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Author: Executive Penguin

UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (and a little about the Birch Aquarium at Scripps)

Today thanks to Misko_the_penguin on Instagram, I learned about another Antarctic organization doing good for penguins!

The UK Antarctic Heritage Trust!

Their home page states “We preserve historic buildings and artefacts in Antarctica to help current and future generations discover, understand, value and protect this precious wilderness. At Port Lockroy, Base A, we welcome visitors throughout the Austral summer to explore the Museum, visit the most southerly Post Office, observe the penguin colony and share the wonders of the white continent’s history. Along with our ambitious arts, education and events programme, we bring together people from around the world to learn about Antarctica’s past, present and future.”

https://www.ukaht.org/

You can also Adopt a Penguin through them!

https://www.ukaht.org/support-us/adopt-a-penguin/

HOW YOUR ADOPTION HELPS

PROTECT THE PRECIOUS HABITAT

Your adoption will support the monitoring of the colony and conservation on site at Port Lockroy. With your help, we can protect areas of the island from human interaction and continue studying the breeding success of the gentoos every year. As a charity we are dependent on donations and every gift, adoption and membership helps to support our activity both in Antarctica and around the world.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

YOUR GENTOO ADOPTION WILL INCLUDE:

• 12-month adoption

• Gentoo postcard sent from Antarctica

• Gentoo cuddly toy

• Fascinating fact booklet and welcome pack

• Adoption certificate

• Gentoo updates from Port Lockroy

Of course you can help by by also joining their cause, donating, or purchasing items in their shop!

https://www.ukaht.org/shop/

Some time ago my wife showed me a job posting for the Penguin Post Office. We entertained the idea of me working or volunteering there as it would be a way for me to work with penguins… Well penguins around me at least. My wife is guilty of being supportive of my penguin obsession to a fault. Now I’m in the process of interviewing to become a volunteer at the Birch Aquarium! And guess what the Birch Aquarium at Scripps has!!! Little Blue Penguins!!! Although three exhibit is not open yet, it will be very very soon! I’m so excited! But I digress!…

https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

It seems UK Antarctic Heritage Trust does many sciencey helpful things for penguins and Antarctica! From penguin surveys, to podcast educating, and even restoring artifacts! I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of the media they provide about the organization! Yay! I finally have a podcast I’m looking forward to listening to!

I’ll be featuring both the UK ANTARCTIC HERITAGE TRUST and BIRCH AQUARIUM on our Be a Hero page.

Be A Hero

https://surroundedbypenguins.com/be-a-hero/

Penguin Rescue NZ Live Webcam!

Really loving the Yellow Eyed Penguin (Hoiho) live broadcasts that Penguin Rescue has been putting up on their YouTube.

https://youtube.com/channel/UCu1cS8soDrbXoGM7zyZbi2g


Check out the great help they are to one of the most unique and endangered birds in the world.

But they also harbor and help work rehab for more than just the Yellow Eyed Penguin. They are even caring for a Erect Crested Chick as their parent had malaria. Can you believe that? I didn’t know penguins could get malaria, did you? Lately Penguin Rescue NZ has been posting about returning 1st year Hoiho’s! These Hoiho’s were just chicks last year and they’re coming back to molt! Such great news!

https://www.facebook.com/Penguin-Rescue-701000533279209/

Thanks for the updates, videos, and tireless work you do #penguinrescue.

Here’s their latest Live Stream on YouTube…. 12 hours and still going!

New Hatchlings!

The Surrounded By Penguins family just got a little bigger! We got 2 new hatchlings that joined the family the day of and the day after Penguin Awareness Day 2022! The first video features TooToo the Gentoo! The second features Afie!

Welcome to the clutch TooToo and Afie! We look forward to seeing all your adventures!

Sippy’s on YouTube!

https:// youtube.com/shorts/F40yxvoikgM?feature=share

Some special African Penguins at the San Diego Zoo get a special visit in celebration of Penguins Awareness Day 2022! Socially distanced or not, seeing penguins is a good thing! Don’t you think? Quick video of Sippy waddling as fast as they could to visit with family. Even at a distance, seeing you is the good part… See what else we’re up to at SurroundedByPenguins.com and www.instagram/surroundedbypenguins.com Donate to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance https://sandiegozoowildlifealliance.o… #surroundedbypenguins #penguins #penguin #sandiegozoo #penguinawarenessday #africanpenguins

Google and other shop developments

As some of you know, I, the Executive Penguin am not very knowable when it comes to the online business stuff. I waddle around at a penguins pace, slipping and falling often while navigating what it takes to run a business online. But I’m learning and getting good at so much. The nice thing is that usually the processes and fixes can be so arduous that I only need to go over it once to get it. A lot while dealing with products is redundant too which is very helpful.

After taking some free business classes offered online San Diego SBDC, I learned how to get Google to show Surrounded By Penguins as a business in Google searches for “Surrounded By Penguins”. This is huge for us! I already put up 106 pictures and although I have yet to figure out how to fix the errors associated with attempting to put products on Google, it is soooo awesome that people can see us as a business, see pictures of products, and Google allows in one click to get to this website.

For you business owners out there, I think registering for your local or international SBDC (Small Business Development Center) through The International Rescue Committee is a must. They offer sooo much help for free! I have only done some of the Zoom class, but they have so much to offer. Here’s a little information about them.

https://www-rescue-org.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.rescue.org/announcement/irc-small-business-development-center-sbdc?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16420639577457&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rescue.org%2Fannouncement%2Firc-small-business-development-center-sbdc

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helps local small businesses prosper by delivering no-cost business assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs through in-language technical assistance, training, and access to microloans to support entrepreneurs to start or expand their business.

The San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network is an accredited member of the
Association of Small Business Development Centers
Funded in part through a Grant with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business.

In addition, I’ve also learned how to put up individual products that lead to external sites connected to fulfillment businesses such as Redbubble and TeeSpring. That means, we get to feature more products!

Surrounded By Penguins now offers hundreds of different products but I do have some favorites I’m excited to see for myself.

We now offer dresses with the Galapagos Penguin graphic! Now I usually stray away from white, but I am really tempted to make an outfit for myself from the Galapagos Penguin White A Line Dress and the Galapagos Pengin shoes…. What do you all think? Too much matchy matchy? Too many penguins in one outfit? Should I get the Galapagos Penguin on the front or back of the dress?! Ahhh too many choices!

Get White Dress!
Get Black Dress!
Get Men’s Sized Shoes!
Get Women’s Sized Shoes

Shoes, Backpacks, Youth Shirts and more!

Can you believe it?! We designed shoes! Never thought that would happen!

New Product Release!
The Executive Penguin has been hard at work making sooo many products with the Galapagos Penguin graphic! Everything from backpacks to shoes to bath towels and kids shirts! What do you think?!

I’m most impressed by the shoes. Shooooes! There so cute even though they’re all white! I think I might need me a pair or two.

Get Women’s sized Shoes!
Get Men’s sized Shoes!

Penguin Crafts for the Holidays or Anytime

Meet Bumble! Can you believe we made this cutie? You can too! Instructions below.

I made a new penguin friend! Can you guess who?…. Well I suppose thre least picture gives it away. Meet Bumble!
We literally made Bumble! The pompom balls and everything came in a kit but I think you can make a Bumble of your own with a visit to the craft store!
Items I suggest to make a Bumble.

-1 pompom color white (or the color if your choosing) , slightly bigger than a goofball
-1 pompom white (or the color if your choosing), smaller than the 1st pompom
-1 pompom black (or the color if your choosing) same size as the smaller pompom
-Hot glue gun and glue
– 1 black felt sheet for flippers
-2 googly eyes
– optional Key chain attachment
– optional other decorations like, orange felt for feet, clothing etc.

Instructions
If you want to make it look like Bumble:
Cut smaller white and black pompoms in a shape to make the top and bottom portion of the penguin head half. I suggest cutting the black slightly pointed and white with a pointed hole for the front of the penguin face. Alternatively you can leave the head one color.
Glue the two halves as appropriate to make the head.
Cut out in the felt sheet a beak, flippers (in a tear drop or long oval), and feet if you wish.
Carefully glue together the large and small pompom, and all the felt as appropriate. Don’t forget the giggly eyes too!
Once all glued, glue the key chain attachment where you find suitable. I took a pin, bent it to firm a U, placed the keychain end into the U shaped pin. Then placed the pin ends into Bubbles head. Then glued extra over three pin and first chain on Bubbles head for extra security.
And there you have it! A Bumble of your own!
Wow. I’ve been really into B names lately. I almost gave the Pengie Hat a B name but I think we’re gonna call it Pikalo or Pikalolo. Not sure why. Lol.
Anyways, I wish I could give you a link to the exact kit, but I haven’t found one. I got the kit years ago and don’t think it’s produced anymore. However, a search for “penguin key chain crafts” rendered awesome projects!

Redbubble! So many changes and wonderful additions!

Surrounded By Penguins is now on Redbubble!!!

You can do a search for our SBPENGUINS
shop or find us at this link.


https://www.redbubble.com/people/SBPenguins/shop

We have all the Little Blue Penguin sign art up on Redbubble with most of Redbubble’s products!

Come check it out!

*Warning! We have not ordered samples on any Redbubble products yet, but they do offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! SBP is offering shirts on Redbubble as well which are cheaper on Redbubble! Again we cannot account for the quality, but we do like that they can offer them cheaper.

We’re still selling on and Tee Spring too!

https://surrounded-by-penguins-2.creator-spring.com/

Each site has different products so check them all out!

Check out our latest Instagram posts for more on the latest happenings!

🐧 Happy World Penguin Day from Surrounded by Penguins! 🐧 Today our favorite Penguin is the Southern Rockhopper! (photo taken by Surrounded by Penguins in the Falkland Islands, December 2023). We'll elaborate on this surreal trip periodically so keep following! Don't forget to vote for your favorite penguins! Soooo we made it! Surrounded By Penguins was one of the lucky few that made it to Snow Hill, Antarctica and saw Emperor Penguins! Annnd! Emperor penguin chicks! This is my favorite video from that amazing experience. I fell through the ice a little and fell down. No one cared. Lol. It was like being a real penguin! I even sounded like they do when they fall. It amuses me. Admittedly, we don't know much about Kwanzaa but we hope everyone had wonderful end of the year/beginning of the new year celebrations, holidays, etc. and a chance to celebrate what is important to them and their culture. It's been a while.... As we're gathering and filtering through some special pictures let's share how our very own special penguin islands is doing. We can't wait to share! How's your island doing? How were your holidays and end of 2023 celebrations? Tomorrow's the day! Last weekend Diana and some of her Star Citizen friends met up with us at our favorite guilty pleasure food spots in LA. It was perfect that she and Pico has a Start Citizen convention to go to so close to us. For those of you that don't know, Diana @upcycledfatcat and Pico @pico_space_adventures were the very first Surrounded By Penguins customers of the year! This small but wonderfully thoughtful artistically set up perfect cozy welcoming pumpkin patch really is a must visit. With complimentary hot delicious cider and a free for use pumpkin carving station, it really is the perfect little corner to spend time with family carving up your creative decorations. Be sure to check them out and tip the staff. Taylor, thank you for your excellent care and attention. She made sure I had the perfect spider decor and pumpkins to suit our pumpkin contest needs. This is Halloween, this is Halloween. Halloween, Halloween, Halloween. Penguin-ween!

Special Requests, Diversity, and Inclusivity

Here at Surrounded By Penguins we encourage people to take the opportunity to be part of the product creation process. We want to make products that you will love and cherish. So when aq31.12 on Instagram took the time to message us to suggest that we place the new Galapagos penguin design on a shirt that was a different style, how could we not oblige?

Now we wanted to place the design exactly where the original is placed. As of last night, this cannot be done unless we place it on a shirt that allows for wrap around printing. This drove up the cost of the shirt by over $20usd and put the shirt in the new materials category instead of using recycled materials. So we reached out the aq13.12 again and asked for input about the shirt you see featured here. To quote aq13.12 that hearted the image… “I think the middle looks great”. Approved! Awesome.

Thanks so much aq13.12 for the suggestion!

Have a suggestion? Please feel free to let us know what it is! No pressure! All suggestions that are not spam will be considered.

Galapagos Penguin RECYCLED T-Shirt

Galapagos Penguin RECYCLED T-Shirt

Color: Black, Size: XL

25,00 €
Shop now

Trash Tuesdays Open to the Public!

Every Tuesday Surrounded By Penguins does a morning beach walk to pick up liter on a beach within the San Diego, California County. Near or far, wherever you are. We believe a little help does a penguin good.

So far these event have been private due to safety concerns. Recently, the Executive Penguin posted about picking up broken glass and tar on a beach in the area. Some of that post is as follows.

I’ve been hesitant to open #trashytuesdays to the public but I’m realizing no matter what it’ll never be as safe as we wish we could make it. There’s still some tar on the beaches, broken glass and other hazards, but all the more reason to continue… Starting next week, I’m gonna open up Surrounded By Penguins Trashy Tuesdays Beach Clean Up in hopes that we remember, even amongst all the trash, we’re still surrounded by love and beauty.
Now remember that proceeds from sales at www.surroundedbypenguins.com do go towards funding the beach clean ups so if you wanna help but can’t make it there are other ways you can assist.
1) Pick up a piece or 2 of liter every Trashy Tuesday
2) Contribute to Surrounded By Penguins by purchasing SBP merch
3) How else can you help the penguins near and far?
Comment below.
Be sure to post about your own liter picking for Trashy Tuesdays!

This Tuesday, Sippy with hys new vest will be helping with the beach clean up. We can’t wait to see what hys flippers find!

Please refer to the calendar below for specifics to Surrounded By Penguins Trashy Tuesday and other events.

Seems like Sippy is already finding some trash to take out!