In the spring of 2016, I had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica to perform volunteer work through the Alternative Breaks program at La Tortuga Feliz, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of endangered sea turtles. It was, perhaps, one of the most challenging volunteer projects I have ever participated in.

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As volunteers, we worked graveyard shifts, walking nearly six miles each night along the beach in complete darkness, often in heavy rain and strong winds. During the afternoons, we conducted beach cleanups for about four miles to prepare the area for our nightly patrols in search of nesting sea turtles. Living conditions were simple, there was no electricity, and we constantly had to watch out for mosquitoes, crabs, gnats, sand fleas, and even scorpions inside the cabins.

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In this region, egg poaching is a serious problem. Many locals rely on turtle eggs as a source of income and are often unaware of the long-term impact this practice has on sea turtle populations. Although turtles may lay large numbers of eggs, only a small fraction survive to adulthood. Because sea turtles take many years to mature and reproduce, their populations recover very slowly.

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One of the most difficult aspects of the experience was dealing with poaching. According to an agreement between the program organizers and local poachers, if volunteers encountered a nesting turtle and were present during the process, poachers were not allowed to approach. However, if poachers reached the eggs first, volunteers were not permitted to intervene. Despite these limitations and the frustration of not being able to save every nest, I was able to help release 15 baby sea turtles into the ocean.

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This was an unforgettable experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Being immersed in nature and contributing, even in a small way, to the conservation of endangered sea turtles made every challenge worthwhile.​​