WILD OVER WILDLIFE
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
Donation History and Significant Events Summer 2021:
5/30-6/6/21 Exuma: Studying the marine sanctuaries and the relationship between it and biodiversity in the Bahamian archipelago.
Spring 2021:
"Water Break" campaign - providing reusable water bottles to athletic teams in South Florida in an attempt to reduce single use plastic bottle usage and decrease landfill waste.
Fall 2020:
Partnering with Peru's H2Oceano on sustainable practices
Summer 2020:
With beach reopening, Turtle Tuesdays begin! We'll provide masks and gloves for all volunteers as we cleanbeaches in preparation for turtle hatchling season to begin.
December, 2019:
Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Film Festival Winner: "Tangled" working with Clearwater Marine Aquarium to raise awareness about the dangers of irresponsible fishing practices
Fall 2019: Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots mini-grant recipients for projects:
"Give a Sip" (eliminating plastic drinking straws),
"Take Ten for Turtles" (sea turtle awareness campaign)
"Just Bag It!" promoting reusable shopping bags.
Fall 2019:
Transplanting and harvesting mangroves as "No Mangrove = No Man" enters into its 6th year
June 21, 2019:
Derek Petrisko, Christian Petrisko and Lily Tougas are awarded Congressional Gold Medals and STEM Stars
January, 2019:
Nature's Generation grant recipients for "Just Bag It" which used funds to purchase reusable grocery store bags
July 5, 2019:
Behind the Scenes at Busch Gardens, working on behalf of endangered giraffe species
December, 2018: Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Film Festival Winners:
"Ghosts" (High School division, raising awareness about ghost traps) and "Rethink" (Middle School Division, about plastic pollution impacting the ocean)
July 3 - 8, 2018:
Stingray Survey, with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
December, 2017: YOCS film festival winners:
"Giant Problems for Giants" (High School) and "Six" (Middle School)
August 26, 2017:
Shark Research at University of Miami with Youth Making Ripples; adopted our tiger shark "Aumakua" has surgically placed acoustic tag
August 12, 2017: Spoil Island Mangrove Restoration: Nearly 5000 red mangroves have now been planted in our "No Mangrove = No Man" project
July 27, 2017: Sharkwater Christening
July 18 - 26: Expedition Costa Rica: promoting shark fin petition, filming predators, rainforests and cloud forests and mangrove ecosystems
WOW works on shark fin petition, launched with CREMA and FinsAttached: http://cremacr.org/global-call-on-costa-rica-to-ban- export-of-8-tons-of-stockpiled-hammerhead-shark-fins/
Congressional Go Pro Challenge finalists: Christian, Derek, Landon, Lily Trent
January 2017: Youth Making Ripples Film Festival "Tag" wins middle school, Prochlorococcus finalist high school division
Busch Gardens filming, giraffes, sloth
December 8, 2016: YOCS, Tag wins film festival, middle school division
10/16: Howl-O-Ween Ball is now Sharktoberfest! Hundreds of dollars were raised for shark protection, Sharks4Kids came out and Shark Mom, of the Shark Whisperer!
10/31/16:
105 acres of rainforest purchased in Nepal for protection of the Red Panda
Farallon Islands whale watching
Monterrey Bay Aquarium
August 1, 2016:
Work with One Ocean Diving filming and documenting Galapagos sharks, $300 raised for shark protection
July 28, 2016: $300 raised for manta ray protection, Kona, HI
Take Ten for Turtles:
July, 2016 Premiere at Guy Harvey Research Institute followed by hatchling release, $300 raised for NSU turtle research and Broward County Sea Turtle Organization
June: Environmental Excellence Winners: Christian, Derek, Landon, Lilly and Trent!
April 2 - 3 2016
Weekend with OCEARCH!
Dinner and a fascinating lecture at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens by Chris Fischer, Founding Chairman and Expedition Leader of OCEARCH. OCEARCH shares real-time data through their Global Shark Tracker, which inspires current and future generations of explorers, scientists, and stewards of the ocean. It enables leading researchers and institutions to generate previously unattainable data.
Tour of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, rated among the top 25 facilities in the country.
Private tour of the OCEARCH vessel by Brandon Eyre and Captain Brett McBride.
January 22, 2016:
Beneath the Waves / Youth Making Ripples Film Festival, Gleason auditorium at Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL.
Man and Manatee (High School), The Real Shark Attack (Middle School), and Take Ten for Turtles (Elementary School) were all finalists.
The WOW! films were winners of Best Scientific Message for High School and Middle School.
They have won an upcoming outing with SeaKeepers for an ocean expedition using professional camera equipment and the latest in marine science technology went to Christian Petrisko and Lilly Tougas for High School; Derek Petrisko, Brian Washburn, and Taylor Betts for Middle School.
February 5, 2016
WOW! receives two mini-grants from the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit.
Project: Mangrove Restoration is funded for another year, trying to spread our seedlings across the state and into classrooms in Florida.
Photography project is funded - raising awareness by capturing wildlife on film.
November 14, 2015:
Wild Over Wildlife films sweep the YOCS International Film Festival! Christian Petrisko, Lilly Tougas, and Molly Phillips won the high school division with "Man and Manatee." Derek Petrisko, Brian Washburn, and Taylor Betts won the middle school competition with "The Real Shark Attack." Finally, Landon Petrisko, Trent Tougas, and Stephen Seckinger took the honors in the elementary divsion with their "Take Ten for Turtles."
November 14, 2015:
Youth Ocean Conservation Summit: WOW! presents "Mangroves" and "Native Florida Species" to over 200 participants, and donated 200 of their Native Florida Species calendars, over a $1,000.00 value, to YOCS participants.
November 6, 2015:
Executive Board Members Lilly and Trent Tougas are honored by winning the Loggerheard Marinelife Center's Blue Hatchling award for their work in ocean conservation!
October 13, 2015
The Howl-O-Ween Ball was a huge success! 758 acres of Liberian Rainforest were protected with our donation through the Rainforest Trust. The party was featured on Kids4Rainforest, the web magazine the Rainforest Trust sponsors! Way to go - it was a real "Trunk or Treat" event for the WOW! children who got to meet some of our rainforest dwellers up close and personal! The land is for the protection of Liberian elephants and chimpanzees, along with many other species, as part of the Gola National Forest Preserve.
August 3, 2015:
Fifty red mangrove seedlings were replanted at FIU's Biscayne Campus. The mangroves were grown by WOW! for 9 months and a new project is already underway for next year. We are working with Environmental Coordinator, Nick Ogle, to restore the mangrove forest which was destroyed when Australian Pines were planted in the area decades earlier.
May - August 2015:
Nature excursions around Florida for photography of native Florida species for the 2016 calendar.
April 4, 2015:
Shark tagging with Guy Harvey Research Institute, NSU, and The Shark Whisperer Organization.
February 14, 2015:
Miami International Boat Show
Premier of Guy Harvey's Panama Paradise
Discussion with Guy Harvey: Tiger Beach, tagging
January 2015:
Ecotourism expedition to Crystal River for documentation of manatees and photo shoot for calendar
January 2015:
Wild Over Wildlife receives two minigrants from the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit for an ocean-theme photo calendar and the mangrove restoration project
December 2014:
Wild Over Wildlife begins mangrove restoration project in conjunction with FIU
November 8, 2014:
Sarasota, FL
WOW! Club attends Youth Ocean Conservation Summit
Wild Over Wildlife's "Watch It, Don't Botch It!" conservation film on ecotourism wins 2nd place at the High School level,
Youth Ocean Conservation Summit
November 2014:
Beach clean-up, shark awareness meeting, Wildlive Voice, Project Aware, Project Seahorse, Rising Tide, Shark Whisperer Organization unite at Blue Heron Bridge and Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventure
November 7 2014:
Christian, Derek, and Landon Petrisko win the Loggerhead Marinelife Center's Blue Hatchling Award,
Go Blue luncheon at PGA National
October 17, 2014:
Wyland Galleries
Christian, Derek, and Landon Petrisko named Ambassadors of the Planet by the marine life artist, Wyland
October 11, 2014:
Howl-O-Ween Ball
50 acres of Madagascar Rainforest purchased through the Rainforest Trust
August 12, 2014:
Shark Conservation Fundraiser
August 2, 2014:
Donation: Mermaids 4 Life
July 28, 2014:
Donation: Tortugranje, Isla Mujeres, Mexico for turtle conservation efforts.
July 26, 2014:
Whale Shark Festival and Expedition: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
The Petrisko boys gained footage and are working on a video to be used to advocate for the oceans worldwide. They hope to launch a campaign
to reach children of the Far East that will change their perception of
sharks, dolphins, manta rays and whales and promote ecotourism.
June 27, 2014:
Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures Project Seahorse: Blue Heron Bridge - teaching the next generation of conservationists to swim, snorkel and SCUBA dive so they can share in our passion for the beautiful animals who live in our oceans.
June 24, 2014:
Donation to Rainforest Trust Sierra del Divisor project, 100 acres purchased to preserve land of the highest conservation priortiy along the Peru - Brazil border.
June 11, 2014:
Donation to Companion Birds Ministries
June 8, 2014:
Donation to "Alex's Lemonade Stand" as WOW! supporter and actress, Bailee Madison, works with this charity to help find a cure for children with cancer.
April 12, 2014:
Peaceful protest against Shark Fin Soup with fellow conservationists:
Jim Abernethy, Sara the Shark Whisperer, and members of the Wyland Foundation.
February 23, 2014:
Christian Petrisko recipient: The Shark Whisperer Kidz Conservation Award at the Blue Wild show at the Broward Convention Center.
February 16, 2014:
WOW! Club working with Florida Shorebird Alliance in the winter shore bird count, covering Ft. Lauderdale Beach
February 12 - 13, 2014:
WOW! Camp: Raising awareness and taking donations for Jim Abernethy’s Project Seahorse
February 10, 2014:
Operation Blue Pride launches Operation Blue Pride: Florida Chapter and officially begins its Youth Mentorship Program to partner with Wild Over Wildlife aiming to get children diving with veterans, raising awareness for conservation and preservation issues off of south Florida’s coast
February 8, 2014:
Meeting with marine life artist and fellow conservationist: Wyland Gallery Grand Opening - Las Olas
January 30, 2014:
WOW! members attend the premiere of Guy Harvey’s “Whale Sharks of the Yucatan”
January 6, 2014:
Captain Slate’s Creature Feature dive: Wild Over WIldlife club officers raise awareness for sharks with several shark conservationists from Operation Blue Pride, The Shark Whisperer Organization, and marine life
photographer Jim Abernethy
January 5, 2014:
Wild Over Wildlife dive with The Coral Restoration Foundation to transplant corals from an offshore nursery to Pickl Reef
Premiere of “Operation: Blue Pride” movie at The History of Diving Museum, Islamorada, FL
WOW! club is asked to be part of the OBP Youth Mentorship Program
Donation made to Operation Blue Pride
January 4, 2014:
Stand-up Paddleboard tour with The Shark Whisperer Organization at FL Keys SUP in Islamorada
December 15, 2013:
“Blue Christmas Party” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth”
Party was to raise awareness for Operation Blue Pride shark advocates
and The Peace Reef Project
December 10, 2013:
Donation to The Nature Conservancy for their Everglades Restoration Project
October 30, 2013:
Movie: “Tigershark Express” premiere and private “meet and greet” with Dr. Guy
Harvey, leading shark researchers Dr. Mahmood Shivlj and Dr. Derek Burkholder for Wild Over Wildlife members
Donation made to The Shark Whisperer Organization
October 26, 2013:
“Howl-O-Ween Ball” raising funds and awareness for The Shark Whisperer Organization and The Nature Conservancy’s Everglades project
September 28, 2013:
Shark Savers meeting, donation
September 27, 30:
Photo Shoot for Children in Charity: On the Right Track
Boca Raton Observer magazine
September 26, 2013:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center donation for PGA Go Blue Cocktail Party
September 18, 2013:
Christian, Derek, and Landon Petrisko: Finalists for 2013 Blue Ambassador Loggerhead Marinelife Center Go Blue Awards: The recipient of this award exemplifies significant local contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities.
September 8, 2013:
Participated in the Coral Foundation’s restoration of Pickel Reef by transplanting corals from their nursery in Tavernier to the reef
August 2013:
Donation to Defenders of Wildlife for symbolic adoption of a shark
Donation to Coral Restoration Foundation in support of reef preservation
Donation to the Coral Reef Alliance for coral reef restoration
Donation to REEF
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club
Donation to National Wildlife Federation
Donation to “The Outpost” in Florida City
Jr. SCUBA certification
July 2013:
Derek Petrisko: runner-up: Oceana Ocean’s Hero Award
Donation in support of Oceana’s marine conservation campaigns
Donation to Ann Kolb Nature Preserve for turtle conservation
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Petition filed to have recycling bins placed at Holiday Park
Adoption of a coral reef through Nature Conservancy
June 2013:
Donation to Expedition Florida 500, sponsoring Justin Riney’s expedition around Florida, day: 6/23
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Presentation by Companion Birds Ministries and donation to their charity
May 2013:
Donation to the Shark Whisperer Organization for their 5/18 fundraiser
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Derek Petrisko: Shark Whisperer’s first Kidz Conservation Award winner
April 2013:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Derek presents research on the Smalltooth Sawfish to 4th grade at CCS
December 2012:
Donation: Shark Whisperer Organization and presentation to WOW! Club
Donation to Wildlife Care Center / SPCA
Donation World Land Trust for land preservation
November 2012:
Presentation by Companion Birds Ministries and donation to their charity
October 2012:
The annual “Howl-O-Ween Ball” proceeds enabled the club to purchase 15 acres of a South American rainforest through the World Land Trust with the help of a matching donor.
September 2012:
WOW! Club at the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
August 2012:
Donation to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Donation to Ann Kolb Nature Preserve for turtle conservation
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
July 2012:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Donation and attendance of Shark Saver meeting
June 2012:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
May 2012:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
April 2012:
Donation to Pennies for the Planet
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
March 2012:
Donation to Amphibian Ark
October 2011:
Donation to the International Primate Protection League and adoption of a Gibbon named Courtney
September 2011:
WOW! Club at the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up
August 2011:
Donation to Ann Kolb Nature Preserve for turtle conservation
July 2011:
Donation to Gumbo Limbo
Assist Gumbo Limbo release of juvenile green sea turtle
Beach Clean-up by WOW! Club at Red Reef Park
April 2011:
Pennies for the Planet Honor RollGumb
Gumbo Limbo tour for WOW! Club, donation
Beach Clean-up Red Reef Park
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
March 2011:
Petitioned to have recycling bins placed in George English Park
Donation to save manatees after “March of the Manatees” meeting
January 2011:
Christian Petrisko named Humane Society’s KIND Kid of the Year
KIND=Kid In Nature’s Defense
Donation to Parrot Trust to stop the illegal bird trade
December 2010:
Tour and donation: Broward County Humane Society
November 2010:
Donation to National Wildlife Federation
October 2010:
Donation for a symbolic adoption of a wolf, Defenders of Wildlife
August 2010:
Donation to Haulover Beach for turtle conservation
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
July 2010:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Volunteer for manatee sightings
June 2010:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
May 2010:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Petitioned to have recycling bins placed on Vista Park Beach and in
baseball dugouts at Bayview Park
April 2010:
Local beach clean-up by WOW! Club, weekly event
Donation to Caudata.org, captive breeding program started for fire belly newts
March 2010:
Petition against long line fishing
Save the Manatee donation
February 2010:
Tour and donation to Panther Ridge, Wellington, FL
January 2010:
Petition started against 3 local restaurants serving Shark Fin Soup
Together Green and National Audubon Society named Christian, Derek
and Landon Petrisko as “Heroes”
November 2009:
Donation to National Wildlife Federation
October 2009:
Adoption of a Florida Panther through Defenders of Wildlife
September 2009:
WOW! Club at Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up
Adoption of Right Whales Baldy and Bugs through New England Aquarium
Petition to lower ship speeds to reduce fatalities with whales
August 2009:
Donation to Haulover Beach for turtle conservation program
Adoption of Fee Bee, Gumbo Limbo satellite-tracked loggerhead turtle