WHAT: Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Field Study
WHERE: Tortugueros Las Playitas, Todos Santos, Baja
WHEN: February 15 – 22, 2020
WHO: High School Students
COST: $1,000* (includes airfare, lodging, ground transportation, travel insurance & meals)
ITINERARY
- February 15: Travel from Point Arena → Todos Santos. Arrive Tortugueros Las Playitas.
- February 16 – 18: Participate in daily sea turtle monitoring. Explore Todos Santos markets and beaches.
- February 19: Day Trip to La Paz
- February 20 – 21: Participate in daily sea turtle monitoring. Explore Todos Santos markets and beaches.
- February 22: Depart Tortugueros Las Playitas. Travel from Todos Santos → Point Arena.
ABOUT TORTUGUEROS LAS PLAYITAS
Three species of endangered Sea Turtles nest on the beaches of Todos Santos: the Olive Ridley, the critically endangered Leatherback, and occasionally the Black sea turtle. Beginning in October when Leatherbacks arrive to nest, the sand temperature drops below the necessary 26 degrees Celsius required for successful incubation. For this reason, we relocate sea turtle nests to a special Incubation Greenhouse designed to increase the sand temperature and hatchling yield. Approximately 100 nests are relocated to the greenhouse each season. Volunteers supervise the incubation areas, care for hatchlings, take inventory, and can be trained in nest relocation. Learn more at todostortugueros.org.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- Complete and submit an online application (you will be redirected to Windy Hollow Farm where the online application is housed).
- Submit $300 deposit by November 8, 2019.
- Join in a mandatory planning meeting on Friday, November 8 at the Coast Community Library, Point Arena. (Contact Jennifer if you have a scheduling conflict.)
- Contact Jennifer Ketring, ACORN Partners in Education Director, at jennifer@windyhollowfarmca.com or 707-353-0143 with questions.
APPLY TODAY!
ABOUT THE TRIP FACILITATORS & ORGANIZERS
Jennifer Ketring is Director of ACORN Partners in Education and mother of two high-school aged sons who have grown up in Point Arena. Jennifer has traveled with her family throughout Mexico, including trips to the Yucatan, Oaxaca, Baja and Jalisco, as well as to Chile, Peru, Greece and Cuba. These extended trips have served as complementary educational experiences for the entire family, with Independent Studies woven into each trip. She has also worked with Pacific Community Charter School teachers to organize field studies to Catalina Island, San Francisco and Washington D.C., and participated as a parent in dozens of school-based trips. Jennifer facilitates ACORN’s Windy Hollow Farm Camp, Growing Green in the Garden and Students Protecting the Coast programs. She will be the primary point of contact for this field study.
Charlene Rowland grew up farming in the beautiful Canadian prairie province Manitoba. She has studied and worked in Agriculture for 3 decades. Charlene’s teaching credential is Career Technical Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources and she has been teaching Agriculture in Mendocino county for ten years. Charlene has taught at Anderson Valley Middle/High School, River Community School and Ukiah High School. During the past 4 years she has been teaching at Point Arena High School and has been facilitating dozens of successful field trips, apprenticeships, job shadows and outdoor education experiences.
*Cost: A non-refundable $300 deposit payable to ACORN Partners in Education is due November 8, 2019 to reserve your spot. Up to 12 student spots available. Not included in the cost: optional outings such as kayaking, biking and snorkeling, food outside of group meals, spending money for souvenirs or other shopping.
ACORN Partners in Education 