Sea Turtle Conservation for Teenagers

+++ PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR 15-18 YEAR OLDS +++

Eager to team up with people your age to protect the environment? Can you picture yourself carefully scooping up a turtle egg from the sand and moving it to a safe nest until it hatches? Do you want to release a newborn turtle and watch it scurry over the sand and into the ocean? If you answered yes, then this is the project for you.

You’ll work with a group of teenagers, and get involved in hands-on work at our Conservation Project. You’ll also learn directly from conservation experts. Together with your group, you’ll be getting your hands dirty digging in the sand for turtle eggs, counting the animals you spot in the lagoon, and more. It’s the perfect combination of conservation work and adventure!

This High School Special gives you plenty of experience, which can help you decide if a career in conservation is for you. This is also a great way to add practical experience to your CV, and it will give you interesting points to talk about in applications or interviews. You’ll also develop your personal skills, like teamwork, planning, and communication. These skills can be applied to any career you pursue. 

You don’t need previous experience to join. You’ll be supervised by experts, and our staff are always available to provide guidance and advice. All you need to do is focus on working hard, learning, and having fun.

Your project will be divided into the following:

Search for and move turtle nests to a protected area

Coastal erosion is a big problem affecting turtles in Mexico. However, poachers have proven to be an even bigger problem. Once a turtle has laid eggs, poachers dig up the eggs to sell at local markets. To protect the nests, we do beach patrols everyday. When we find a nest, we move it to a safe location at the ecological centre we work with. This is a protected area, and the eggs will incubate in peace here. Once the eggs hatch, we release hatchlings into the ocean.

Care for turtles at the ecological centre

At the ecological centre, the government has given them permission to keep turtles, especially those who have been injured and cannot be released back into the wild. They need your help to look after all the turtles living here. Your group will help clean the tanks, and make sure turtles are fed and cared for. Each turtle is also weighed and measured once a month.

Community beach clean-ups

Reducing litter in our oceans is vital for keeping marine life safe. Rubbish, particularly non-biodegradable plastic, is hazardous. The sea turtles that nest here can get caught in the discarded plastic. Or, they may mistake it for food, which can hurt and even kill them.

Your group will work together to keep the beach as clean as possible. With this many hands involved, you’ll be able to remove a lot of rubbish from the environment.

Take Spanish lessons

As a Spanish-speaking country, Mexico is a great place for you to either start learning, or practise what you already know. You’ll receive two hours of Spanish lessons every day during the week. Classes are taught in small groups and are extremely interactive. Your lessons are adjusted depending on your level, so you don’t need to worry about not being able to keep up.

Work with crocodiles

You will visit La Colorada Crocodile Centre, in Cofradia de Morelos, once a week. Here, you’ll help to clean and maintain the pens and the centre’s facilities. You will also be involved in taking biometric data and marking the crocodiles in nearby lagoons.

Exploring Mexico

Finally, this project is also an opportunity for you to travel, learn, and grow in a safe environment with a group of volunteers your age. On the weekend, we’ll take you on a trip to a local beach resort to experience more of Mexico. Make the most of the opportunity to have some fun in the sun with your new friends!