As Alabama’s Gulf Coast Share the Beach sea turtle preservation program celebrates its 25th anniversary, hundreds of Baldwin County students are learning how to help protect sea turtles and preserve the beach environment.

Linda B. Spangrud, a 20-year volunteer with the program and author of the “Turtle People Series” children’s books, recently distributed more than 700 copies of “Miss Sandra and the Turtle People” to second grade students across Baldwin County. According to a news release, the effort marks the fifth year of the outreach project, bringing the total number of books distributed to local students to more than 3,500.

Spangrud and community sponsors visit schools to speak with students about reading, environmental stewardship and sea turtle conservation. This year, books were distributed to students at Elberta Elementary School, Foley Elementary School, Florence B. Mathis Elementary School, Swift Elementary School, Magnolia Elementary School and Daphne Elementary School.

The outreach effort grew from the work of Share the Beach volunteers, who monitor and protect sea turtle nests along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Spangrud said she enjoys seeing children put conservation lessons into practice while visiting local beaches.

She said some of her favorite moments come when she hears children reminding others to pick up trash, fill in holes in the sand, use red flashlights at night and “Leave Only Footprints.”

As Spangrud said in the release, “It is working!”

Spangrud said the program has also received support from winter visitors, with snowbird clubs from states including Iowa, New York, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin donating to Share the Beach. Some visitors have also donated her books to schools and public libraries in their home states.

Several local businesses and community leaders helped fund this year’s book distribution effort. Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich and his wife, Jo Hellmich, partnered with Alabama Credit Union to provide books for Foley Elementary School, Florence B. Mathis Elementary School and Swift Elementary School. James Lipscomb & Sons helped support Magnolia Elementary School, Centennial Bank sponsored Elberta Elementary School and CertaPro Painters sponsored Daphne Elementary School.

“I believe it is an educational tool for elementary students to assist them in becoming aware of our pristine environment and our turtle program. Jo and I appreciate the opportunity to partner with Alabama Credit Union and Doug Lipscomb to provide Ms. Spangrud’s Turtle Book to our students in the Foley area,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said.

Sabrina May of Alabama Credit Union said the organization was “honored to participate in the event” and enjoyed seeing “the children light up.” Doug Lipscomb of Lipscomb & Sons Farms said he hopes “to continue supporting education” for as long as possible, while Steve Carey, owner of CertaPro Painters, said, “These kids are our future,” adding, “let’s do this again.”

Spangrud currently has four books published in the “Turtle People Series”: “Miss Ella and the Turtle People,” “Miss Sandra and the Turtle People,” “Miss Linda and the Turtle People” and “Young Jack and the Turtle People.” The books are available in English and German and are sold in stores and gift shops along the Gulf Coast.