Volunteer in Sea Turtle Conservation Pacific

Program Overview:
The Turtle Conservation Projects are designed to give our volunteers a hands-on experience in marine and sea turtle conservation. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. Volunteers applying should enjoy manual work, handling wildlife and working unusual hours, as turtle nesting typically occurs during the night. Tasks include beach signaling, patrolling walks (which includes biometry work), transferring and exhumation of nests, monitoring breeding grounds, liberating newborn turtles, data entry and research, fundraising, trail maintenance and trash collecting, attending to visitors and aiding rangers with park protection. Training for all these tasks will be given during orientation.

During the turtle-nesting season there can be up to 1 million turtles nesting on beaches in Costa Rica's Pacific Coast. These different species of sea turtle lay their eggs and return to the sea. After a period of incubation, the babies that have hatched return to the sea by swarm. This is the most dangerous part of their life's journey due to predation. Sadly, once they reach the sea, few turtles survive into adulthood. About one in every 5,000 eggs laid will become a fully-grown turtle. Most die at sea. The ones that do survive will instinctively return many years later to the same beach where they were born in order to lay their own eggs.

Previously, up to 90% of the eggs laid were being poached by locals or eaten by natural predators, driving the population of turtles to lower levels every year. However, Costa Rica is one of the few countries that actively protect their turtle populations. By volunteering on this project, you will be aiding the effort to conserve and increase the Pacific turtle population.

Project Location

Our turtle conservation projects take place in 3 locations on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica: Playa Matapalo, Playa Buena Vista and Playa Hermosa. You may choose to participate in one of these three projects or arrange a combination package to work at different project sites.

Program Requirements

There are a variety of tasks to which you could be assigned. Below are lists of common jobs.

• Maintain construction and infasracure of site
• Clean the beach
• Transport food and water to the campsite
• Collect data about breeding, nesting and incubation
• Digging up nests and transferring eggs to the hatchery
• Monitor the artificial hatchery
• Patrol the beach
• Release the newborn turtles
• Collect research information
• Prevent natural preditors from eating the eggs

Your role as a volunteer

Your role is to get your hands dirty working on assignments that aid in the effort to conserve and increase the Pacific turtle population. As a volunteer, you will work days and night shifts. We are looking for volunteers who are flexible hardworking individuals ready to take on a variety of assignments with enthusiasm.

Work Schedule

You will work six days per week, from 6 to 10 hours per day depending on your project choice. You will begin most days around 7am or 8am, and work various shifts. Patrolling activities will typically be performed at night while research is conducted during the day. We must stress that the work will sometimes be physically demanding as the emphasis of the project is strongly (and happily) based on conservation. You will be given one day off per week to enjoy the surrounding areas.

Project Transport Arrangements

Volunteers live in dorms/campsites close to the beach. You will be able to walk to your projects.

Language Requirements

The program accepts volunteers with a basic level of Spanish and/or English. Most supervisors and coordinators are bilingual.

Communications

All campsites/ dorms are a short distance away from at least one town where you can find Internet cafes, and payphones. You will be able to purchase phone cards that you can use at your convenience to make local or international calls.

Project Dress Code

You should wear light outdoor work clothes. You will get dirty, so any item of clothing that you wish to keep clean should not be worn onsite. Loose and comfortable clothing, like shorts and t-shirts with sandals, is ideal for work on the beach. Bandanas, hats and sunglasses will protect you from the sun that shines brightly mid-day. The night shifts require dark, long-sleeved clothing with closed, comfortable shoes. A light raincoat or windbreaker is recommended for the bouts of rain and drizzle that occur. We ask that you refrain from wearing any clothes with large holes or tears that show inappropriate amounts of skin. Also any shirts with offensive logos and inappropriate images are prohibited.

Activities Close to Project

The natural beauty of the Pacific Coast provides many opportunities for photos, as well as exploration. All of the sites are conveniently located to towns that offer tourist packages and many of the modern conveniences to which you are accustomed.