get ready to celebrate the 2026 hatching season with some special guests from Skidaway Audubon: live baby terrapins! The Ocean Discovery Center will be transforming into a turtle shellebration on Saturday, September 5 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. with turtle crafts, a turtle-spotting activity, and a chance to meet real baby turtles. Schedule of events below!

Where: Gray’s Reef Ocean Discovery Center
When: Saturday, September 5, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Schedule of Events:

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Trash to Treasure Sea Turtle Craft: Make your own turtle hatchling from a reclaimed egg carton!
Sea Turtle Spotter Activity: Sea turtles are hiding all around Gray’s Reef! Can you find them all and correctly identify the species for the sanctuary scientists?

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Special Guest Visit: Meet Skidaway Audubon and the newly hatched terrapin babies from the Skidaway Audubon Diamondback Terrapin Rescue project!

Interested in more events at the Ocean Discovery Center? Check out the calendar on the Gray's Reef Ocean Discovery Center webpage for weekly activities and special events.

Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest - Now Through September 7th, 2026

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has opened the 2026 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest, inviting photographers, divers, boaters, surfers, paddlers, beachgoers, students, scientists, and coastal communities to share images from national marine sanctuaries and other ocean and Great Lakes places.

This year’s contest introduces four new categories. The photo contest runs through Labor Day, September 7, 2026, making it a great summer opportunity for anyone exploring the coast, Great Lakes, or national marine sanctuaries to share their perspective. 

Learn about the categories and more at the Get Into Your Sanctuary webpage.

Interested in having your photo featured? Email graysreef@noaa.gov for more information!

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