Costa Rica Sea Turtle Adventure

Few places in the world are better suited for observing sea turtles in their natural habitat than Costa Rica. With six of the world's seven species of turtles found in this country's waters, the various beaches are hot spots for researchers and conservationists from around the world. Several long term research projects have been studying nesting behavior for decades. We will join one such organization and become an integral part of their sea turtle patrol and nesting data collection.

First, we'll follow the flow of water from the mountains to the sea, as we whitewater raft down the Pacuare River. After an exciting two days of riding the rapids we'll travel to one of the most important green sea turtle nesting beaches in the world. During the summer months, hawksbills, leatherbacks, and green sea turtles come to the east coast of Costa Rica to lay their eggs. Some of our duties will be patrolling the beach, guarding nests, identifying turtle tracks, recording tag numbers, performing egg counts, assisting with nest relocations, and providing support in the hatchery.

After completing our nightly walks, we'll travel to the interior of Costa Rica to explore the cloud forest ecosystem. Voted one of Newsweek's top places to see before they disappear, the Monteverde forestecosystem, fed by moisture from the clouds, supports over 2,500 species of plants, 400 species of birds, and 100 species of mammals. We will explore all of these habitats up close on our naturalist led hikes, hanging bridges, and a zip-line canopy tour.

This program is designed for teens ages 14-17 that are passionate about sea turtle conservation and looking for a tropical adventure abroad. Join us on our next trip as we:

• Receive sea turtle patrol training
• Perform sunrise and nocturnal nest walks
• Collect data on nesting females
• Raft down the Pacuare River
• Hike with a naturalist through the rainforest of Monteverde
• Zip-line though the cloud forest canopy
• Take Spanish lessons from native speakers
• Earn 20 hours of community service.

The tuition for this 15-day marine biology camp adventure is $3,295 and includes the following: all lodging, meals, 24-hour same gender adult supervision, shuttle to and from San Jose's Juan Santamaria international airport (SJO), equipment,, daily transportation, t-shirt, activity fees, community service certificate, and your graduating class photo. Arrival should be scheduled before 1 pm on the first day and departures no earlier than 12 pm on the last day.

2012 Marine Biology Camp Dates:

Come Make a Difference. Click Any Date to Sign Up Now!

• July 3 - July 17

Itinerary

Day 1 - 3
After stepping off the plane in San Jose your enthusiasm builds as you meet you your instructors and fellow campers. You’ve waited all summer and now you’ll have the opportunity to interact with real live sea turtles! But first, we’re off to the river. We’ll trade in our flip flops for paddles and PFDs as we travel through the Pacuare River gorges on a white water rafting expedition. The riparian zone along the river provides an excellent opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife. After this last incredible adventure, we’ll be ready to head to the serenity of the beach.

Day 4 - 5
Our excitement builds as we travel to the coast for a week of turtle monitoring and data collection. We’re finally going to see the sea turtles! After taking a short boat ride to reach the field station, we’ll be welcomed by the village members who have made sea turtle conservation a priority. We’ll take part in a patrol training session, followed by a beach practice session where we’ll see how a sea turtle nest is made - it’s tough work with hands, so imagine how difficult it must be with flippers! As night descends, our excitement reaches near fever pitch as we will be patrolling the beach in shifts to await the nesting mothers. Nothing compares to watching that mom emerge from the water, crawl up the beach, excavate a nest, and drop in her precious offspring.

Day 6 - 8
Since this area is one of the most important nesting sites in the Western Hemisphere for the endangered green turtle, the turtles are certainly keeping us busy. When not patrolling the beach, collecting data on nesting mothers, or protecting the nests we’re helping out in the hatchery, performing beach clean-ups, or receiving Spanish language instruction from native speakers. We’ll also get to have a cultural exchange with some of the local school children as they teach us the salsa and the meringue. This truly is the pura vida lifestyle! Each day when the sun goes down, our anticipation builds as we get excited for what new turtle the waves will bring.

Day 9 - 12
We’ve loved our work at the beach and the time spent with the turtles, but we’ve got a few last adventures in the mountains awaiting us. We’ll load up all of our gear and travel to the stunning highlands of Costa Rica where we’ll settle into the research field station that will be our home for the next few days. Many scientists come here to conduct tropical rainforest research and we’ll see several of their projects over the next few days. The morning light filtering through the leaves will be the perfect way to first explore this reserve as we hike with our naturalist guide and discover the incredible biodiversity that exists here. After an exhilarating day, we’ll spend the next morning in soothing reflection when we hike to the San Luis waterfall, where we’ll picnic, swim, and maybe spot some monkeys.

Days 13 -15
The sound of the rainforest waking up serves as our alarm each day, and by now we’re getting to know the reserve inhabitants really well. We’ve had natural history hikes during the day, and even one at night, so we are able to identify some of the insect, plant, and bird life – though we are still hunting for the elusive quetzal. Now we’ll get the bird’s eye view of the canopy as we fly through the treetops on zip-line and walk through the forest crown on sky bridges. When the sun finally sets on our last day, we’ll have a mix of sadness and pride that we were able to contribute to something so important. At the airport, you and your fellow campers will begin planning where you want to go next summer for Sea Turtle Camp!

Pictures

To be view the Costa Rica photo album, click here.

Activities

Costa Rica supports both rich marine ecosystems and diverse rainforest habitats, and we will have the opportunity to explore each environment while gaining a better understanding of their inhabitats. We provide teenagers with the opportunity to learn more about marine biology through hands-on, feet-wet experiential educational. Campers get the extraordinary opportunity to work with live sea turtles as well as participate in some amazing daily activities designed to teach them through experience instead of out of a textbook.

During this 15-day adventure we will:

• Volunteer with a Sea Turtle Conservation Organization
• Sunrise Sea Turtle nest Spotting Walks
• Night Time Sea Turtle Nest/Hatchling Watch
• Help Collect Data on Nesting Female Turtles
• Learn proper beach patrol procedures
• Particpate in a Two Day Rafting Trip down the Pacuare River
• Hike with Naturalists through the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
• Fly through the sky on a zip-line adventure
• Explore the canopy from above on a suspended bridge tour
• Learn Spanish from Native Speakers
• Take Salsa and Merengue dance lessons
• Earn Twenty-Five Hours of Community Service Credit

Lodging

We will be staying at a mixture of eco-lodges and research stations as we travel through Costa Rica. Students of similar gender will be housed together, with each participant having his or her own bed with linens provided. A Sea Turtle Camp Staff member will stay on each floor, providing 24 hour same gender supervision.

When rafting along the Pacuare River we will stay at a eco-lodge right next to the river, giving us the opportunity to see other rafters face the rapids we have recently descended.

While doing turtle research on the Caribbean coast, we will be housed in the Game Fish research station in the community of Parismina.

Our final accommodations in the cloud forest will be in the bungalows of an American university research station outside Monteverde.

Reviews

Parent from Dallas, TX - “ I wanted to tell you that she had an amazing time and loved everything! She wants to go again next summer. Thanks so much for the wonderful experience you provided. She keeps talking about everything she learned and the great counselors she had.

Megan from Wentzville, MO - “The Sea Turtle Camp is one of the best experiences of my life. It changed my viewpoint on so many things. It was life changing. The counselors were very, very knowledgeable about everything and I trusted them immediately. I loved that camp and working with the sea turtles was like the most awesome thing. Not many people can experience the things that we experienced at that camp. I want to come back next year. And the sea turtles were so adorable you can't help but get attached. One of the best choices I ever made was to go to the Sea Turtle Camp.

Sadie from Durham, NC - “Sea Turtle Camp was a lot of fun. Before I went I thought I would be homesick, but after I got there we were so busy that I forgot about that. Our instructors were very friendly and a lot of fun. Being that this is a smaller camp you really get to know your instructors and the people around you. It was a lot of fun – a good balance between learning about marine life and fun.”

Matthew from Wilmington, NC - “It was a great experience because I learned a lot and had great activities. I love marine biology and now I know a lot about sea turtles. Also, I met other campers from all over.”

Samantha from St. Cloud, FL – “ Sea Turtle Camp was definitely the most fun camp I have ever been to. The experiences we had were amazing and unforgettable and my interest in marine biology and the environment has increased due to the knowledge I gained here. I would recommend Sea Turtle Camp to anyone.”

Kevin from Atlanta, GA – “Sea Turtle Camp exceeded my expectations by a long shot, because I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about being away from home for 11 days, but by the end of the first couple of days I felt like I was having a blast. This camp got me very interested in marine biology, and it educated me on topics that I didn't know had such a large effect on how marine species live their lives.”

Callie from Virginia Beach, VA – “I would really recommend this camp to anyone! I did many things that I had never done before. Everyone got along well and I made new friends. I know I will never forget this camp. Because of Sea Turtle Camp I have become more environmentally conscious. It really did change the way I think. It was a wonderful experience and I just wish that everyone could get to see and do the things we did.”

FAQs

Do I get to see real live sea turtles?
YES!!! We work very closesly with the village of Parismina and their turtle conservation organization. We will be part of their patrol group monitoring the beach for nesting turtles, collecting data, and protecting the nests.

What kind of community service will I be doing?
At Sea Turtle Camp service is the most rewarding part of our program, and we like to think of it as service learning. Everything we do on the patrols or in the hatchery sounds more like enjoyment than service, but it is. We'll also perform beach clean-ups to remove obstacles for incoming nesting mothers.

Do I need a passport?
Yes, to travel to Costa Rica you need a valid passport.

Is Costa Rica a safe country to visit?
Yes, exceptionally so. They abolished the army in 1949 and have focused their efforts on creating greater equality of wealth among citizens and protecting their natural resources. Costa Rica has the highest standard of living in Central America, and over 27% of the country land has been set aside for conservation

Should I bring a friend?
While most of participants come alone, you are welcome to come with a friend if you would like to.

How old are the campers I will be rooming with?
Roommates are grouped together by age in order to enhance the overall level of comfort.

I am a finicky eater; can you cater to special diets?
Yes we can. We know how important it is to eat healthy meals when you are outside and at the beach all day long. We’ll ask you in a questionnaire what types of food, snacks, and drinks you prefer.

What do I need to bring?
A complete packing list will be included with your informational registration packet.

What sort of payment do you accept?
We accept checks, money orders, or VISA/MC/AMEX credit cards. All credit card payments are processed online using a secure server. There is a $50 service charge for all returned checks.

What airport is best to fly into for your program, and do you provide a shuttle service?
The best airport to fly into is Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose (SJO). It is located about 10 minutes from capital city of Costa Rica. Our educators meet all participants just outside of customs and will transport them to our accommodations. The cost is included in program tuition.

What if I can’t get in by the set check in time? 
Please contact our Program Coordinator to discuss arrivals and departures outside of our preferred times. In order to avoid missing any planned activities, participants should try to arrive before 3 pm on the first day and depart between 1 - 3 pm on the last day of camp.   

What if my luggage doesn’t make it?
Occasionally the airlines will misplace luggage or your suitcases will miss connecting flights. We recommend keeping essentials, such as medications, toiletries, bathing suit, and extra change of clothes, in their carry-on luggage just in case.

Do you have insurance?
We carry a comprehensive insurance package, including general liability.

How much spending money should I bring?
We recommend campers bring $50 to $75 per week of camp. This is for souvenirs or gifts you wish to purchase while at camp.