Sea Turtle Conservation Assistant

The program

This wonderful project was created with the goal of helping to preserve the amazing sea turtle. The Turtle Conservation Program works to conserve the future of this majestic creature, which through decades of indiscriminate human plundering, has been drastically reduced in number to a point where it is now on the endangered species list. Sadly, without the help of widespread conservation efforts, including environmental, research and re-education programs, the great sea turtle could be lost forever. Working with several of the main species of sea turtles to inhabit the Pacific, the main focus of this project is to protect and nurture the clutches of eggs laid across vital beach nesting grounds during the peak nesting season (August to February) and work on conservation and research projects at other times. The aim is to create safer nesting grounds, increase understanding and ensure more hatchlings make it to the Pacific Ocean to allow for the continuation of the species.

Additionally the program uses volunteer resources to monitor local sloth populations to protect and preserve this important animal.

Goals of this Project:

• To save the sea turtle from extinction
• Work on projects to improve the environment for nests and to make the hatchlings journey to the Pacific Ocean safer
• Research these wonderful creatures so a greater understanding of how to save them can be gained
• Monitor and protect local sloth populations
• Enable interaction between international volunteers and their local hosts.

How you can help

Volunteers play an integral role in achieving the goals of this project. Like many conservation programs funds are greatly lacking and a willing volunteer labor force is essential to its success. Those working on this program will support research and conservation work which involves counting turtles, measuring nests, collecting scientific information and night beach patrols. They will also help protect turtle nests from human poachers, assist on the egg-harvesting programs and helping in the hatcheries. Volunteers may also get the fantastic opportunity to participate in the subsequent release of hatchlings to the sea! Outside of the breeding season (which peaks from August to January), volunteers will assist with other vital conservation projects such as the development of infrastructure on the beaches, including building and lighting projects to mitigate the adverse effect of vehicle and human traffic on turtle nesting grounds, as well maintaining the beach environment itself. This is a wonderful program that has a direct impact on the safety of sea turtle populations on the Pacific Coast of Coast Rica. Volunteers will gain unique experience on conservation projects, learn more about the Costa Rican people and culture and travel to beautiful locations.

The Quepos location also offers volunteers the opportunity to assist with protection of local sloth populations and volunteers can expect to participate in sloth counts and monitoring activities.

Volunteers will contribute in a number of ways and can expect to undertake the following tasks:

• Nightly beach patrols
• Preparing and maintaining the turtle hatcheries
• Hatchling release 
• Beach clean-up 
• Reforestation activities 
• Monitor and protect local native species including sloths, parrots, macaws, alligators and more. 
• Cleaning and maintenance of the project living areas

Schedules on this wonderful program are largely determined by the time of year and breeding activities taking place. Volunteers can expect to work anywhere from 3 -10 hours per day, depending on the nesting season and community activities underway when they participate. We ask that volunteers be flexible and prepared to work in whichever area they are required. A typical daily outline may look something like this:

Nightly Beach Patrol

Volunteers undertake beach patrols each night to monitor and protect turtle breeding grounds. Each patrol takes 3 - 5 hours depending on the number of turtles nesting and will be scheduled based on tides. At least 1 patrol will take place year round, even in the low season (March to July).

6:00am - 12:00pm Morning shift at the nursery

Volunteers are rostered on 6 hour shifts in the nursery during breeding season. The morning shift takes a break for breakfast from 8:30am - 9am then works through till 12pm.

8:00am Breakfast 

8:30am - 10:00am Clean-up

Volunteers on the afternoon shift will cover the morning shift while they have breakfast and work together to clean the rooms and common areas.

11:30 - 12:30 Lunch 

12:00pm - 6:00pm Afternoon shift at the nursery

3:30pm - 5:30pm Community work

These taks include: beach clean-up, reforestation, nursery maintenance, wildlife monitoring and improving the grounds. These are undertaken year round but volunteers attending during the off-season can expect to spend less time in the nursery and more time on these afternoon tasks. From March - July volunteers typically work 3 - 4 hours per day and have much of the morning free.

5:30pm - 6:30pm Dinner

6:00pm - 12:00pm First night shift at the nursery

12:00pm - 6:00am Second night shift at the nursery