Description

Task 1

The main work of the volunteers involve night patrols and hatchery shifts. There are three nightly patrols; one from 8:00 p.m. to 12 midnight, one from 10 pm to 2 am, and one from 12 pm to 4 am. A shift of volunteers walk a sector of the 11 km beach searching for nesting females, led by an experienced patrol leader. 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 hatchling survival rate. These patrols are conducted at night because that is the time that the turtle needs the low temperature to spawn. The volunteers monitor the number of turtles that nest, the collection of eggs and the transfer of them to the nursery where they can be taken care of and protected from predators and humans.

Task 2
Caring for hatcheries. The approximate incubation time for leatherback turtle eggs is 60 days, therefore midway through the season, the duties of the hatchery attendants increases as the 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 can not be released directly in the sea as they need time to gather the necessary parameters to return to their natal beach.
Task 3. Other daytime work at the project may involve, beach cleanup. Remarkably, most female turtles share a nesting instinct that drives them to return to the beach of their birth, or natal beach, in order to lay their eggs. In fact, her ability to successfully reproduce depends on the ecological health of this original habitat. The health of the habitat depends on how clean the beach is from natural and artifical trash that can interrupt the turtle´s way to the nest.

Task 4
Small projects, including initial construction of the hatcheries. The construction of hatcheries are importat when in the areas where there is a high level of risk of predators and/or human interruption.

Task 5
Environmental educational activities for the Pacuare inhabitants and other close communities. Help to establish for the peoples of Barra de Pacuare and its surrounding areas an environmental educational program that not only creates awareness, but also helps put a viable conservation program into action. (Once a week)

Highlights

Leatherback Sea Turtles have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs!
Their habitat spans the globe from the North Atlantic to the Arctic Circle to the South Pacific of New Zealand. Extraordinary creatures, it is believed that they hold important secrets about biology and medicine yet to be learned by humans.

Leatherbacks are the largest turtles, reaching a shell length of 1.7m and a mass of 700kg. In 1980 there were over 115,000 adult females, but there are now less than 25,000 worldwide - they are nearing extinction. If action is not taken soon to protect Leatherbacks in the ocean and on nesting beaches they will disappear in our lifetime.

It is necessary to protect and do extensive research and data documentation on the sea turtles that come to the area of Los Quelonios, as well as, provide conservation knowledge to local inhabitants through environmental education.

This placement experiences one the highest volumes of Leatherback nesting and hatching areas in all of Costa Rica. Because of its remote location, it is often ignored by the coastguard and is targeted by poachers. The more volunteer assistance they have, the greater the chances of combating poaching and thus increasing the nesting and birth rates of the Leatherback turtle.

Unfortunately, there are many reasons why sea turtles are now at risk: -Human harvesting of turtles and their eggs.

* Destruction of nesting habitats.
* Commercial fisheries who use longline fishing practices or gill nets and do not use Turtle Excluder Devices
* Pollution affecting nesting habitats and/or species: such as entanglement in marine debris; plastic debris, and commercial and industrial ocean water pollution from oil spills and chemical waste.
* Global Warming.
In Costa Rica there is a list of the main problems that have to be attack:
* On the Caribbean Coast there is still an active illegal trade in meat and turtle eggs; while the most important illegal trade on the Pacific Coast is turtle eggs.
* Traffic of Hawksbill Turtle products continues to be present at a national level despite the efforts that have been taken to prevent this.
* Despite several attempts to control the marketing of creams and turtle lotions the sale of such products are still nationwide; showing the lack of coordination and information between state institutions.
* The transfer of sea turtle products, especially items like tortoiseshells, between Costa Rica and neighboring countries still exist.
* The egg extraction on some unprotected beaches in Costa Rica reach high levels -- up to 100% loss, which shows the high demand of world markets and the lack of control to prevent the extraction and sale.
Volunteers are needed to help work in a integrated professional and systematic protection system. To investigate and document the spawning marine turtles encompassing an area 3 kilometers north and 2 kilometers south of the mouth of Rio Pacuare. Promote conservation awareness and a sense of pride for the projects conservation policies amongst the peoples of Barra de Pacuare. To help to develop an environmental educational program for the community of Barra de Pacuare and the areas directly or indirectly influenced by the township.

Qualifications

* Be in physical condition to walk 10 to 15 km per night.
* No severe eyesight problems (most work is at night, without artificial lights).
* No consumption of alcohol or any illegal drug.
* Preferably non smoking. Those who smoke should do so only in open areas and never on nightly patrols.
* Have a personal insurance policy.

Minimum Education

High School

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 2.595 for 4 weeks; USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998