Spotlight on business By Arabella Serrata |
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Sand-Monsters brings off-roading fun to SPI |
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Sand Monsters is a recreational sand track for off-roading fun. The private track opened this summer on July 20. Adults and kids ten and up can enjoy an adrenaline thrill within a specially designed track.
There are different types of track rides available. A youth track ride uses a Polaris RZR 200 built for younger riders. Children must be ten years or older and accompanied by a licensed driver. There’s also an adult track, Can-Am Maverick Trail. Both the adult and youth rides can carry a driver and a passenger.
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The vehicles Sand-Monsters uses are specifically designed for their environment. The Polaris RZR 200 is made with young off-roaders in mind. There are safety features that mandate helmet use and doors that are built to keep users safe, according to the vehicle’s official website, Polaris.com. The Can-Am Maverick has a Continuously Variable Transmission [CTV] for a “near instantaneous response” according to the Can-Am website.
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Various tours are available. The Sunset Tour and the Flats Guided Tour promise “breathtaking views” across the “picturesque Laguna Madre, according to the official Sand Monsters website.
Kids’ driving lessons are also available. A one-on-one lesson with an instructor at Sand Monster costs $150, and a lesson with a family member costs $125. Regular vehicle experiences for children cost $35 for a morning or afternoon session. The adult tours cost $80, and the flats session, dependent on the water level of the nearby Laguna Madre, cost $99. Regular adult sessions are $40 per session. The morning sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon, and the evening sessions are from noon to sunset.
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Carol Bolstad, who opened the off-road tracks with her husband, Tony, gave some insight into the world of Sand Monsters.
“We have 20 side-by-side vehicles. Ten adults and ten junior sizes for riding on our off-road track. Our track is more than a one and a half miles long and covers three and half acres,” said Bolstad.
Helmets and goggles will be provided on-site. Sand-Monsters is located at 23290 State Park Rd. 100, South Padre Island. It’s open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. all week long. For more information call their number at (956) 410-1133 or visit their website at Sand-Monsters.com.
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Sea Turtle Inc. recognized by Explorers Club |
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Wendy Knight, Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of Sea Turtle Inc. [STI], and Dr. Amy Bonka, Chief Conservation Officer, have been inducted into The Explorers Club.
The Explorers Club is a prestigious organization that strives for “the advancement of field research, scientific exploration and resource conservation,” according to its official website. It celebrates individuals who push for conservation across many disciplines. Notable members include Buzz Aldrin and Jeff Bezos.
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As CEO, Knight is responsible for the “totality” of Sea Turtle Inc’s operations. She looks over each pillar supporting the mission of STI. She also ensures the mission is executed with “integrity and operational rigor.”
Knight described her inclusion in the club as “surreal.” While she takes great pride in what STI does, she still felt surprised when she received the invitation to join the club.
“I know we do great things, and I’m proud of what we do, but it was validating to hear and see that so many people across the world are keeping up with what we’re doing,” said Knight.
Knight shared that she and Bonka were nominated for separate purposes that happened to align.
Knight was nominated for her “new and innovative approach to the logistical challenges to catastrophic events.” The weather-related tragedies South Padre Island had seen were all handled and dealt with by Knight and her team. Her background in private equity and financial services gave her the knowledge she would use to innovate the space around STI.
“While I’m certainly proud and honored, I think this is a testament to Sea Turtle Inc. and the organization that it is. It is a place that has combined minds, resources and different viewpoints in a perfect way…We see this honor as less of our individual and personal honor, but a reflection on the organization and everything it’s capable of,” said Knight.
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As the Chief Conservation Officer, Bonka oversees two parts of the STI mission. She manages the conservation and applied research branches. Nesting season is a period of high activity for her. She has many responsibilities including handling and protecting the nests and hatchlings. Bonka is always working to grow STI’s research program to create an “extra impact on the sea turtle population.”
Bonka is a highly decorated professional. She has a PhD in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a marine science concentration. According to her profile on STI’s website, she spent several nesting seasons in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico, working with Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles.
Bonka’s work has been published several times. She often applies her education to the work she does in the field. Her education and experience have been, and continue to be, critical in mass catastrophe events.
Spearheading responses to major events would be intense for anyone, but for Bonka, it’s just part of the job.
“It’s taking a scenario where there are several different aspects that need to be executed on, finding the resources needed to execute on those, and then utilizing those resources to make sure that the job gets done,”
said Bonka.
Sea Turtle Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, education and rehabilitation of sea turtles. For continuous updates on their organization, follow their official Facebook page. For more information on their mission and how to help, visit their official website at seaturtleinc.org. Their emergency phone for turtle reports is (956) 243-4361.
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Arabella Serrata is a teenage reporter who joined the Port Isabel South Padre Press, San Benito News & Island Matters news team shortly after graduating from Point Isabel ISD. She's a Rio Grande Valley native and now enjoys writing for the local paper, seeking to improve her writing skills wherever possible and hoping to learn from the community. |
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