Description

As a sea turtle conservation volunteer at this site you will be involved with the following task:

Night patrols: walking the beach to protect turtles/eggs from poachers and predators. This job would not be done by a sea turtle volunteer alone. Staff from the park will accompany each sea turtle volunteer group. The reason why a sea turtle volunteer is important to help with this job is because many poachers try to gather the eggs or turtles during the night. So if there is a large patrol of people watching the shoreline the poachers will not approach the site as they know it is illegal to hunt sea turtles.

Collect eggs to transplant to the hatchery. This is an important job because sea turtle eggs are considered a delicacy and if not brought to the hatchery to be monitored they can easily be eaten by other animals or taken by poachers.

Assist each day to count the number of eggs found in each nest and relocate the eggs to a secure egg nursery. Monitor relocated turtle nests to ensure that the eggs are secure and monitor the nest temperatures to ensure that they are at the best temperatures for hatching.

Assist with 24 hour hatchery surveillance. This particular job is very important as it is essential to keep newborn turtles hydrated until they are released. Sea turtle volunteers will also be part of the process of documenting how many sea turtles are born and how many die so that the park can keep records to monitor success rates.
- Counting, weighing and measuring baby turtles/maintaining accurate data.
- Releasing baby turtles into the ocean and ensuring they are swimming safely.
- Identify and account for turtle tracks on the beaches.
- Take biometric measurements of adult turtles.
- Make information signs regarding beach safety/protection of turtles.
- Environmental education in the community of Samara.
- Beach cleaning/garbage pick up and disposal especially in the immediate surrounds of nesting zones.
- Work in the organic gardens and in trail building activities.
- General infrastructure maintenance: building and maintaining the hatcheries/dorm house.
- Assist with house garden/compost: the goal is for the project to be completely sustainable in the future.

Highlights

Sea turtle conservation projects in Costa Rica are very important. The main goal of the Buenavista project is to help the sea turtle populations to recover. The species of sea turtles you can find on this beach are: Leatherbacks, Olive Ridley, Carey and Green Turtles. The sea turtles that nest in Costa Rica are one of the most ancient species on Earth today. Costa Rican beaches provide one of the most active nesting sites in the world for the Leatherback sea turtles. Leatherback Sea Turtles have been on Earth for over 65 million years and now are a highly endangered species. Their habitat spans the globe from the North Atlantic in the Arctic Circle to the South Pacific of New Zealand. Extraordinary creatures, they are thought to hold important secrets about biology and medicine yet to be learned by humans.

Leatherbacks are the largest turtle, reaching a shell length of 1.7 meters and a mass of 700kg. In 1980 there were over 115,000 adult females, but there are now less than 25,000 worldwide, and they are close to extinction in the Pacific Ocean. If action is not taken soon to protect Leatherbacks in the ocean and on nesting beaches they will disappear in our lifetime. The Leatherback is so close to extinction that the emptying of just one nest of eggs has huge implications for its survival as a species. The main project of Buenavista is to protect nesting turtles from poachers and predators, and to provide safe nesting grounds and hatcheries for eggs and newborn turtles. As it is a relatively new sea turtle project, the Buenavista project is also quite small and not as well known as some of the other nesting areas such as Ostional or Tortuguero. Therefore sea turtle volunteers are very important to the success of this program and the protection of the sea turtle population in this area. The hatcheries need constant surveillance or many newborn turtles would dehydrate in the sun or fall prey to human poachers or other predators.

Qualifications

Volunteers do not need to have any specific skills, however a background in biology or environmental sciences would be an asset and/or experience working outdoors.

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

Volunteers must be eager and willing to work outdoors in hot temperatures, as they will often be patrolling the beach. It is also important that volunteers are passionate about the animals they are protecting, and do not mind living in basic conditions.

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