GULF SHORES, AL – A group of eighth grade students were tasked with coming up with an idea that would benefit their community for a school project called Dolphin Tank.

Braswell McMeans, William Howard and Jonathan Bedinger not only found a way to make an existing program better, but also a way to get everyone involved at any level. With the April 17 launch of the Community Turtle Kickstarter campaign, the trio has a mighty task at hand: to raise $7,000 in less than 30 days. The campaign ends on May 10.

This goal will allow them to purchase a sea turtle statue as part of the Turtle Tracks program in Gulf Shores.

The Turtle Tracks Program is a collaboration between the City of Gulf Shores, Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, and the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance.

It is a public art project dedicated to the awareness and support of environmental conservation, sustainable tourism and community arts and culture, while enhancing the quality of life along Coastal Alabama. Businesses or organizations can pay to sponsor a turtle that will be displayed within the community (on parade) for all to enjoy.

“Our idea is to sponsor the first ever crowd funded community turtle,” Braswell McMeans said. “This would allow for people to sponsor at affordable levels helping to incorporate a sense of involvement and ownership at an individual level.”

The community turtle will also be different in the fact that donors can include their name or a personal message that will be incorporated into the artwork. The designer, Tara McMeans, Braswell’s mom, will layout all of the messages in the design. Austin Boyd, coach and art teacher at Gulf Shores High School, will paint the art onto the turtle.

“We are so excited to be able to memorialize our community in so many ways through this project,” Howard said. “Since the Alabama Gulf Coast is home to many endangered nesting sea turtles we feel that the educational aspect of this project is very important. The Turtle Tracks program donates to local organizations that create awareness and educate the public about this cause. Additionally, if our Kickstarter exceeds our goal, we will donate the extra money to organizations like Share the Beach and other organizations that we may choose.”

"With the money from this Kickstarter, we will be able to purchase the turtle statue, materials for the 3-D printed turtles and marketing costs associated with this this project,” Bedinger added. “There are a total of 63 spots on the turtle that we will be able to put words on.”

The pledge amount and availability will determine placement. Backers can contribute $1-300 to the campaign with rewards offered at each level. If the campaign is funded the turtle will be on parade at a public location in Gulf Shores for one year for all to enjoy. It will then retire and live at Gulf Shores Middle School.

The group hopes that this project will allow future generations to not only enjoy it, but also come up with a way to give back to the community.

For more information visit the Kickstarter page at www.kickstarter.com/projects/1675402762/the-community-turtle.