Every Share Helps!

I had the opportunity a few years ago to volunteer with leatherback sea turtles—our group monitored the beach for nesting females, collected their eggs for safe hatching, and escorted hatchlings along to the water. It was a wonderful trip, and I’m excited to share this work with you!

What’s Involved In Volunteering With Sea Turtles?

Sea turtle nesting season takes place in the summer months, and hatching season starts in the late summer, lasting through the early- to mid-fall. Volunteer activities usually include:

Patrolling beaches at night for nesting turtles: This means you probably won’t get a picture of yourself riding atop the carapace of a five-foot-long sea monster. Flashlights aren’t used unless they’re absolutely needed, and you won’t have time to take pictures in between catching eggs, measuring the shell, tagging the flipper, and taking notes.

Monitoring the hatchery: Depending on when you take your volunteer trip, you may be able to work with hatchlings. During the summer months, chances are you won’t see any baby turtles, and instead will dig new nests to hold eggs (moved from their original location to ensure no one will poach them or that the nests won’t collapse), monitor temperatures, and generally keep an eye on things. If you are around when turtles begin to hatch, you’ll collect them and take them further down the beach to watch them make their way to the ocean.

Assisting with beach cleanup: This includes picking up garbage that may be there, or more likely, cleaning up debris after storms or hurricanes if the area is susceptible to them.

What’s Required From Sea Turtle Volunteers?

Sea turtle protection is one of the more popular service projects because short-term volunteers often don’t need related background experience. Training usually takes a day, and volunteers are placed in groups with a research assistant or a leader.

Volunteers should be in good health, as they will find themselves working long hours and walking several miles each day either patrolling the area or helping with cleanup activities.

Where Can I Volunteer For Sea Turtle Protection?

Glad you asked! Here you go:

• ARCHELON (Greece)
• Caretta Research Project (USA)
• KIDO Foundation (Grenada)
• Platanitos Turtle Camp (Mexico)
• PRETOMA (Costa Rica)
• Watamu Turtle Watch (Kenya)

Photo credit: Brian Gratwicke, Creative Commons.