Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles

  US Virgin Islands

St. Croix

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: Inquire for specific dates.

Description: Research Mission
Help protect the eggs and hatchlings of these ancient reptiles

Situation Report
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Leatherback sea turtle populations around the world are on the brink of collapse, threatened by egg poachers, beach development, and indiscriminate fishing practices. But here on St. Croix, at the Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, nesting leatherbacks are staging a dramatic recovery, with numbers in the past few years doubling or tripling those of the early 1980s. This is largely due to the many years of effort by dedicated scientists and Earthwatch teams. Every year, volunteers monitor and collect data on nesting adults and hatchlings. They help move doomed nests, and usher thousands of turtle hatchlings safely to the ocean. In the past two decades, the research teams have helped eliminate poaching and reduce nest loss due to erosion. Thanks to these efforts, numbers of nesting turtles have started to increase in recent years.

Meals and Accommodations
You will stay in comfortable, but simple, beachside bungalows with shared rooms and all the amenities. Breakfasts and lunches are self-serve. Filling dinners will be prepared for you. Be ready for some serious exercise! Each night, you may find yourself walking up to 16 kilometers in soft sand while carrying equipment, and you'll get your upper body workout digging out nests.

Highlights: On the Expedition
Each night, you and your teammates will walk the sand beaches, patrolling for the most massive reptiles on Earth. When a female hauls its cumbersome shell up the beach to nest, you will record the nest location, turtle size, any injuries, and number of eggs laid. If the nest is below the high-tide line or is in danger of erosion, you will catch the eggs as they are being laid and help relocate the clutch to a safer area. Later teams will also help hatchlings reach the sea safely and dig up hatched nests to track hatching success and save any stragglers. Your efforts will become an important part of one of the longest-running sea turtle research and conservation projects of its kind in the world. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean waters in your time off.

Qualifications: Earthwatch volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Cost in US$: 2,746 - 3,046

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people: educators gain new knowledge and develop exciting lesson plans; students explore career options and build research skills; writers, photographers and artists contribute their skills and share their experiences through a variety of media; businessmen and women, doctors and nurses, engineers, homemakers, retirees . . . people from all walks of life choose to volunteer on research expeditions each year. Volunteers are actively engaged on a daily basis with the research project, develop global perspectives, and explore new cultures and environments.

Age Range: teen (16 - 18) and adult (18+) teams

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

Participants Travel to US Virgin Islands Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 4-8

Scholarships are Available. - Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement: Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Through a unique method of funding, the volunteers Share of Cost contributes directly to the support of the research projects. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. Each year, over 4,000 people from 46 countries directly contribute to scientific research by working alongside scientists, local community members and other volunteers. Earthwatch volunteers can track sea turtles; join archaeological digs; observe animal behavior; collect rare plants, study dolphin behavior and more. The Earthwatch community also includes 20,000 global members, 4,000 eager volunteers each year, 50 collaborating conservation organizations, and 50 corporate partners, all of whom work together to make a difference. Below you will find out more about our leadership, employment opportunities, and contact information.

Year Founded: 1971