Sea Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka
Projects Abroad School Trips
Why should you consider this Sea Turtle Conservation in Sri Lanka with Projects Abroad for your next School Trip or Educational Visit?
Currently endangered, sea turtles need your help to ensure their survival and repopulation.While other green turtles can be found around the world, they all follow different migratory paths. This means relocating groups may be impossible as they wouldn’t have the inherited instructions needed to navigate within and from their new homes.
With the help of volunteers, we can work to prevent this from happening and help the population of green turtles thrive.
While on this programme, your group will also develop a wide range of key employability and personal skills, while exploring a new country. Discover history, culture, and traditions as you explore Colombo and Kandy, visiting impressive and important religious and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
50% off Diploma in International Volunteering
Current School Trip Offer
For a limited time, we are offering an exclusive 50% discount on our accredited Diplomas in International Volunteering when you enquire with us through Plan My School Trip. Enrich your school's educational offerings and results while empowering your students with globally recognised credentials contact us today to seize this opportunity!
Boost your students' academic profiles with Projects Abroad's accredited Level 3 International Volunteering Diplomas, offering 16 UCAS points in Marine Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, or Global Citizenship.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Duke of Edinburgh Award
Example Itineraries
Day 1
On arrival day, a Projects Abroad staff member will be waiting to collect your group from Colombo Airport (CMB).
As you walk through the airport, you find a Projects Abroad staff member waiting for you. The staff members are easy to spot because they’re by the airport exit holding a sign. Your group will then be taken by minibus to your accommodation in Balapitiya, where you will have the chance to unpack your bags.
After you have settled into the accommodation, you will take part in culture awareness training. Designed to give you an insight into Sri Lankan culture, customs and traditions, this training will help you to better understand the people you will be working with during your time here.
Days 2-6
Working at the Galbokka Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Center, you will help conservationists with their work towards the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles and the preservation of the local ecosystem.
You will do this by taking on activities such as:
> Helping bury the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to rescue them from poachers.
> Conducting daily checks on the eggs to check their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles.
> Washing the sea turtle tanks and refill them with seawater.
> Preparing food to feed the turtles.
Days 7-8
Over the weekend, you will travel to Kandy - a large city in central Sri Lanka. You will leave first thing in the morning, as this journey takes four hours.
Known as the Sacred City, Kandy is famous for its Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic; a popular pilgrimage site for the Buddhist community. In 1988, the Temple of the Tooth Relic was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The following day, your group will take a trip to a tea factory in Kandy. Tea equates to 17% of Sri Lanka's exports. Sri Lanka is the fourth largest producer of tea in the world, and this reflects its importance in the country's history. You will also take a tour of the spice garden and a traditional wood carving factory.
Days 9-13
After a week of conservation work, your group have found their rhythm in the research centre and has developed a good understanding of the importance of the jobs you have taken on. You consider the positive, long-term impact of your efforts here and know you have made a real difference.
As your understanding of the pressing conservation issues at hand in Sri Lanka grows, you will put together a presentation to teach the local community what you have learned. Your group will discuss why coastal conservation is so important and why we need to secure turtle eggs from poachers. This outreach work aims to raise community awareness and emphasise the importance of preserving local ecosystems.
On your final day of work, you thank the staff for their support and head out for a farewell meal at a local restaurant. This is a great opportunity to make a few more memories before heading home the following morning.
Day 14
After two weeks of hard work, it’s time to say your final goodbyes to the Projects Abroad staff before heading to the airport for your flight home.
It’s been an amazing journey for your group. You’ve all developed a deep connection with the Sri Lankan community and have bettered your understanding of the country's culture, history, and conservation efforts.
As you leave Sri Lanka, know you are always welcome back! We look forward to hearing what amazing things you all achieve in the future.
On arrival day, a Projects Abroad staff member will be waiting to collect your group from Colombo Airport (CMB).
As you walk through the airport, you find a Projects Abroad staff member waiting for you. The staff members are easy to spot because they’re by the airport exit holding a sign. Your group will then be taken by minibus to your accommodation in Balapitiya, where you will have the chance to unpack your bags.
After you have settled into the accommodation, you will take part in culture awareness training. Designed to give you an insight into Sri Lankan culture, customs and traditions, this training will help you to better understand the people you will be working with during your time here.
Days 2-6
Working at the Galbokka Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Center, you will help conservationists with their work towards the protection and survival of endangered sea turtles and the preservation of the local ecosystem.
You will do this by taking on activities such as:
> Helping bury the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to rescue them from poachers.
> Conducting daily checks on the eggs to check their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles.
> Washing the sea turtle tanks and refill them with seawater.
> Preparing food to feed the turtles.
Days 7-8
Over the weekend, you will travel to Kandy - a large city in central Sri Lanka. You will leave first thing in the morning, as this journey takes four hours.
Known as the Sacred City, Kandy is famous for its Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth Relic; a popular pilgrimage site for the Buddhist community. In 1988, the Temple of the Tooth Relic was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The following day, your group will take a trip to a tea factory in Kandy. Tea equates to 17% of Sri Lanka's exports. Sri Lanka is the fourth largest producer of tea in the world, and this reflects its importance in the country's history. You will also take a tour of the spice garden and a traditional wood carving factory.
Days 9-13
After a week of conservation work, your group have found their rhythm in the research centre and has developed a good understanding of the importance of the jobs you have taken on. You consider the positive, long-term impact of your efforts here and know you have made a real difference.
As your understanding of the pressing conservation issues at hand in Sri Lanka grows, you will put together a presentation to teach the local community what you have learned. Your group will discuss why coastal conservation is so important and why we need to secure turtle eggs from poachers. This outreach work aims to raise community awareness and emphasise the importance of preserving local ecosystems.
On your final day of work, you thank the staff for their support and head out for a farewell meal at a local restaurant. This is a great opportunity to make a few more memories before heading home the following morning.
Day 14
After two weeks of hard work, it’s time to say your final goodbyes to the Projects Abroad staff before heading to the airport for your flight home.
It’s been an amazing journey for your group. You’ve all developed a deep connection with the Sri Lankan community and have bettered your understanding of the country's culture, history, and conservation efforts.
As you leave Sri Lanka, know you are always welcome back! We look forward to hearing what amazing things you all achieve in the future.
Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?
Click each subject to read more!
Conservation Wildlife Animal Care
Students taking part in our Kenya Conservation Programme will work alongside experts to ensure the survival of precious wildlife species, completing tasks such as:
> Helping bury the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to rescue them from poachers
> Conducting daily checks on the eggs to check their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles
> Taking part in the night patrol on the beach of Galbokka to look for endangered sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
> Planting mangroves
Your group will also engage with the local community through conversations as they raise awareness of sea turtle conservation and the preservation of local ecosystems through presentations.
What size groups do you cater for?
All group sizes of 5 or more. Free staff place with every 9 students.
Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?
Disabled facilities can be offered on request.
Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Visitors with special educational needs can be catered for on request.
Anything else?
Projects Abroad provide an individualised service and schedule planning which is backed up by excellent pre-departure preparation and by a dedicated and highly experienced local team in each destination.
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student which promotes self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Please contact us so we can support you with your trip planning.
We aim to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for every student which promotes self-belief, resilience, leadership, teamwork, reflection, and a new perspective on the world.
Please contact us so we can support you with your trip planning.
Who are Projects Abroad?
Projects Abroad arranges overseas service and internship programmes that are challenging, meaningful, educational and safe.
We have been taking students overseas since 1992 and work in over 20 developing and emerging countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Key to our work is the dedicated in-country staff whose diverse skill sets, local knowledge and love of their community allow us to develop relevant, immersive and worthwhile schedules for school trips which give the students responsibility and teach them to see the world through a different lens.
We offer programmes in community development, conservation, construction, education, sports, empowerment, human rights and healthcare among many others. These projects are designed to contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, broadening the student experience to see the contribution of a few going towards a movement for global change.
All school trips are individualised. We realise that each school has its own goals and interests, and the students have their own passions. We work with the school to develop a tailored itinerary that reflects their values and allows the students to make a connection with the community in which they serve.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Duke of Edinburgh Award
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