Student Travel:  Trinidad's Leatherback Sea Turtles

	to print this information, click here.
	To sign up:  complete this volunteer registration form, review the volunteer agreement, and give your $300 deposit to Ms. vB.  Space is limited!  There are currently 3 spots available!

Helpful Links

I highly recommend you order and read the book Voyage of the Turtle.  The first chapter is all about this exact expedition and it is an very informative and interesting read about sea turtles!

The PowerPoint presentation shown at our first group meeting outlining what we will be doing on the expedition.

	The fundraising letter can be modified to fit your needs.
	The blank form for minors traveling out the country without a guardian.

Travel Information: Passports: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

WHAT IS AN EARTHWATCH EXPEDITION?  Earthwatch is the largest environmental volunteer force in the world.  For more than 35 years, Earthwatch has involved students worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and knowledge for a sustainable environment. A student group on an Earthwatch expedition has the opportunity to conduct team-based research, gain scientific knowledge and skills and develop relationships with exceptional mentors in the field of scientific research.   Students come back from their Earthwatch experience having been on the front lines of scientific research and environmental conservation.  They’ve gone to learn, understand, and help protect the world’s most beautiful and threatened ecosystems.  They’ve been taking water samples (not just pictures) and collecting data (not just souvenirs).  After evaluating 155 organizations, National Geographic Adventure has named Earthwatch Number One in both volunteerism and education.

Advantages for Earthwatch volunteers?  Earthwatch expeditions provide excellent experience for college applications and valuable work skills for resumes. Volunteers will gain field experience with scientific research experts. They will learn and apply current techniques utilized in today’s most ground breaking research efforts.  Students gain confidence, learn about other cultures and environmental issues as well as  returning invigorated about science after seeing how it applies in the “real world.”  If you are an IB diploma candidate in the class of 2011, this trip will provide you with amazing opportunities for your CAS and extended essay requirements.

WhAT IS THE TRINIDAD LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE EXPEDITION?  The Trinidad Leatherback Sea Turtle project began 18 years ago in response to poaching of sea turtles to near extinction.  In response, local residents of Trinidad, with the help of their government and international agencies began to monitor the sea turtle nesting beach, Matura Beach.  The efforts grew from a small group of local people into an organization called Nature Seekers, which now employees 16 staff members who patrol 8.8 kilometers of beach nightly during the six-month turtle nesting season.  The students will volunteer personal time and  effort to help protect and monitor nesting turtles alongside Nature Seekers employees and research scientists.  Students will experience the magic of seeing the endangered leatherback turtle perform its nesting ritual; will work closely with these endangered marine reptiles, collecting information and sharing your experiences with other volunteers daily. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to live in a Trinidadian community and experience a variety of wonderful local cuisine in a very clean and comfortable host home. While the work is challenging, the family-like atmosphere, support and understanding shared among the Nature Seekers family and friends ensures a comfortable and secure work environment.  For more information and to view photos, visit: http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/sammy.html

WHEN WILL WE TRAVEL?  The estimated date of departure is March 26, 2010.  We will travel back to Seattle on April 4, 2010.  This is the week of spring break.  

WHERE WILL WE GO?  The field work takes place on Trinidad, the southernmost island in a chain of islands stretching from Florida to Venezuela and enclosing the Caribbean Sea. The island is separated from Venezuela by the Gulf of Paria, one of the finest natural harbors in the world.  Trinidad, well within the tropics, enjoys a generally pleasant maritime tropical climate influenced by the northeast trade winds. In Trinidad the temperature can range from 75 to 82 degrees.  The humidity is high. 

Matura is a rural village located in the east-northeast of Trinidad. The area has a thick natural wood forest. Several rivers and fishing spots can be found nearby. Matura Beach, a protected area, is 3 miles from the village.  As a small village, Matura is a friendly place and people can wander about freely.

The area has a wealth of intrinsic natural resources and attractions that rank high among the tourist sites in Trinidad. They include the beautiful Rio Seco Waterfall at the end of an amazing two-hour hike through the pristine Mora forest. Its wealth of wild fauna such as the pawi, the red howler monkey and otters, to name a few, is complimented by the neighboring beaches. The most popular attraction in the area is the nesting activity of the endangered leatherback turtles.

Trinidad follows the Westminster model of government and upholds the traditions of parliamentary democracy it inherited from Britain. The country gained independence in 1962 and became a republic in 1976. It is a member of the British Commonwealth.

WHO CAN travel?  The nature of Earthwatch’s scientific research expeditions requires small groups.  Our group will have a maximum of 12 students and 2 chaperones.  Priority will be given to past and current IB Biology 1 students, however others are welcome to join as space allows.  Parents are more than welcome to join us on the expedition!  The research staff is lead by a primary investigator and 2 – 3 field research staff.  This is beneficial as it enables students more direct interaction with the scientists.

WHAT DOES THE EXPEDITION COST?   The expedition cost will be $2,575 per student assuming the group takes advantage of early enrollment and has at least 1 student sign up before June 1, 2009.  This cost is 100% tax deductible.   Earthwatch is a non-profit organization and is classified by the US government as a 501(c)3 public charity.  Therefore, the entire cost of our expedition is tax deductible for those paying taxes in the US.  The price of each expedition covers your food, accommodation, on-site travel, emergency medical and medical evacuation insurance, carbon offsets, and all of the various costs of field research (field permits, equipment, etc.).   In the past, students with parents who work for corporations that offer matching gift donations have reduced the personal expense to their family in half!  For example, Microsoft will match any donation made to Earthwatch, so the individual’s responsibility for the expedition would be reduced to $1288.

NOTE REGARDING MICROSOFT CORPORATE MATCHING PROGRAM

If you work for Microsoft, then donations to Earthwatch count towards the corporate matching program.  In order to have our group benefit from the matching donation, the Microsoft employee pays and completes matching gift documentation form (online at http://give or print copy).  Employee chooses organization to which matching gift is to be sent (Earthwatch) and designates a GROUP within Earthwatch for matching.  In the purpose line of the matching gift form, you MUST say: 

Technically, a Microsoft employee can not send matching funds for a specific individual (i.e. their own kid), but can designate matching funds for a volunteer group.  Earthwatch then certifies that the employee has made a donation (via internet or hard copy) and a matching check is sent.  At the Earthwatch end, the money is applied towards our whole group balance.  However, I can keep track of donations and the balances owed by individual students.  Please forward me the confirmation email received from your matching gift donation for my records.  Thanks!

HOW DO I PAY?  $300 deposits are due by October 15, 2009 (at the latest).  Since the expedition size is limited, students who pay their deposits first will have priority for the trip.  The final payment will be due by December 15, 2009.   

WHAT OTHER EXPENSES ARE THERE?  Airfare to the destination is not included in the expedition cost.  You can estimate that airfare will be around $1000 round trip.   Airfare will be purchased through Fly For Good, a travel agency that specializes in arranging travel itineraries for groups of volunteers.  Assuming that a student is only traveling to the Trinidad for the duration of the project and not adding on additional travel, the airfare can be fully tax deducted as well. On the expedition, students may want some spending money for souvenirs or incidentals.  Other costs may include passports, airport taxes, and the costs of any activity the group may decide on for their recreational day.

If students cancel will they receive a refund?   According to Earthwatch's financial Terms:

• If a student cancels outside of 120 days before the project begins, the initial deposit of $300 is non-refundable but can be transferred to another student without penalty.
• If the cancellation occurs 60 – 119 days before the project begins, there is a $300 fee to transfer to another student or 65% of the cost will be retained by Earthwatch.
• Within 59 day of the project start date, the full payment is non-refundable.

 WHAT IS THE TRIP Itinerary?

• Day 1:  Volunteers will arrive in Trinidad and will be met at the airport by project staff. The group will then be transported to Matura to settle in at the accommodations, eat dinner, and rest.
• Day 2: The team will meet at the Nature Seekers office at 9:00 am for orientation to the study site and exploration of the area.  Upon arrival at the research site, you will receive training in sea turtle identification, data collection techniques, and the use of any necessary equipment. Orientation covers the basic aspects of the research and the importance of accurate data collection. We’ll see a presentation covering general sea turtle biology and conservation, previous sea turtle research conducted at Matura Beach, and the goals for each data collection team. Over the next few days, we’ll be trained in a hands-on manner by assisting the project staff with each research task.
• Days 3-9: The first three days are training days combined with nightly data collection and monitoring of the nesting beach. Volunteers will have different activities each day ranging from taking journeys to the local town or tours to see the monkeys, to enjoying a cool swim in the pristine Matura River. There will also be a recreational day. On the recreational day, volunteers will be offered a trip to the north coast for the day. The cost is US$10-15 depending on the number of volunteers participating and what is ordered. In general, you should carry some small cash at all times, even when walking the beach for purchase of crafts or snacks if the opportunity arises.
• Day 10: The team will depart for Piarco Airport early in the morning. 

 WHAT IS THE DAILY SCHEDULE AND TASKS?

• 11:00 am: Wake-up and eat brunch
• 1:00 pm: There will be regular lectures and open discussions during the course of each expedition. Depending on the interest of volunteers, lectures and discussions may be supplemented with appropriate nature walks. Because of the relatively pristine nature of the surrounding forest, there are numerous opportunities for nature exploring. Troops of howler monkeys live in the forest and are regularly observed. Incredible numbers of bird and reptile species dwell there, and guided hikes through the forest can be arranged.
• 4:30 pm: Time to relax or take a quick nap
• 6:00 pm: Dinner
• 7:00 pm: Night patrols (late snack packed and brought to the beach).  Activities conducted at Matura Beach by Nature Seekers, with the support of Earthwatch Institute, include nocturnal beach patrols, tagging of nesting turtles, collection of morphometric information (size and shape measurements), documentation of mortality sources, assessment of population trends and behavioral patterns, supervision of ecotourism, and education of the public. Volunteers will interact very closely with the turtles, tagging and measuring as well as recording other important data on each nesting female by covering specific zones along the beach.  On some nights this can be a challenging adventure as each pair of volunteers monitors nesting by as many as 10 turtles simultaneously! On other nights patience is the key as volunteers patrol the beach waiting for turtles to slide ashore to nest. At those times the opportunity to listen to the sounds of the jungle, look for spectacled caiman or fishing bats in the rivers behind the beach, or admire the Southern Cross in the stars can be appreciated.
• 2:30 am: Finish night patrols and rest.  Keep in mind that Trinidad’s time zone is three hours ahead of Pacific Time.  So, even though we will be working well into the night, for our bodies it won’t feel too bad!

What type of accommodation is used?  Volunteers will stay in a guesthouse with 11 rooms, located 3.25 miles away from the research area. The drive is approximately 20 minutes due to the condition of the road. Volunteers will be transported to the research site via a project bus or truck. Rooms will be shared by two or three volunteers of the same gender.  Bedding will be provided to all volunteers. Clean, modern flush toilets and bathing facilities with cool water (no hot water available) are shared. Most showers have tiled floors and walls and low-flow shower heads to conserve water.

What will we have to eat?  No matter what you have for to eat, after a full day in the field, the food will taste like heaven!  Below are examples of the foods you might expect in the field. Please bear in mind that variety depends on availability. This list is intended to provide a general idea of food types, but it is very important that volunteers be flexible.

• Brunch: Coffee, juice, tea, granola, cereal, pancakes, eggs, French toast, local fruit such as papaya, pineapple, mangos, watermelon and/or star fruit (depending on season)

• Dinner: “Brown down” (tasty and spicy Creole dish of stewed chicken, beef or fish), pelau (made with rice, pigeon peas, and either chicken, beef or pork), callaloo (uniquely spicy Trinbagonian soup), vegetable side dishes such as “ochro rice,” green figs, yams, plantains, sweet potatoes, cassava pie, eddoes in a thick cream sauce

• Snacks/Other: Roti (thin, unleavened bread), homemade breads, fruit, local cheeses, etc. (a variety of foods are placed out each evening to pack for the beach)

• Beverages: Common beverages such as coffee, fruit juices, punches (non alcohol) and tea.  Bottled water will be available in the guest house for all volunteers.

What does Earthwatch do in the case of an Emergency?  The emergency medical and evacuation assistance provider for Earthwatch is “On Call International”.  On Call is a 24 – hour international operation which provides medical assistance and evacuation, a 24 hour nurse help line and other travel assistance services such as lost baggage and lost document assistance. Earthwatch research staff has been specifically trained with an emergency response plan for all expeditions.  If the matter is serious, the parents are contacted as soon as possible.  The research scientists are in touch with the Earthwatch head office in Massachusetts.

How do I contact my child while they are traveling?  Earthwatch has staff on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week to contact should you need to reach your child.  All projects have some method of communication during the expedition.  This may range from regular email and phone communication to a satellite phone for more remote expeditions. 

Does Earthwatch have rules and regulations for student travelers?  Volunteers will be given a copy of the Earthwatch Rules and Regulations which is sent to each student prior to departure. All volunteers are required to sign a liability form acknowledging they understand and accept these rules as a contract so everyone understands what constitutes proper behavior while on the expedition.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

• The Earthwatch site for this expedition is:  http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/sammy.html
• To read about some other peoples trips to San Salvador with Earthwatch, check out this link: http://www.earthwatch2.org/classroomearth/pdfs/marbio_trinidadleatherbacks.PDF

ANYTHING ELSE?  The project is to monitor all of the activities on the nesting beach, volunteers need to be comfortable moving in soft sand from one turtle to the next. You must be capable of working on one turtle and then quickly moving to the next for most of the night. This activity is often strenuous. The sand provides little resistance when walking and can be very challenging to those of moderate fitness.

Beginning in September of 2009, all travelers will be expected to attend monthly meetings in preparation for the trip:

September:  fund raising

October: travel preparation; passports and airline itineraries (*parent meeting)

November: island culture

December: biological sampling methods

January:  biology of marine ecosystems

February:  biology of turtles

March:  travel preparation; what to bring; host gifts (*parent meeting)

May:  post field reflection and picture sharing