Volunteer Abroad Program - Sea Turtle Conservation Program

Costa Rica

North Western Region:
Central Pacific Coast:
Eastern Lowlands:

Panama

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Winter
Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Min: 6 days

Description: Volunteers are encouraged to join us at any point during the season. For fourteen years, our project has welcomed students, travelers and professionals from countries around the world who have an interest in hands-on conservation and data collection work with an endangered species. Volunteers can commit from a week up to several months of their time participating in our programs

The main work of the volunteers involves night patrols and hatchery shifts. Other daytime work at the project s may involve beach cleanup and small projects including initial construction of the hatcheries. There are two nightly patrols from 8pm to 12 midnight and 12 midnight to 4am when a shift of volunteers led by an experienced patrol leader walk a sector of the 11 km beach searching for nesting females.

Once a turtle is encountered on a night patrol, the volunteers work directly with the turtle taking carapace and nest dimension measurements, collecting eggs and tagging the rear flipper of the turtle. The collected eggs are then relocated on the beach or taken to the hatchery where the volunteers on shift will build a new nest to specification and transplant the eggs .The number of eggs, nest location and turtle identification information (tag number) is then recorded by the hatchery attendant for further data analysis including recording the hatchling survival rate.

The approximate incubation time for Leatherback Turtle eggs is 60 days; therefore midway through the season the duties of the hatchery attendants increase as the hatchlings begin to emerge. At this time, all nests in the hatcheries must be checked every 30 minutes and if hatchlings are encountered, they must be counted and released in the evening to an appropriate location along the high tide line and watched until they reach the sea. Hatchlings are never released directly to the sea.

Highlights: The idea of working to help save the endangered Sea Turtles is a very romantic one. The reality is a very different experience. When deciding if this is the type of work you would like to be involved in, please remember:

Most of the work is at night, working between the hours of 8PM and 4AM. While on night patrol you will walk on average 5 - 10 km in the dark on soft wet sand.

There may be times when volunteers will be asked to work both during the day and at night. Work could include both a night patrol and daytime hatchery monitoring.

Night patrols will still take place during the rain. There will be some nights when there are few or no turtles nesting - (especially early or late in the season) - patrols will still take place. We cannot be sure when or if turtles will nest.

Our programs are located in the Caribbean and Pacific coast. This means it is hot with 100% humidity, it rains frequently and sometimes heavily. There are mosquitoes and sand flies in the area but no Malaria or Dengue fever.

Local village should be considered an isolated location, being in the middle of a wildlife refuge. Accommodation is basic local accommodation, as is the food.

Past comments include "The work was too hard"; "There was nothing to do during the day"; "Too many mosquitoes"; "Didn't realize how hard it is to walk on the beach"; and "Too hot and couldn't sleep".

Working with the turtles is a brilliant unforgettable experience and we really need your help. However, this experience is not for everyone. It is estimated that if the current rate of decline is not stopped, the Leatherback Sea Turtles will be extinct within 20 years.

1.Be in good physical condition to walk 10 to 15kms per night.
2.No severe eyesight problems (most work is at night, without artificial lights).
3.No use of illegal drugs; no consumption of alcohol during working hours or abuse of alcohol at any time.
4.Preferably non-smoking. Those who do smoke should do so only in open areas and never on nightly patrols.
5.Be willing to work under difficult and uncomfortable conditions.
6.Know if you are allergic to mosquito bites.
7.Have a personal insurance policy.

- Sleeping bag, sheets or blankets
- Lightweight dark colored cotton clothing for patrolling
- Dark colored raincoat or poncho
- Lightweight shoes for patrolling (they will get wet), preferably dark color
- Flashlight and spare batteries
- Alarm clock
- Garden or working gloves
- Mosquito net (only if you have one) and repellent
- Basic First Aid Kit, especially for mosquito bites (something like anti histamines)
- Photo Camera, Books to read, and swim suit

1.Contact the Volunteer Coordinator by postal mail, electronic mail, phone or fax.
2.Send back the Registration Form with the chosen accommodation option and the dates you would like to participate. This is also your opportunity to ask any general questions.
3.Make your reservation for the dates you plan to participate and an appointment to visit the office in San Jose.
4.Make a personal visit to WIDECAST's office in Heredia at least 24 hours before leaving for Gandoca. This visit enables you to pay any outstanding fees, confirms your reservation and allows us to give you final information about the project and directions on how to get there.

Typical Volunteer: The main work of the volunteers involves night patrols and hatchery shifts. Other daytime work at the project in Gandoca may involve beach cleanup and small projects including initial construction of the hatcheries. There are two nightly patrols from 8pm to 12 midnight and 12 midnight to 4am when a shift of volunteers led by an experienced patrol leader walk a sector of the 11 km beach searching for nesting females. Once a turtle is encountered on a night patrol, the volunteers work directly with the turtle taking carapace and nest dimension measurements, collecting eggs and tagging the rear flipper of the turtle. The collected eggs are then relocated on the beach or taken to the hatchery where the volunteers on shift will build a new nest to specification and transplant the eggs .The number of eggs, nest location and turtle identification information (tag number) is then recorded by the hatchery attendant for further data analysis including recording the hatchling survival rate. The approximate incubation time for Leatherback Turtle eggs is 60 days; therefore midway through the season the duties of the hatchery attendants increase as the hatchlings begin to emerge. At this time, all nests in the hatcheries must be checked every 30 minutes and if hatchlings are encountered, they must be counted and released in the evening to an appropriate location along the high tide line and watched until they reach the sea. Hatchlings are never released directly to the sea.

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Scholarships are Available. - If you apply for the Research Assistant position in some of our program you can get logging and food for free.

Asociacion Widecast Costa Rica's Mission Statement: Widecast Costa Rica is a non-profit organization that supports local sea turtle conservation initiatives in most states and countries of the Caribbean region promoting cooperation between all nations. It has worked closely with key stakeholders to promote regional capacity and assist with the design and implementation of scientifically sound sea turtle management programs at local, national and regional levels. Our mission is to protect as many sea turtle's nest as we can, save as many sea turtle eggs, release as many sea turtle babies and help local communities to find some alternatives to survive.