Tortugueros Las Playitas A.C.

Sea Turtle Volunteer Program: Todos Santos, Mexico

Will you be in Todos Santos this Nesting Season & Want to Help out?  

We have many Volunteer opportunities for all ages! There are day shifts monitoring the greenhouse and caring for hatchlings, evening shifts cleaning nests and releasing hatchlings, as well as night shifts patroling for and relocating nests!

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Leatherback Hatchling & Incubation Greenhouse

Volunteer for a Day/Biologist for a Day

Our Volunteers are trained in collecting physical data on nesting sea turtles, nest relocation, incubation greenhouse operation, nest excavation, hatchling care and hatchling releases. There are lots of hands-on activities for all ages!

About our Nest Relocation Project:

Three species of endangered Sea Turtles nest on the beaches of Todos Santos: Olive Ridley, the critically endangered Leatherback, and occasionally the Black sea turtle.  Beginning in October when Leatherbacks arrive to nest, the sand temperature drops below the necessary 26 degrees celcius required for successful incubation. For this reason, Biologists and Technicians relocate sea turtle nests to a special Incubation Greenhouse designed to Increase the temperature and hatchling yeild. Approximately 100 nests are relocated to the greenhouse each season. Volunteers help run night patrols, supervise the incubation areas, care for hatchlings before their release, are trained in nest escavation, and help manage the hatchling releases.    

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Volunteer Job Description:

We work with each of our Volunteers on an individual basis to design a program that fits your interests and needs.  Volunteers can work various shifts depending on the month of participation.

Night Nest Relocation Patrols are run 2am - 6am from October - March. Volunteers are trained in recording physical data on nesting turtles, nest collection and relocation.  

Beginning in December, daytime Volunteers work in the Incubation Greenhouse recording Greenhouse temperatures, caring for hatchlings, from 10am -4pm.  

Evenings from 4-7pm, Volunteers perform nest escavations and inventories, record physical data on hatchlings and release the hatchlings at sunset. (Releases take place Dec 5- April).  

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Who Can Volunteer? 

Anyone can volunteer, we accept individuals, couples, families and groups. We can verify hours of work for interns and University students. Spanish language skills are not required.   We are currently accepting Volunteer registrations for the upcoming season.

 

 When is the Best Time to Volunteer?


 December -February is our busiest season, with Hatchling Releases every day, and nesting turtles several nights each week. February - April there are Hatchling Releases 3-6 days per week, and we still need many volunteers as the greenhouse must be supervised throughout the day every day.  Nightly patrols continue, but nesting begins to taper off to just a couple times per week. 

 Register Below:

Sea Turtle Volunteer Registration Form
Name:
 * required
Number in Party:
Email address:
 * required
Dates (please be specific):
 * required

Please indicate what Volunteer Activity(s) you are interested in:
(you may select more than one) 

Night Patrols (Oct 18- Feb 28 (2am-6am)
Greenhouse Monitoring (Dec-Mar.10am-4pm)
Nest Escavation/Hatchling Release (Dec-Mar.4-7pm)
Please Submit Form Below
Comments:
   

Our philosophy is that Environmental Advocates love the ocean and environment because of our positive experiences that have bonded us to them. Help us give positive environmental experiences to young people by sponsoring one of our Education Programs!