We’re Going to Costa Rica to Save Sea Turtles!

February 10, 2020 Brick Central

The leatherback is the world’s biggest turtle.

The world is a dangerous place for these peaceful giants and their eggs.

The leatherback sea turtle population in the Caribbean, once the stronghold of the species, has declined by over 90% since 1980.

Now critically endangered, many of the remaining leatherbacks attempt to nest safely on the coast of Costa Rica.

They’re threatened by fishermen, boats, pollution, beach erosion and humans harvesting the eggs.

Researchers have asked the Brick community to help protect the mother leatherbacks and their eggs during their critical nesting season.

This April, forty of us will journey off-the-grid to the coastal jungle in Costa Rica to heed their call.

Experience the life of a true field scientist.

After being trained by world-renowned researchers, we’ll do much of our work at night, when the turtles haul themselves up onto the beach to lay their eggs.

We'll check for nests that are in danger of getting washed away, then relocate the eggs in those nests to a hatchery where they can incubate safely.

Everyone will have ample time during the day for meals and swim, snorkel, or simply relaxing on the beach.

As with all Brick events, we will be challenged to go phone-free for this experience.

We’ll also have day trips through the jungle canal to go exploring and visit our indigenous neighbors.

And on the last day we’ll celebrate with a white water rafting excursion!

This once-in-a-lifetime experience will take place from April 19th - April 24th, 2020 in Costa Rica.

It is limited to 40 attendees.

It's free to apply.

The total cost of this five-night, six-day expedition, including all accommodations, meals, travel, training, and activities, is $1,500 USD.

We are currently offering $150 off for everyone who pays for your spot by this Friday, February 14th.

We will also give you an additional $150 rebate if you refer/bring a friend.

So you could get this as low as $1200 if you book by Feb 14th and bring a friend.

DAILY OVERVIEW:

Day 1 - Arrival in San Jose + Opening Ceremony, dinner provided by a local family
Day 2 - Embark into the rainforest to begin Sea Turtle volunteer training
Day 3 - Turtles!
Day 4 - Turtles!
Day 5- White Water Rafting + Closing Ceremony, dinner back in San Jose
Day 6 - Departure

What past volunteers say about this experience:

The Costa Rican Sea Turtles expedition was, by far, the best holiday of my life. It was an awesome experience to see the giant leatherback and other turtles (as well as hatchlings), but the best part was that I was able to make a real and valuable contribution to the research and conservation. On my first night, I was already lying behind a sea turtle catching her eggs to take them to the hatchery for protection from predators. As a volunteer, I was an integral and valued member of the team, working with a group of passionate and dedicated biologists. It is hands-on and high-participation work where you learn a tremendous amount about sea turtles and sea ecology. The biologists went out of their way to ensure we had a good experience, were open and sharing with their information and knowledge, and made us feel like we were part of a family. Make no mistake – it is challenging physically, as the work requires patrolling the beach for 6 hours a night with up to 8 or 9 miles walking on soft sand at a good pace. But if you are fit and motivated, this is an expedition on which you can make a real difference. I left feeling I had made a genuine contribution to the conservation of these endangered turtle species, that I had done something to help ensure their continued survival.

Elyse P. 2017

Attribution: Photos from Adobe Stock Images