How You Can Help
Here are the details about the ARCAS Hawaii Sea Turtle Conservation Project.
The Hawaii Park facilities include a large central, palm-thatched "rancho" with kitchen, dormitory and a large, open common area with hammocks and tables. There is a small, seperate house for storage and administration. Toilet and shower facilities are nearby as are the iguana and caiman pits and tree nursery. Just behind the coastal dunes, 50 meters away, is the main turtle hatchery and holding tank. A solar electric system provides roughly four hours of light a night.
Since 1992, the Hawaii Program has hosted over 60 international and Guatemalan volunteers. Activities typically carried out by volunteers include:
During the nesting season (July-September) volunteers spend nights walking the beach in search of turtles that have come to lay their eggs. Once the turtle is sighted and "claimed", volunteers wait until it has finished laying, then collect the eggs and bring them to the hatchery. Volunteers also receive voluntary donations from local egg collectors and carry them to the hatchery. Once the eggs have been collected, they are then reburied in the hatchery and the nest is marked and recorded in a log. When hatchlings are born, volunteers assist in releasing them into the sea (the fun part!).
The Hawaii Center is still young and ARCAS plans to expand its activities as a center of conservation in the south coast region. Volunteers assist in the construction of additional turtle hatcheries, including school hatcheries and the construction of volunteer and research facilities.
Volunteers assist in the conducting of environmental education activities in area schools, including teaching classes, developing curriculum, conducting beach clean ups and operating school hatcheries.
The Chiquimulilla Canal is a 120km mangrove-lined estuary that runs parallel to the coast. The mangrove forests in this area are under constant threat from illegal loggers and fires caused by the clearing of pasture for cattle. Volunteers assist in mangroove reforestation activities carried out in conjunction with DIGEBOS and local schools and conservation groups.
Iguanas, crocod iles and other animals were once abundant in the south coast, but are rapidly dissappearing due to hunting and loss of habitat. Volunteers assist in the feeding, care and breeding of such animals in the Hawaii breeding program.
It has been ARCAS's experience, both in Peten and in Hawaii, that the best way to avoid misunderstanding and ensure that the volunteer experience is rewarding for both parties is to adhere to several general guidelines. The following apply to participation in the Hawaii Program:
The minimum stay at the Hawaii project is 2 weeks, unless the volunteer has already worked at the Rescue Center in Peten (see Guatemala1@aol.com for more info), in which case it is one week.
Volunteers are asked to pay $25.00/week to cover lodging and other expenses. ARCAS will provide lodging in its volunteer quarters at its main turtle hatchery, including bed, mosquito net, shower, kitchen and toilet. ARCAS can also arrange for home stays with area families.
Volunteers are responsible for their own food. They can either prepare it for themselves in the kitchen or ARCAS can make arrangements to eat with local families.
ARCAS will provide one free round-trip boat ride from La Avellana (the end of the bus line) to the project site. All other non-project travel must be covered by the volunteer.
Spanish language ability is not required, but is obviously an asset.
Although the turtle egg-laying and hatching season from June to November is the most active time at the center, volunteers are needed at all times. For those interested in environmental education, the Guatemalan school year lasts from January to November.
The south coast climate is drier than that of the Caribbean, but equally hot. During the dry season--December to May--it rarely rains. During the rainy season precipitation usually falls between 4 and 7PM. The turtle laying and hatching season is during the rainy season, with the heaviest activity between July and October. The hot months are March-April. December and January are dream-like.
There is malaria and dengi fever on the south coast, but with usual precautions such as repellent and mosquito nets, you shouldn t expect to catch either and there is no need to bring prophalactic medicine. There is a Health Clinic with a full-time nurse in Hawaii. The water supply is good in the Hawaii area, but you may want to bring treatment tablets for other parts of the country.
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