Galápagos Islands Conservation

About the program

At our project headquarters, you will be introduced to our ongoing projects, from working on the tortoise and sea turtle conservation to feeding and caring for the tortoises, assisting park rangers with zoo-keeping-related activities, and cataloging nesting patterns and nest size. Sea turtle projects are available from January through May. Tortoise projects are year-round.

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Marine Turtle Nesting Monitoring:

Most volunteers will be assigned to Marine Sea Turtle Nesting Monitoring:

• Cleaning beach nesting areas, and patrolling for nests and turtles.
• Determining nesting patterns, observation & data collection, monitoring registered nests, possibly relocating nests, and excavation of nests.
• Kikuyo removal- dedicate 3 hours weekly to removing this invasive plant from the turtle nesting area.
• Beach profiling- On the 15th of each month, you will measure beach erosion and collect data.
• 4 hours a day, 6 AM-8 AM and anywhere between 8 PM to 1 AM.
• The sea turtle nest project does not run Monday-Friday due to the turtles nesting / nests hatching all week long thus volunteers are given two days off weekly.

Please keep in mind that Turtle Nest Monitoring will involve extensive walking for miles on sandy terrain under the hot sun. You may also need to work during early mornings or late nights.

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English Teaching:

As a Community English Education Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to work with students, teachers, government workers, and community members. In this program, you will have the choice between formal and applied teaching opportunities that include:

• Assisting classroom English teachers with classroom management, lesson planning, and leading activities.
• Teaching job-related language skills to naturalist guides, English teachers, and biodiversity protection officers in their work setting.
• Helping to design and run continuing education programs for community members to practice conversational English.

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Social Media:

As a social media volunteer, you will be in charge of generating footage (photo and video) as well as text that accurately and meaningfully captures the nature of the project's international presence and impact. This will include:

• Collaborating with local staff in various departments to pull out and highlight the pieces of the work that most thoroughly demonstrate and illuminate its lasting, positive effects.
• Working with, based on experience, the Galapagos National Park to develop environmental education material that educates tourists, as well as the local population, about the surrounding habitats.
  
  

Agriculture:

The farms of Isabela Island are starting work in greenhouses to optimize production year-round in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

Volunteers will learn local techniques for sustainable tropical agriculture and will help to create food sovereignty, lower the carbon footprint of island life, lower waste from shipping materials, lowers the cost to local consumers, increase local income, and increase the nutritional content of the food available in Isabela.

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Important information

The core conservation-based projects that are run require a special work visa issued only to ages 18 and over.

There are limited spots for each project, so volunteers may be placed on separate projects.

You must feel at ease around wildlife, and maintain respectful distances, and adhere to guidelines. The closest hospital has the most basic of facilities and medical tools.

The ability to speak and understand Spanish is beneficial as it will increase your ability to communicate and integrate with community members. Project staff members are English speakers but community members generally speak basic English thus Globe Aware highly recommends that you brush up on your Spanish skills to make the most of your experience. If you would like to add a 1 or 2-week-long Spanish course to the start of your program, please let Globe Aware know so they can help you arrange this.