Children will learn about sea turtles and their importance to the ecosystem this Saturday during a monthly event at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

BUEI’s theme for this month’s Kids Hour Saturday will offer short films to children aged between 5 and 12, as well as a book-reading about a young conservationist’s efforts to save a turtle.

A BUEI spokeswoman said: “Turtles have been around for at least 200 million years, so it was alarming to learn that such an ancient animal is having difficulty surviving as a result of rapid environmental changes.

“We are excited to delve deeper into the conservation efforts surrounding turtles and learn more about what practices are taking place here in Bermuda and around the world to ensure their survival.”

Kids Hour Saturdays take place on the third Saturday of each month at 11am and 2pm.

The BUEI spokeswoman said that the institute chose to focus on the ancient reptile when staff noticed after their last Kids Hour Saturday, which focused on whales, that there was interest in the animal.

Children will be shown the film Sea Grass Conservation, which explores the relationship between sea turtles and Bermuda seagrass, and Cold-Stunned, which follows a mission to save stranded turtles from the shores of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Youngsters will then be treated to a reading of Follow the Moon Home, which tells the story of a community that pulls together to save a bale of sea turtles along the coast of South Carolina.

The next Kids Hour Saturdays will take place on April 16 and May 21.

Kids Hour Saturdays are free for members and all caregivers and $2.50 for every child for non-members.

Guardians must be present on site for the whole event.

Parents can register their child by calling the institute on 294-0204. Advanced registration is encouraged as spaces are limited.