Volunteering in sea turtle conservation

Dive into the ultimate adventure!
Join us on a journey that will leave you forever touched by the magic of sea turtles.

NESTING SEASON (WORKING PERIOD)
1st of July – 1st of October

Our loggerhead sea turtle protection program strongly relies on the dedication of international and Cape Verdean volunteers. Anyone who is enthusiastic about sea turtle conservation and meets the basic requirements is welcome to apply!

Do you want to spend the „summer of your live“ and contribute directly to the protection of sea turtles on Boa Vista? Participate in night patrols and morning census, help with tagging and measuring nesting turtles, and live alongside local rangers in our beach camp Lacacao?

Beside the work with the turtles you will have to contribute to camp maintenance, cooking, beach cleanups, and other educational activities, giving you a true insight into conservation life. With long stretches of free time during the day, this is the perfect opportunity to disconnect from digital distractions and immerse yourself in nature.

Become part of our team, make a real difference for sea turtles, and enjoy a unique experience far from the city.

Your Requirements

• Minimum age: 18 years
• Fluent in English or Portuguese
• Good level of fitness for night patrols and beach work
• Flexibility to living and working in basic, shared conditions

Costs

• 400 Euro per month
• 50 Euro administration fee (one-time)
• You’ll need to cover your own travel expenses to Boa Vista
• No refunds

Your Stay

• Minimum stay: 1 month
• Maximum stay: 3 months
• Fixed arrival days: 1st of July, 1st of August, 1st of September
• Departure at the end of each month
• Early arrival on the island is possible, but accommodation before the official arrival day must be arranged independently. We are happy to assist with suggestions.

Your Camp

Lacacao Camp
• Located in the south of the island
• Center of research and sea turtle activities
• Hatchery work (starting end of August)
• Amazing night skies with almost no light pollution
• Beautiful sunrises over the sea during morning census

Lacacao Camp

Important documents

Please read the following 3 documents carefully before applying:

GENERAL INFORMATION
PACKING LIST
RISK WAIVER

The GENERAL INFORMATION document contains all what you should know about our project, your duties and responsibilities as a team member, local living conditions, etc. The PACKING LIST provides you with more detailed information about necessary equipment for your stay. All volunteers will participate in our project at their own risk. Therefore please read the RISK WAIVER carefully. All volunteers will be asked to sign this risk waiver upon arrival on Boavista.

Testimonials of former volunteers

Franzi Volunteer Testimonial

It was beautiful time and I wouldn’t miss it!
Memorable moments: Working in the hatchery, playing card games, making bracelets, beautiful beaches, my first patrol with seeing a turtle.

Franziska, Germany
Melanie Volunteer Testimonial

A grateful experience to know yourself, adapt to situations, learn and enjoy nature.
Memorable moments: seeing hatchlings, catching waves at the beach with everyone from camp, witnessing turtles in the first light in the morning.

Melanie, Spain
Max Volunteer Testimonial

A challenging but fulfilling time with a lot of beautiful moments in nature.
Memorable moments: Seeing my first turtle and hatchling, campfire with all of the other volunteers and rangers and island excursion with everyone.

Max, Germany
Nele Volunteer Testimonial

It was the best time of my life! I love working with the turtles and the people of Boa Vista.
Memorable moments; Playing guitar and singing together in camp, excursions around the island, playing volleyball together.

Nele, Germany
Glenn Volunteer Testimonial

I enjoyed it throughly. Both camps were beautiful – such friendly people – it felt like a family. The people there always made sure I had my needs met.
Memorable moments: surfing with friends, playing cards in the shade, sleeping on the beach.

Glenn, USA

Application form

If you want to join us, please fill in our online volunteer application form:

Page 1 of 5

Your personal details

(minimum age 18 years!)

Your contact details

incl. country code (for ex. +44...)

Your emergency contact

e.g., parents, partner etc.

incl. country code (for ex. +44...)

Your dates, preferences and needs

If you want to stay longer then one month, you can choose multiple months

Please enter the year when you accomplished your most recent first aid certification.
Please note that medical facilities on Boa Vista are very limited, and access to advanced medical care may not be readily available. To ensure the safety of all participants, we aim to minimize potential health risks by gathering this information in advance.

To ensure the safety of all participants, please let us know if you have any serious medical conditions or health issues that may affect your participation in the program. This information will remain confidential and will only be used to ensure appropriate support during the program. Do you have or have you ever had any of the following conditions? 1) Heart conditions (e.g., congenital heart defects, arrhythmia) 2) Blood disorders (e.g., clotting or bleeding disorders) 3) Respiratory conditions (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis) 4) Seizures or epilepsy 5) Severe allergies (e.g., anaphylaxis) 6) Other serious medical conditions

Your confirmation

Fields indicated with (*) are mandatory.

Email

If you experience trouble with the online volunteer application form or you are not sure if the form was sent correctly, please drop us a message to volunteers@turtle-foundation.org. Thanks!

Email

• Step 1

Ensure you can answer all following questions with a clear and honest “YES”:

Have you thoroughly read our General Information document?
Are you at least 18 years old?
Make sure you are aware that …

  • … volunteering in sea turtle conservation demands dedication and substantial time commitment?
  • … working to protect and preserve sea turtles will be enlightening and filled with rewarding moments, even though some tasks may occasionally be repetitive or monotonous?
  • … conservation efforts will often be carried out under challenging and uncomfortable conditions, such as traversing sandy shores at night, enduring heat, and encountering mosquitoes?
  • … your schedule will be primarily focused on working at nights, 6 days in a row, but the cherry on top is a well-deserved full day off to explore the enchanting island on your own or simply relax in the camp?
  • … working at nights, means adjusting to daytime sleep, which might be a minor challenge, but the thrill of this unique experience will far outweigh any temporary sleep disruption.
  • … you will be accommodated in modest shared tents in campsites, and spend your nights at the nesting beaches (you can rest in a tent during your free time)?
  • … meals will consist of locally sourced ingredients, which may result in repetitive yet nourishing options?
  • … you will work and live with young local rangers who primarily communicate in Portuguese/Creole and may have limited experience in other languages?

Are you willing to cover your travel expenses to the project location and contribute a daily fee for food and lodging?
Can you commit a minimum of two weeks (preferably three or more) to working in our project?
Do you effectively communicate, comprehend, and follow instructions in either English (our primary language) or Portuguese?

If you confidently answered „YES“ to all the above questions, we eagerly looking forward to your volunteer application.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Please note:

  • Applications for volunteering in sea turtle conservation on Boa Vista can be made for this year’s and the next year’s nesting season (1st July – 1st October).
  • Long term volunteers who want to stay for eight weeks and more are requested to attach a short CV to the application form.
  • Only complete applications will be considered. Thanks for your understanding!