Ginger coming up for air! Photo courtesy of FWCC

Ginger is an endangered West Indian Manatee. She was first spotted August 5, 1994 near Marco Island, Florida. She frequents that area as well as the warm waters at the Florida Power and Light Company power plant. She is easily recognized because she has a large skeg (a part of the boat motor below the propeller) scar on her back that resembles an exclamation mark. Ginger has been a mom three known times. One of her calves is named Ale! How cute! Visit the Save the Manatee Club site to adopt a Manatee for your mom this mother’s day!

1. Wind Power-RenewableChoice.com You can buy an individual gift of wind power for the year for only $60 or a family plan gift for only $180/year. This gift provides the means to offset the amount of regular electricity used in a household by creating that much wind powered energy to go back into the grid…brilliant!

2. American Forest-AmericanForest.com Every dollar donated plants one tree. You can even choose what area you would like your trees planted. With all the California fires, this seems like a very needed cause for your Californian friends and family.

3. For all the kiddies make them a Build-a-Bear Gray Wolf. BuildABear.com This is an official World Wildlife Organization product and for every one sold $1 will be donated to save the Gray Wolves from extinction, and it is so cute and cuddly! $30

4. Defenders of Wildlife animal adoptions-DefendersofWildlife.org With each “adoption” you get a personalized certificate, photo, fact sheet, and plush of the animal. Your donations will help to protect the species and their habitats. Starting at just $25! Wrap it in a reusable tote bag for only an extra $8!

5. Planet Earth-The complete series Amazon.com Although this isn’t technically a charity, by showing this amazing and stunning series to your friends, family, kids, neighbors, co-workers, and random strangers…you are making a difference by raising awareness. $35

6. Gifts from The Body Shop such as Cocoa Butter Body Butter-TheBodyShop-usa.com Aside from smelling delish and making your skin smooth and supple. This company spends 11.5 million dollars annually buying ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea butter, soy oil, tea tree oil, etc, from small-scale farmers, traditional craftspeople, rural cooperatives and even tribal villages all over the world. $20

7. World Food Programme Feed Bag-Amazon.com The purchase of this cute reversible bag will feed a child in need for one full school year. $60

8. Viva Glam MAC lipstick and gloss. MacCosmetics.com For the glamour girl on your list…unlike many charities the FULL purchase price of these lipsticks and glosses go to the M.A.C AIDS/HIV fund. My personal favorite is Viva Glam 1, the original, it is a fantastic rich red that looks great on everyone. Usually they come out with a Viva Glam palette around the holidays that really is THE perfect gift. $14 for the single lipsticks and glosses.

9. Organic Bouquet-OrganicBouqet.com This company carries sustainably grown, organic, gorgeous flowers. There is even a bouquet of yellow roses to support the Humane Society and they will donate 13% of the purchase price to the HSUS. $50

10. And last, but definitely not least-Sea Cow Kisses! ShipShapeClothing.com Ship Shape Clothing donates $1 from every one sold to the Save the Manatee Club to protect these sweet creatures and their habitat. Available for men and women! $24

Manatee Crossing! photo by Steve Kingery

Starting in October, you can kayak with the manatees on Crystal River! This is the perfect way to see the gentle giants without disrupting them or having to get in that chilly water! The cost of each tour is $40 per person and includes an experienced guide, kayak, paddle, and life jacket. Each tour typically runs about three hours long. And don’t worry, you do not need to be a kayaking expert for the tour, beginners can see these sweet creatures too! You get special gifts and coupons if you are a Save the Manatee Club member, so let them know if you are. If you are not a member, visit their site and join! Save the Manatee Club

Contact:
Aardvark’s Florida Kayak Company
707 N Citrus Avenue, Suite A
Crystal River, Fl 34428
Web: www.floridakayakcompany.com
Phone: 352-795-5650
Email: info@FloridaKayakCompany.com

Hello, my name is Winter!

Well she is not a baby anymore, Oct 1st marks Winter’s 4th birthday! She was found by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium staff with a crab trap rope wrapped tightly around her tail. With no circulation getting through, things looked bad for the little girl. But against all odds she learned to swim again with the help of an inspiring prosthetics doctor who created her a new tail.

She will be featured in current and upcoming media stories in Reader’s Digest, People, Good Housekeeping and more! But the most exciting news is Oct 1st will also be the day the book, Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again, will officially be released by Scholastic. The book is about Clearwater’s very own famous resident, Winter the dolphin. You can pre-order your copy of the book now at Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com

In addition, on October 7 at 1 p.m., kids in classrooms across the United States will tune-in for a live Webcast (which can be accessed at www.scholastic.com/winterstail) with Winter, her trainers, the author of the book and more. You can watch the Webcast from wherever you are!

For more information about Winter and CMA, please visit www.SeeWinter.com. Please e-mail Winter at winter@cmaquarium.org with any questions and she will be happy to get back to you! So cute!