Volunteer Opportunities with Friends of the Osa
Sea Turtle Conservation
The goal of our sea turtle conservation program is to guarantee the health and ecological success of the sea turtles nesting on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, by integrating conservation, research, and educational outreach.
Every year, volunteers from around the world come to our field site on the Osa Peninsula to make a difference in conserving the sea turtles of the Eastern Pacific. With the help of volunteers we have released more than 45,000 sea turtle hatchlings from our hatchery over the last three nesting seasons and carried out a number of educational projects to raise local awareness of the importance of conservation on the Osa Peninsula.
As a project volunteer, you will:
- Be accommodated at our field station and enjoy three tico-style meals per day
- Live in a remote area of the Osa, surrounded by primary rainforest and abundant endangered wildlife
- Receive training and experience in data collection, field research methodology, and long-term species monitoring
- Have the opportunity to design an independent research project for academic credit
- Work in a fun, team-oriented environment
- Make a real difference in the conservation of the Osa's sea turtles!
No prior experience or knowledge of Spanish in required, while English speakers have ample opportunity to practice and develop their Spanish language skills. Interested volunteers may also have the opportunity to get involved in local environmental education by working with students at the Osa’s elemtanry schools.
To cover the cost of your meals and housing at the field station, we ask that each volunteer contribute:
| US $300 / 1 week |
$500 / 2 weeks |
$750 / 3 weeks |
$900 / 4 weeks |
Opportunities are available during the nesting season, which lasts from June to January, and we welcome participants for stays that vary from one week to several months.
For more information about this program, contact seaturtles@osaconservation.org
A Volunteer's Take:
Marissa Croughan describes the experience of volunteering to protect the Osa's sea turtles.
How to Apply:
Before you apply, please make sure your read our Volunteer Manual and become familiar with volunteer’s duties on the Osa. If you decide to apply, please follow these steps:
1. Send the completed application form to seaturtles@osaconservation.org. Please make sure to include the approximate dates for when you would like to volunteer.
2. Attach a paragraph describing your previous volunteer experience and indicating why you are interested in the position.
Please note: Because we have to coordinate the number of volunteers we can accommodate onsite, we cannot let you know immediately whether your application has been approved. Please allow some time for processing.
3. When you hear back from us that your application was approved, you can send your signed volunteer agreement and acknowledgement as well as your financial contribution to Friends of the Osa to cover meals and housing (see the costs above). Checks can be sent to Friends of the Osa’s Washington, DC office before your arrival:
Friends of the Osa
1731 Connecticut Ave, NW 3rd Flr.
Washington, DC, 20009
If you need more details, please e-mail seaturtles@osaconservation.org.
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