School Membership & Volunteering

4-day and 7-day programs

A Lifetime Experience Students Will Never Forget

Students learn best through hands-on “doing” in real-life environments.

In a world where kids feel somewhat helpless to effect change, programs that allow them to learn that they can make a positive impact are incredibly valuable. That’s what makes our student volunteer programs so special. 

Saving turtles is just the start…

Bring Your School or Class

Be Part of the Change

Worldwide, six of the seven sea turtle species are classified as threatened or endangered due to human actions and lifestyles. Students who volunteer for Save The Turtles Playa Venao make a real difference while learning through a multi-faceted, hands-on program in an unforgettable location.

young student holding a baby sea turtle
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releasing new-born baby sea turtles into the ocean in Panama
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child with new born baby sea turtle, ready to release it.
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releasing baby sea turtles into the ocean
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Our Hands-On Program

Save The Turtles

  • Do Beach Patrols
  • Assist with Nest Relocation
  • Take Part in Baby Turtle Releases

Learn and Grow

  • Do Age-specific Scientific Research
  • Attend Workshops
  • Take Part in Outdoor Ecological Activities

Live Sustainably

  • Stay in Ecological Accommodations at Eco Venao Lodge
  • Learn About Eco-tourism and Giving Back to the Community

Make Memories

Participate in Unforgettable Free Time Activities Like

  • Horseback riding
  • Fishing / Net Casting
  • Surfing
  • Paddleboarding
  • Zipline
  • Martial Arts

Sample 4-Day Schedule

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

  • Check in at Eco Venao

3:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  • Intro to Save the Turtles
  • Lifecycle of the turtle

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Free time

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  • Dinner time

High Tide

  • 12:07 pm – 2.8m

5:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Dawn patrol
  • Nest relocations
  • Watching the sunrise 6:12 am
  • Baby turtle releases @ Public

8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Nursery management
  • Cleanup
  • Nest exhumation
  • Data entry
  • Sign making

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Red Elephant Eco-Farm tour

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

  • Free time

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Nursery checkup
  • Baby turtle releases @ Cove
  • Watching the sunset 6:00pm

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  • Dinner time

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm

  • Baby turtle releases
  • Night patrol
  • Nest relocations

High Tide 

  • 12:07 PM – 2.8M

5:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Dawn patrol
  • Nest relocations
  • Watching the sunrise 6:12 am
  • Baby turtle releases @ Resort

8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Nursery management
  • Cleanup
  • Nest exhumation
  • Data entry
  • Threats to turtles

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Achitones Tuna Nursery tour

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

  • Free time

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Nursery checkup
  • Baby turtle releases @ Cove
  • Watching the sunset 6:00pm

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  • Dinner time

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm

  • Baby turtle releases
  • Night patrol
  • Nest relocations

High Tide 

  • 12:33 AM – 3.2m
  • 1:04 pm – 3.0m

5:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Dawn patrol
  • Nest relocations
  • Watching the sunrise 6:12 am
  • Baby turtle releases @ Villa

8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Nursery management
  • Cleanup
  • Nest exhumation
  • Data entry
  • Nest Tagging

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Playa Raya tour

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

  • Free time

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Nursery checkup
  • Baby turtle releases @ WAO
  • Watching the sunset 6:00pm

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  • Dinner time

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm

  • Baby turtle releases
  • Night patrol
  • Nest relocations

High Tide 

  • 1:20 am – 3.3m
  • 1:52 pm – 3.2m

5:30 am – 8:30 am

  • Dawn patrol
  • Nest relocations
  • Watching the sunrise 6:12 am
  • Baby turtle releases @ Blue

8:30 am – 9:30 am

  • Nursery management
  • Cleanup
  • Nest exhumation
  • Data entry
  • Sign installation

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Playita tour

12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

  • Free time

4:00 pm – 7:30 pm

  • Nursery checkup
  • Baby turtle releases @ Salina
  • Watching the sunset 6:00pm

7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

  • Dinner time

9:30 pm – 11:00 pm

  • Baby turtle releases
  • Night patrol
  • Nest relocations

High Tide 

  • 2:04 am – 3.0m
  • 2:32 pm – 2.8m

8:30 am – 10:30 am

  • Closing meeting
  • Discuss what we learned
  • Present questions
  • Creating change
  • Goodbyes until next time…

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

  • Check out

Program Fees

Adults

Four days – $300

1 week – $500

Students

Four days – $150

1 week – $250

We also have a 2 week and 1 month program.

* Kids 2 and under are free.
* Accommodation and meals at Eco Venao Lodge are not included but are very reasonable.

About Save The Turtles Venao

Save The Turtles is a rapidly growing 3 year old community-based nonprofit organization completely & privately funded as a grassroots regenerative tourism & environmentally sustainable project. We offer two type of short beach tours & a multi-day (or multi-week) volunteer program targeted at schools and training biologists and have plans for developing remote field trip programs all designed for education.

Take the next step

Contact us

For more information about our programs, availability, and how to bring your school or organization to Playa Venao, complete the form below.