Brian Curee: 0:11

All right, welcome back to the Vero Beach podcast. This is part three. I didn't know if you wanted to try it again. Kendra, you want to go one more time here? Yeah.

Kendra Bergman: 0:18

Welcome to the Vero Beach podcast with Brian and Shauna and I'm Kendra Bergman, the founder and executive director of Coastal Connections.

Brian Curee: 0:26

Awesome, all right, all right. Well, we should just wrap it up right there. She's about to steal our job. Yeah, all right. So, kendra, how long have you?

Kendra Bergman: 0:32

been in Vero. Now you said I moved here 10 years ago. I try not to think about it. I don't understand where 10 years went in my life.

Brian Curee: 0:40

When we were setting up for the interview, I noticed like on the site you had a different last name. I'm like, wait a minute, this isn't the same Kendra. I don't know if this is the founder, but it is.

Kendra Bergman: 0:47

So there's a lot that's changed houses, all these things, what?

Brian Curee: 0:53

do you love most about Vero?

Kendra Bergman: 0:59

I will say it is a small town without the small town amenities, right. So like you get a little bit more luxury, but you feel as though you're like, at least I've been welcomed into this community. As you know, a staple and by I I really mean I, as our organization, coastal Connections, and every single one of our team has been. You know, they're just so important and we're recognized as an important, valuable part of this community. An example of that would be when Hurricane Milton hit us and all of the tornadoes came through, we kind of jumped in and did what we know how to do best, and that's cleanups. Yeah, we really focused on the beach side, while a lot of other communities were focused on neighborhoods, and when we put a call out that we were doing cleanups, we did five. We removed thousands of pounds of trash. So like it's just incredible to see people just out of nowhere jump in and just help. That's been really cool. I love that about this town.

Brian Curee: 1:57

I'm glad that you pointed that out too, because we drove down here after that happened.

Brian Curee: 2:02

We were living in Central Florida, and we had some friends that had never been to Vero. We're like we'll take you to Vero, show you where we're going to move, and we had no idea that one of the tornadoes had touched down here when we drove in I'm going on here I didn't know that they had had all this damage and we saw the big dumpsters flipped over. Some of those were on roofs and the trees were just destroyed. Even with all the devastation it was, it was beautiful to see so many people coming together to help. I know that's something that we've noticed here since we moved here and started the podcast. The support has been amazing. I didn't realize that the podcast would take off like it has so many people to support it and we're excited about it. How has the community embraced coastal connections?

Kendra Bergman: 2:39

So well, you know it's. It's kind of hard to look at a sea turtle and tell someone that you don't like that.

Brian Curee: 2:45

Right.

Kendra Bergman: 2:46

So that's. I mean we definitely get lucky because we do work with very charismatic animals. It does make it easier to protect some of the not so charismatic things around us, like beach plants or, you know, fish, things like that. So we definitely use our sea turtles as ambassadors because people just love them and we've created a sense of desire, connection and love for them. But one of the coolest things is some of our sustainability programs that have really expanded over the past few years. All of our sustainability programs are rooted in sea turtle protection. So there is a reason we do that specific program we do our coastal cleanups because it minimizes single-use plastics or plastic pieces that are ingested by turtles. We've had what we call washback turtles. These are small turtles that have probably been out in the water for maybe a week or two after hatching and they wash back in, and 93% of those turtles have been found with plastic in their gut.

Brian Curee: 3:47

They are weeks old.

Kendra Bergman: 3:49

Maybe, so that's a concern to us. So we're really focusing on minimizing marine debris in that sense through coastal cleanups. Well, our single-use plastic film or wrap recycling program, that's where we get to partner with businesses, both local, small, you name it, here in town. So every single item that gets shipped to, say, a store, whether it's clothing or accessories, has to be wrapped in plastic because it's a, it's a federal safety standard and so they have to take off every item that's wrapped in plastic. That plastic is. Normally it's thrown into the trash. Well, it's can be recycled, just not in your standard recycling methods. So you can't just go put it in your blue cart and expect it to go anywhere. It's like a trap, it's like a plastic bag. You can't put it in your blue cart, but it can be recycled. So we collect that.

Kendra Bergman: 4:40

We have 52 different businesses participating in this program. It started with six here on Ocean Drive and it's now over three years expanded to 52 businesses and we collect over 10,000 pounds of film like bubble wrap type material a year. So imagine what 10,000 pounds of bubble wrap looks like. And then that material gets sold to the company Trex. They do outdoor decking furniture. You've seen this company in places like Home Depot or Lowe's. So that's been really cool. And then that's all focused on sea. Turtles eat jellyfish as one of their primary sources of food. Well, floating single-use film and plastic looks like jellyfish. That makes sense. So that's our tieback. And then the last one is our second most cause for stranding or turtle deaths in our county is fishing line entanglement.

Brian Curee: 5:30

I just saw a post about this on your social media, so yeah, please explain that, because we started that program too.

Kendra Bergman: 5:35

We revitalized our fishing line recycling effort here this past year, so we are now in month nine of that new program and we've already recycled 212 miles of line. It's just incredible results. And all of that goes back to helping sea turtles and removing that debris from our waterways. Seeing how the community between the number of businesses that want to jump on a program or just the number of fishers that, like the moment we revitalize the program, they've been participating since day one Like it's just so cool From our volunteers.

Kendra Bergman: 6:07

One of the things that I love so much about our organization is the community itself internally, the family kind of feeling that everyone has.

Kendra Bergman: 6:16

There are people so many volunteers of ours, you know they start working with us, they're brand new, they just moved here, they really don't know anyone and they end up finding their new best friends and that's really cool and that just then motivates them to get up more frequently, come help out more, because they know they're going to see their friends and that's awesome.

Kendra Bergman: 6:35

And the other thing is just when you get to listen to the kids, I think. So one of the things we haven't really talked about is our STEM or science, technology, engineering and math right STEM school programs. They're all focused on what we do in real life as a profession. We translate those to what kids can do with hands-on activities and get them immersed in conservation, and so those are programs designed for kindergarten through fifth grade, and the messages that our educators, our professional educators, get from these students after their program about how much they've learned and how excited they are to go home and teach their family. It means so much of them to go outside and I picked up a piece of trash just for you, or like they draw photos. It's just the cutest thing to see how well, how much we can impact a student's life here and how special this place is because we get to offer those programs. It's just great.

Brian Curee: 7:31

I'm guessing we can learn more about that on your website as well.

Kendra Bergman: 7:33

Yes, and we are actually. This is a sneak peek. We're launching a brand new or I shouldn't say launching we're hatching a brand new website in a couple of weeks, awesome. So, yeah, keep your eyes out, because there's going to be a lot more information about all these programs that I'm just rattling off right now.

Brian Curee: 7:52

Very cool, very cool.

Kendra Bergman: 7:53

Yeah, we'll definitely be staying tuned for that Do we have to do, we have to like book, like a hatching watch, like to see that Maybe we should do a Rand reveal Like I don't know.

Shawna Curee: 8:42

What are some everyday choices locals or visitors can make to help protect the sea turtles?

Kendra Bergman: 8:48

This is our main talking point in, like any cleanup event that we ever do, because it's so easy for every single person in this community to be a part of the success story that we're seeing with sea turtles. This is a success story because of all of us, and we need to recognize that it's not just about scientists going out and protecting turtles. That's not what does it. It's all of us teaming together and it could be as simple as try not to buy plastic water bottles anymore. Use canned water. If you really want a packaged water, use canned water.

Kendra Bergman: 9:22

Aluminum is endlessly recyclable, right, endlessly. Plastic is not. You know those pesky bags that you have 15 million of now in the back of your car. They're like I always have a bag but then I never bring it with me. Just like make the conscious effort. It takes three weeks to build a habit. It takes three days to break it kind of deal. Like just focus on putting that bag somewhere when you go to the grocery store and take it with you. That simple, but it could be. Volunteer with us. Get more involved If you can. We love volunteers. We've talked about this already and we need more rescue help. We need more cleanup help. We need so much more. You know, maybe you're not physically able to do that. Donate, make sure that organizations like ours can continue to function in the future, and donations matter so much, whether it's $5 or it's $5,000. Both go incredibly far and make such a difference.

Shawna Curee: 10:16

We're $5 million if you're listening and you can.

Kendra Bergman: 10:19

If you are listening and you have a $5 million gift that you can give, let's talk, because I have an endowment fund that I would love to set up with you.

Shawna Curee: 10:29

Okay, that's awesome, I just wanted to put that out there.

Kendra Bergman: 10:32

I mean, you don't know who's listening. You never know. We actually were about to release our new strategic goals for the next five years. They're getting published later in the fall and there's some really exciting stuff coming down the pipeline that we're going to be working with in terms of ways that people can see sea turtles all year round with us.

Brian Curee: 10:49

Oh, this is so cool. I'm so excited, too, that we are now here so we get to see all this unfold. This is going to be really cool this is really exciting.

Brian Curee: 10:56

I'm glad you said that about the grocery bags too. I you know. I've seen the social media posts. I don't know whoever started it. Sorry if you're the person and you're listening, but maybe this will educate you. I saw it and I'm like I don't know if that's a good idea. And they literally were bag and go and fill it up with ocean water, stick your feet in it to get all the sand out and then put your feet in the flip-flops and walk away. I see that increase in how many plastic bags get left behind, which could cause big problems. We have showers.

Kendra Bergman: 11:22

Yeah, I mean our beaches, all of our public beaches, have foot wash stations and showers. Use those. There's other people that are like, oh, I'll do a beach cleanup and I'll just bring a plastic grocery bag that I got from the store and it's like, okay, that's fine, but you're, you are giving that bag a second life. But why not just use a beach basket and use zero plastic at all? We would love to see our basket program grow and we would love to try to minimize the amount of single use plastic that you know makes its way out into the world your purchases or the way that you spend your time, your energy and you know makes its way out into the world your purchases or the way that you spend your time, your energy and the resources that you use, is your vote right?

Kendra Bergman: 11:58

If you really don't want to see that kind of material in your oceans and in your beaches and in your waterways anymore, stop using it. You cannot speak louder in a consumer world to a producer if you just stop using what they make.

Brian Curee: 12:11

Yeah, that's some good insight that I have never really thought about, even when it comes to the grocery stores and we're like well, do you always want plastic or paper?

Shawna Curee: 12:17

I mean, just those things are terrible.

Brian Curee: 12:22

Make a big difference.

Shawna Curee: 12:22

I know you're really not allowed in the grocery store anyway so don't worry too much about him.

Kendra Bergman: 12:24

I mean, my husband does all the cooking, so he does all the shopping.

Shawna Curee: 12:28

The trouble is like he doesn't like budgeting, so he can't go to the grocery store.

Brian Curee: 12:32

And I'll just come back with a bunch of pizza For anybody that's looking at visiting Vero. If you're listening to this podcast or looking up neighbors on the website, when you see these great ideas on social media, like hey, there's a great way to get the sand off your feet so you can put your flip flops back on, Just because it's showing you that on social media doesn't mean it's the best way to do it, especially for the ecosystem. Here, Like you said, we have showers, we have foot washing stations by all the beaches. When you come off, you're going to be able to clean off the sand. If you do it right there in the ocean, you're going to have sand on you again before you even get off the beach. So it's just a waste.

Kendra Bergman: 13:04

I didn't even see that video, probably because my algorithm would say absolutely not.

Brian Curee: 13:10

As we wrap up, I would love just to ask you what is one thing that you would hope all the listeners would take away from this.

Kendra Bergman: 13:19

My real, true hope is that you believe in yourself that, whatever you choose to do, that one behavior you choose to make that works for you. Just know in your heart that it is in fact making a difference and believe in it and commit to it, because the only way you're going to make a difference is if you commit to that new decision. I commit to that new decision. I commit to picking up a piece of trash every time I walk outside. I commit to buying food at the grocery store that's not wrapped in plastic Choosing to go support businesses that are part of our wrap recycling program. That's what I'm hoping people really realize is just pick one and stick to it. It really matters. It has worked so far with so many people here and it's only going to continue working if you keep committing to that. Our town is growing, so it's our job to educate everyone coming in. Be an educator, not an enforcer. Be an educator.

Brian Curee: 14:06

Thank you so much, kendra, and I just want to say thank you again to all of our listeners. That's been tuned in. If you've enjoyed this episode, make sure you click subscribe and leave us a review, and be sure to check out the Coastal Connections on social media and on their website.

Shawna Curee: 14:18

Thanks for listening, neighbor.