A Tale of Two Turtles

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7th graders at Forest Park Middle School in Illinois joined forces through their Challenge Program, tackling the pressing issue of #OceanPlastic and pinpointing the leatherback turtle as their focus for this project. Their mission was clear: create an eye-catching exhibit to spark awareness about plastic's perilous presence in our oceans. "A Tale of Two Turtles" is a visually striking display that brings attention-grabbing technology to life. Students programmed LED neopixel lighting to mimic the shimmering effect of jellyfish, perfectly capturing their ethereal beauty as they dance before two leatherback turtles making their way towards them. On the right side of the exhibit, another turtle is mesmerized by a plastic bag that's been transformed into a tantalizing treat, its shimmering surface mimicking the allure of a real jellyfish. Unfortunately, this scenario plays out all too often in our oceans, with turtles mistakenly devouring plastic bags thinking they're jellyfish, resulting in devastating consequences. The exhibit takes it to the next level with an immersive soundtrack composed by one of the students, further amplifying its impact. The goal is simple yet profound: raise awareness and inspire others to break free from their reliance on plastic bags when shopping. By doing so, we can collectively take a crucial step towards protecting our oceans and preserving the beauty of marine life for generations to come.