Volunteer with A Sea Turtle Project
For those who can brave long walks, late night shifts, insects, and occasional downpours, volunteer work with sea turtles can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Volunteering on a nesting beach is hard work; an opportunity to make a difference, participate in wildlife scientific research, and meet new people.
We work with several community-based organizations around Latin America to help connect volunteers with turtle projects that need help. Check out this page to learn about what it is like to volunteer on a nesting beach.
If you are looking for a longer-term volunteer program (one week or more), check out these great organizations:
Location: Rio Oro, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Volunteer with a community focused turtle conservation project in the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. Our beaches host over 6,000 nests a year of olive ridley and green sea turtles.
Timing: Year Round
Science Exchange Sea Turtle Internship
Earn college credits for two months of scientific research in Latin America.
Timing: April - December
Conservation des Espèces Marines
Location: Ivory Coast (West Africa);
Volunteer with sea turtle activities focused on leatherbacks, olive ridleys and green turtles along approximately 50 km of beaches.
Timing: September - March
Campamento Tortuguero Ayotlcalli A.C
Location: Playa Blanca Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
Ayotlcalli protects three species of sea turtles that nest on 15 km of beach. Volunteers patrol the beach, relocate eggs in a hatchery, monitor and release hatchlings.
TIming: Mainly from July to February.
Ocean Spirits (Grenada)
Work with nesting leatherback turtles. Minimum 2 week commitment.
Timing: Feb - August
Location: Boa Vista Island, Cabo Verde
The loggerhead sea turtle protection program on Boa Vista heavily relies on the commitment of international and Cape Verdean volunteers working in our field stations at the beaches.
Timing: June 15th – October 31st
Photo credits: WIDECAST Costa Rica, Neil Ever Osborne