Volunteer in Sea Turtle Conservation (Gandoca Beach)

  Costa Rica

• Eastern Lowlands: 
Gandoca

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: Available during nesting season from March to July only

Description: United Planets Quest Volunteer Abroad program offers you or your group a life-changing opportunity to interact with local communities through customized work experiences, cultural activities, and home stays. United Planet Quests are offered in 50 countries from 1-52 weeks.

Costa Rica is a beautiful country and the people are warm and welcoming to volunteers. Although Costa Rica has very progressive environmental protection laws, there is still much work to be done. Costa Ricans (Ticos) are very proud of their country natural resources and appreciate volunteers offering their support to help protect them. For more detailed information, please visit our website.

Highlights: United Planet's Quests offers volunteers a unique blend of work, cultural immersion, and fun. All ages and skill levels are invited to apply. Everyone has something to offer!

Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation:

Volunteers work at Gandoca Beach protecting turtles in Southern Costa Rica. Since 1986, United Planet's partner organization has been working to protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle nesting population in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. The project's main objective is to protect the nests from human poachers and, more recently, from the erosion of the beach (due to the effects of global warming).
Volunteer work involves: Night patrols; hatchery shifts; collection and relocation of eggs; beach clean-up; and small projects including construction of the hatcheries. Volunteers are welcome to this project during the nesting season (the beginning of March through to the end of July).

Qualifications: None

Cost in US$: Prices starting at 1,295 USD

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: International volunteer travel is often filled with unpredictable surprises, such as transportation delays, local holidays, etc. Cultures may vary greatly and you might feel outside of your comfort zone in some situations. People, including the local population and fellow Quest participants, might have different religious, ideological, racial, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. United Planet offers volunteer opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds and request that volunteers strive to always be: flexible, courageous, open-minded, tolerant and compassionate. United Planet volunteers are offered pre-departure training and materials, which include cultural adjustment tools and other tips to help you adjust to your new surroundings.

Age Range: 16 and up

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

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

United Planet's Mission Statement: As an international non-profit organization, United Planet (UP) strives to create a world in which all people understand, respect, and support one another. United Planet's global network of leaders and volunteers fosters cross-cultural understanding and addresses shared challenges to unite the world in a community beyond borders. In 2008, United Planet was one of only ten organizations selected by CNN to be part of its "Be the Change" initiative.

Year Founded: 2001