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Volunteer Activities
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The following are a summary of the areas where LOT requires your help. We are happy to discuss each area of work with you. We are also open to your suggestions and welcome students with research ideas.
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1. Conservation & Research
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| Beach patrols
- Turtle patrols are undertaken each night at varying hours to monitor and help protect nesting/hatching activity. These patrols can involve walks of up to 8km per night. The nesting population is small and has an irregular season at Watamu, so seeing nesting events are by no means guaranteed.
- Marine patrols to collect information on illegal/destructive fishing activities and turtle mortality.
Individuals are not expected to conduct these patrols on their own. A community / LOT field officer undertakes most of these patrols and our volunteers provide him with very useful assistance.
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Nest excavations
After a turtle nest hatches it is excavated to see what proportion of eggs have hatched successfully.
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| Assisting with turtle net releases and research
Participating in turtle releases and related research is a popular activity with volunteers, and is something that you are sure to be involved in during your time with us.
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| Turtle rehabilitation
There is the possibility that during your stay with us we may have a turtle in rehabilitation at the office. Volunteer assistance is required in feeding, keeping the tank clean and taking turtles for sea baths/swims.
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Light pollution surveys
Once a month a light survey is undertaken to evaluate the impact of disturbing lighting on the nesting habitat.
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| GPS mapping
We map turtle nest sites, but also want to map a range of other sites, eg. turtle foraging sites, turtle capture points, areas of mangrove deforestation.
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| Marine park lagoon turtle counts
At certain times of the year we want do transect surveys within the lagoon and Creek spotting turtles. This may be done with snorkelling equipment or boat patrols at different times and locations to build up a picture of turtle populations and movements.
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| Mida creek survey
We have plans to undertake a Creek survey, which would include mapping out the basic geographical features, researching fishing activities, and evaluating the mangrove status.
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| Local movement patterns of juvenile foraging turtles
We have plans for this research on net release turtles, using simple tracking equipment. This would make an interesting project for a student research thesis.
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Mangrove replanting
Help is required in mangrove replanting efforts that we undertake in conjunction with local communities around Mida Creek.
Evaluation of the potentials of community driven ecotourism in Watamu and Mida creek
An interesting study for a geography student.
Research data analysis
The project has compiled a lot of data on turtles, particularly through the turtle net release scheme, which requires analysis and further research.
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2. Education & awareness
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Signage
Are you artistic? Producing and distributing conservation related signs in Park & Reserve areas is an ongoing activity.
Assisting the development and running of the Local Ocean Marine Centre
Displays in our marine centre are periodically changed and we would love your input in designing these. The artistic and creative are always a great resource to improve Centre design, create new murals, design new games and activities for children etc... The Centre will also need volunteer help in guiding visitors and planning and conducting special group educational visit days.
Educational materials and activities
We are always looking to improve our educational materials and activities and would benefit greatly from creative and experienced input into this area.
Awareness Days
We periodically hold marine awareness days and beach clean up events with the local community. Help is required in designing and undertaking these events.
Education through our website
The project wishes to reach a national and international audience with its awareness and educational work and plans to do this through developing additional pages for this website. People with experience in web design in this regard would be of great value to the project.
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| Further development and implementation of the LOT field education program
LOT undertakes a vigorous education campaign in the local area, particularly at local schools and fish landing sites. The education team requires assistance in further developing and implementing this program. Artists, writers, dramatists and teachers could make contributions here.
Examples of some areas of work include:
· Designing school and fishing community education talk topics & activities (eg. using drama, art, song and games) in subject matter concerning marine environment and turtle conservation
· Designing educational poster display boards for hotels, public meeting places, schools etc.
· Awareness murals, especially at schools.
· Design educational booklets, info leaflets and newsletters.
· Assist in carrying out educational workshops and activities
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3. Community development
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Alternative income generation
Developing ideas for fishing community members to generate alternative incomes to current unsustainable marine resource exploitation and so reduce pressures on the environment and its species.
We have started one very small local crafts activity and are planning a small mariculture project in Mida Creek, but want to expand this type of work. Volunteers with initiative and experience in community development work, or just an entrepreneurial attitude to life, could be of assistance in this area.
Recycling & Composting
Improved awareness and practice in recycling and composting. A recycling and composting project would not only help to tidy up our area, but also provide local people with employment and useful products that save money.
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| Sport
Sport is not exploited or supported at the coast. Sport brings people together, encourages team spirit. In co-operation with one local young man we recently started one local football and netball team associated to conservation, but this project needs further development.
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4. General
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Developing income generating programs for LOT
For example fundraising events, links with international schools, local craft designs etc....
Languages
We need people who can help us with translations into Italian, German and French.
These are just some examples of how you can help. If you have any other ideas, before or during your participation, please do not hesitate to talk to us about it.
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