Inside Gulfarium's C.A.R.E. Center, where sea turtles recover and return home.
Warm light hits the Emerald Coast of Florida with a particular brightness, a glittering, salt-kissed sheen that feels alive with movement. On quiet mornings in Fort Walton Beach, pelicans skim low over the Gulf's breathing waters, and somewhere just beyond the horizon, sea turtles glide through unseen currents. From the outside, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park looks like many of our beloved coastal destinations - welcoming, lively, and full of families. Yet just beyond its public pathways is a space powered by something deeper: not spectacle, but stewardship.
The Gulfarium Sea Turtle C.A.R.E. Center embraces an open-air setup that offers visitors a glimpse into a world of quiet urgency. Here, rescued turtles rest in tanks of carefully monitored seawater, their shells bearing the evidence of their journeys, some smooth, some scarred, all remarkable. The acronym C.A.R.E. stands for Conserve, Act, Rehabilitate, Educate, and every part of that mission is visible in the rhythms of the space. Staff and volunteers move with practiced calm and purpose, checking vitals, preparing food, scrubbing tanks, and documenting every detail. This is not a place of quick fixes. Though some patients may only spend a day in their care, most often, it's an exercise in patience, science, and deep respect for creatures that have roamed the oceans for millions of years.
Patrick Berry, Gulfarium's President and CEO, spoke about the work with both professionalism and unmistakable affection. "It's a great way to learn about animals and conservation - and to connect not only with them, but with your family," he said during a tour, standing near the viewing windows where guests often press their palms to the glass in awe. The Gulfarium has been part of this coastline for more than 70 years. C.A.R.E. opened in 2015, and under Berry's leadership, its conservation role has only grown stronger.
"We want to continue to grow the number of turtles we're able to take in, improve the healthcare we provide, and ultimately return them to Gulf waters so they can reproduce and strengthen their populations."
His vision is rooted not just in numbers, but in the belief that every individual turtle matters.
Inside the C.A.R.E. Center, that belief takes shape in tangible, sometimes surprising ways. Dr. Julie Cavin, the Director of Veterinary Services, compares much of the work to human medicine because, in many ways, it resembles it. Blood work is analyzed, fluids are administered, and X-rays are taken and carefully interpreted. The turtles are patients, each with their own story, their own injuries, their own path back to the wild.
Julie noted that the center treats all types of animals and has seen tremendous success supporting the recovery of green sea turtles. She also spoke about the plight of Kemp's ridleys, the smallest of all sea turtles, which are currently critically endangered. "You only care about what you know, and you don't know it until you see it," she said, underscoring why public access to this work is so important. Sea turtles are keystone species essential to the health of marine ecosystems. When people can witness their rehabilitation firsthand, the connection becomes personal.
That connection has deepened over time, in no small part because of people like Sarah Kamen, the Assistant Stranding Coordinator. When the C.A.R.E. Center began its rescue program in 2015, it was modest in scale, driven by a handful of dedicated individuals. "Starting kind of small and then getting the word out there, having more people interested in what we're doing, having more people interested in assisting us with what we're doing is impactful," Sarah reflected. From 22 turtles in the beginning to 119 in 2025, with 983 rescued so far, the program's growth is a testament both to increased need and increased capacity.
Release Day
The best days end at the water's edge. Crowds gather in the sand, the team carries a recovered turtle down to the surf, and everyone goes quiet as it finds the Gulf again.
TurtleFest
Spring on the Emerald Coast comes alive at CARE on the Coast TurtleFest, Gulfarium's biggest annual fundraiser, and one of the most joy-filled days on the calendar. Local bands and DJs set the soundtrack, while stilt walkers, roaming performers, a pirate band, and mermaids bring surprises at every turn.
One of the most meaningful experiences is the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Showcase, where staff set up stations that mirror their intake process. Visitors can see how turtles are measured, learn how radiographs are taken, and understand what happens from the moment a stranded turtle is rescued to the day it is released.
For Sponsorship Coordinator Lorren West, TurtleFest represents something deeply personal. "People are hungry to learn, but they don't know how to access that," she said. To her, caring for sea turtles is inseparable from caring for dunes, tides, and the broader coastal ecosystem. "If I can help that cause and give back to the Walton County and Bay County residents, how cool is that?"
As the day fades and the sun dips lower over the Gulf, TurtleFest settles into a quieter hum. The turtles in rehabilitation tanks are unaware of the celebration in their honor, yet they are the reason it exists. Each one represents resilience, the possibility of recovery, and the impact of a community that chose to rise to the occasion.
In that sense, the Gulfarium Sea Turtle C.A.R.E. Center is not just a facility; it is a promise. A promise that when these ancient creatures are in trouble, someone will answer the call.
What's Really at Stake
Sea turtles are keystone species - their feeding and movement keep seagrass beds and nearshore habitats in balance, improve water quality, and sustain nursery grounds for fish, crabs, and shrimp. Turtles come to the C.A.R.E. Center for many reasons, including boat strikes, hook-and-line injuries, illness, and, increasingly, cold-stunning events. The center achieves an 85 percent rehabilitation success rate, and the community has helped raise nearly $700,000 specifically for sea turtles, with more than 22,000 volunteer hours supporting rescue, care, and education.
If you encounter an injured, stranded, or cold-stunned sea turtle along the Emerald Coast, contact a licensed wildlife or stranding response organization immediately and do not attempt to move the animal yourself.
This year's CARE on the Coast TurtleFest takes place Saturday, April 18, from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets at go.gulfarium.com/turtlefest.
This story appears in Beach Happy Magazine, Issue No. 24 (Spring 2026). Read the full issue here.
