If you love seeing sea turtles, the special turtle-friendly tours offered by SeeTurtles.org may be just the thing for you. They offer trips in Baja California Sur, Costa Rica, and Trinidad and Tobago, both independently and in conjunction with Earthwatch, an organization which began offering ecotourism volunteer opportunities before "ecotourism" was a word.Teens are invited to join a special "Teen Team" in Trinidad to protect the local nesting grounds of the Leatherback Sea Turtle. While the new hatchling at right is just a few inches long and a few ounces in weight, when adult, these turtles may be 6 ft or longer and weigh up to 2000 pounds.
For the more serious eco-tourists, SeeTurtles.org can also coordinate other volunteer opportunities where fit and willing participants will be trained in turtle conservation and can lend a hand on actual turtle rescue and protection assignments. Be warned though - these are actual jobs that must be done, not just busy work for volunteers. Few things will stop the turtle team from making their appointed rounds. Participation fees run about what you would pay for an exotic adventure, but the altruistic bragging rights you gain are, as they say, priceless.
For more info: SeeTurtles.org
