Hit or Miss

I know the program definitely means well. However as far as your personal experience goes (because most are there for the overall experience not just conservation), it all depends on the staff, particularly the supervisors. I can tell from other sites that a lot of people felt welcome and bonded with staff however I personally did not feel that welcomed when I first arrived. They seemed to have little interest in getting to know the new volunteers which was very hard for a newcomer. When it came to night surveys, some supervisors were impatient which was very discouraging as a new volunteer. The majority of the local staff on the other hand were very welcoming and patient. There was a lot of unnecessary drama and politics involved with the conservation aspect as well. Another huge let down was the fact that depending on when you choose to go in the season, you may only actually see a couple of turtles during your entire stay. In addition, I found there were to many volunteers for the amount of work to be done. With regards these facts, I found the project information very misleading and felt a little scammed.
Overall this was a life experience more than a research experience with some of my best and worst memories. Your experience will depend on the staff, your fellow volunteers, and the time of season you chose to go.