July - December 2010
Background Information
Our project is 100% grass roots and is coming online this year for the first time, so that means that we don't have a lot of information collected, however, we have a great community to work with and we are very excited to begin.
We are located in Punta Burica in the very southern tip of Costa Rica. Infact, the access to the community is by crossing into Panama, traveling to Puerto Armuelles, taking a taxi 5km back towards Costa Rica and hiking for a little over 2 hours to the Alto Guaymi community.
The hike from the Alto Guaymi community to Playa Burica, the turtle beach, is a little over 1 hour and we will bunk in a rustic shelter there for overnights, when we are not in the pueblo.
The community is a Ngöbe (Guaymí) indigenous community, and as turtle volunteers we share with them their traditions, their foods and their ancestral way of living in harmony with their environment and in return, we share our cultures, traditions and language with them.
The turtle monitoring and conservation season will run from July through December. Participants become immersed in the conservation project and the local culture. We ask that volunteers commit to a period of 14 days due to the amount of training required.
Duties
* Late Night Beach Patrols: Approximately 3-4 hour walks monitoring sea turtle nesting activity.
* Data Entry: Report Egg Collection, Turtle Measurements and Documenting Coordinates.
* Hatcheries: Building initial hatchery, Nest relocation and hatchling release after incubation period.
* Community Interaction: English lesson at community school, environmental education, art programs
Requirements
-Ability to commit for 14 days min.
-Good physical condition for long walks
-Be able to work in in hot, humid, rainy and damp conditions.
-Commit 4-6 hours daily to the project
-Carry Travel and Evacuation Insurance
Speaking Spanish, while helpful, is certainly not a necessity (though you’ll have plenty of opportunity to practice!).
Benefits/Costs
Volunteers pay $25 per person per day. The funds generated through this project go to providing volunteer food and lodging, and is used to purchase needed materials for the project. This project is not funded by any foundations and is 100% grass roots organized to save the sea turtles in Playa Burica.
Additional Contact Information
Roberto Guerra Tugri, President A.D.I. Comte Burica: 507.8928.6822