As a volunteer you’ll have a busy time during egg-laying season (June- October). You’ll be able to take part in patrols and spend nights walking the beach in search of nesting turtles. Once the turtle is sighted and “claimed”, you’ll have to wait until it has finished laying, collect the eggs, transfer and then bury them in the hatchery. You’ll also receive voluntary donations from local egg collectors and carry them to the hatchery. Once the eggs have been buried in the hatchery, the nest is marked and recorded in a log. Afterwards, when the eggs begin hatching (mid-July to December), you’ll be asked to assist in releasing the hatchlings and excavating the nests to determine the hatchling success rate.
This project is an integrated project that, while attempting to conserve the flora and fauna of the area also tries to offer local residents economic alternatives to improve the quality of their lives. For that reason they provide educational workshops and activities in area schools, including teaching classes, developing curriculum, conducting beach clean ups and operating school hatcheries. You’ll also be able to get involved in mangrove reforestation, caiman and iguana breeding and to manage community projects to help people understand the need of keeping turtles alive.
The staff at the project will welcome your energy and any ideas you may have to help on their goal.
Although the turtle egg-laying and hatching season is from June to November and is the most active times at the center, volunteers are needed at all times. Mangrove reforestation activities are carried out December – February. For those interested in environmental education, the Guatemalan school year lasts from January to October. Sign up on this Volunteer project and be part of this noble activity while getting immersed in Guatemalan society!