Sea Turtle Research Field Course

The Science Exchange's internship in Mayto is truly 1 in a million. This internship is definitely for those who like to camp and enjoy the challenge of speaking Spanish with many native Spanish speakers. Fret not if you don't speak Spanish, many Mexicans speak English, and the director is bilingual and available when you need help. I witnessed many visitors come through and stay for weeks at time without knowing any Spanish, only English, and they did fine. I carried out a study on climate change and sea turtle nesting behavior and wrote a paper on my findings. This location is so great because you get to meet a new group of volunteers every week. I made many friends and even visited them at their home after finishing up my internship. I am still connected with them today. The satisfaction I get from knowing that I tested my ability to adapt in a foreign culture and succeeded has surpassed my wildest expectations. I definitely will visit the site again for vacation. It is a beautiful small town with a beautiful coast and friendly people. This was an experience that I will always regard highly and never forget. Thank you Science Exchange.

My experience in Sayulita, Mexico was great. I was able to work with a community family start up their sea turtle conservation project. While we were doing this, we were also doing a water contamination study of the surrounding waters and the potential impacts of this on the wildlife and community. My experience was fun, engaging, and impactful in my studies.

This internship was truly an amazing experience! I have travelled to a lot of places and volunteered in a variety of other Spanish speaking countries, but none of those experiences can even compare to the impact only one month living in Boca de Tomatlán gave me. Would 100% recommend! Be ready for the challenges that await you, but keep an open mind as they will impact you in ways you won’t even realize until you return home.