An almost 8-year-old with a big heart and a soft spot for nature, Dean Brewer was helping out his parents with a few projects on a recent afternoon when his mom, Sarah Brewer, almost stepped on a small turtle, the size of a quarter, along the edge of a frequently used driveway.

Brewer called to Dean to come see. He was concerned for the safety of the little turtle at first sight. When he sat down to see the small critter, he also saw another popping its head out of a hole in the ground not far from the first.

"It's their nest!" Dean said, with excitement.

The driveway was a lot further from the pond than the Brewers felt the little critters could crawl before it became cold overnight. So Dean went into the shop and found a container to put them in so that they could carry them down to the pond and let them go while the heat of the day was still with them.

While on their way to the Lobster Cove Preserve, the mother and son stopped and showed the turtles to some of the local children and folks that live in the neighborhood; all adored the little fellas and the efforts of Dean to help the survival of them.

Finding a suitable place along the edge of the wetland area, Dean released them one at a time into the water. They did very well and found little hiding areas.

Dean was a bit sad to see them go, but delighted to be doing his part to help a few helpless babies so far from safety.