Description

Over the last 12 years, volunteers have protected thousands of sea turtle nests and released hundreds of thousands of hatchlings back into the Pacific Ocean. Pretoma offers the experience to actively play a part in a sea turtles life cycle at two of our nesting beach project sites. The funds generated through these programs help provide an income for local community members and serve to sustain PRETOMAs various sea turtle conservation projects along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica.

Participants and coordinators come from all over the world to assist with PRETOMA´s conservation efforts. We recommend a minimum stay of 2 weeks to really get to know the project and local community. Working in such a tight knit and unique situation, team members often forge strong bonds with one another, leading to friendships that last a lifetime!

Basic Volunteers Tasks:
Night-time Beach Patrols: Aproximately 3 hours walks monitoring sea turtle nesting activity.
Data Register: Egg Collection, Turtle Measuring and Tagging.
Hatcheries: Nest relocation and hatchling release after incubation period.
Community Interaction (optional): English classes at local school, environmental education, Artprograms, local tours&

Highlights

The Team
Two Field Coordinators, who are usually advanced students or graduates in a related field, manage research activities. In many projects, community members, who probably know the beaches and the turtles better than anyone, are trained as "local monitors" and help with night patrols and data collection. The local monitors and participants provide sufficient personnel to patrol the beach and ensure protection for the greatest number of nests possible.

Accommodations
We offer different accommodation options in our projects, depending on site. The majority of volunteers stay in each project's Field Station or local cabins. Please email us for information on housing options. It is important to remember that people living in coastal communities live and eat simply, and participants will do the same. Wherever you choose to participate, you will be part of the PRETOMA team and work with other participants from around the world and the local community to protect and monitor the eastern Pacific population of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea).

Prices & Payment
PRETOMA is a Costa Rican-registered non-profit organization. All funds generated are used to sustain PRETOMA's various sea turtle nesting beach conservation projects.

Our current rates are: USD 350 for the first week and USD 220 for each additional week (includes 3 meals a day and lodging at the project station)

Qualifications

* An excellent attitude
* Desire to work hand-on with sea turtles on a beautiful tropical beach in Costa Rica

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 375 first week + USD 325 each additional week (includes meals and lodging at the project station or local cabins)

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• Registration fees

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Animal Welfare
• Biological Research
• Conservation
• Eco-tourism
• Sea Turtle Protection
• Wildlife Surveying

Age Range

All Ages Welcome

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 3-10

Application Process Involves

• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

48 hours

PRETOMA (Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas)'s Mission Statement

PRETOMA (Programa Restauracion de Tortugas Marinas) is a Costa Rican non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection of sea turtles, sharks and the marine environment. Our sea turtle nesting beach projects on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica have been around for over a decade and have protected hundreds of thousands of adult and hatchling turtles, while generating important scientific information.

Year Founded

1997