WE BELIEVE IN ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION TO INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AROUND THE WORLD, IGNITE CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATE CHANGEMAKERS.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
WCA ON YOUTUBE
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STAY CONNECTED. BECOME A CHANGE MAKER!
Follow us on social to get the latest information about our tours, programs, initiatives, educational programming, and all things WCA.
We believe in accessible education to inspire environmental stewards around the world, to ignite critical thinking and create changemakers. On this page, you will find all of our multi-media educational resources (also immersive educational experiences, freely-accessible, in English and Spanish).
COLLECT DATA & PROTECT OUR PLANET
We believe engaging our community is the best way to inspire environmental protection and empower sustainable stewards. Become a community scientist by contributing real data that will help scientists protect our planet. Get the apps!
WCA EDUCATION CREATES
CHANGEMAKERS
MAPPING GLOBAL REEF HABITATS WITH ALLEN CORAL ATLAS
OUR COLLABORATION WITH ALLEN CORAL ATLAS TO MAP GLOBAL REEF HABITATS IN A GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Seventy percent of the world's population depends on our ocean as a main source of food. A quarter of fish species depend on coral reef habitat for their survival. We collaborated with Allen Coral Atlas in their global initiative to map global coral reef habitats.To learn about the state of Ostional's coral reef habitat, we have mapped our reef habitat to inform the management and conservation of our coral reef ecosystems. Watch our video to learn about this vital collaboration.
MONITORING OCEAN TEMPERATURES IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE A BACKGROUND THAT MAKES ME FAMILIAR WITH CONSERVATION ISSUES, THIS COURSE REALLY HELPED ME RECONSTRUCT DEFINITIONS FOR WORDS SUCH AS SUSTAINABILITY, TOURISM, AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE IN WAYS THAT WERE MORE HOLISTIC AND INTERDISCIPLINARY.
—ASTON ASBURY, MASTER'S STUDENT
PRIMATE BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY, WASHINGTON, USA
Become a WCA Field Scout or WCA Trailblazer. Report your Observations on iNaturalist.
Help us collect observations of flora and fauna at the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding area. When you report your observations on iNaturalist, you’ll automatically contribute to our knowledge and the protection of this special place. Join our project to get updates and compete with top observers in the area!
TREK INTO OUR
ArcGIS STORY MAPS
SEA TURTLE
3D DIGITAL MODELS
RIDE THE WAVE. CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL.
WCA EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
WCA EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES, TALKS, AND CLASSES
We offer customized educational activities, talks, and classes where you will get the unique opportunity to learn first-hand from a National Geographic Explorer. Topics covered include sea turtles, the arribada phenomenon, wildlife and marine monitoring, science and technology, water quality, community conservation, sustainable development and tourism. Available for students and life-learners of all ages. Contact us now to get a quote and start your educational journey. Starting at $150 per activity, private and group rates available.
SEA TURTLES
EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCES
EDUCATIONAL
CONTENT
COMMUNITY
SCIENCE
SEA TURTLES
WATER QUALITY
BIODIVERSITY
MARINE LIFE
COMMUNITY SCIENCE
VIRTUAL FIELD SCHOOL
CERTIFICATE COURSE
“Sustainable Communities & Environmental Change in Latin America”
Join us to take part in this innovative Virtual Field School and learn from experts whose work with local communities across Latin America has been funded by the National Geographic Society.
This certificate course is an interdisciplinary social science and humanities field school aimed at both the university student and life-learner alike. It is for those interested in sustainable development, nature conservation, and socioecological change.
This course offers seminars, virtual field-trips, and one-to-one mentorship by field experts across Latin America. It will give you an inside look at critical development and conservation issues, while supporting local communities and grassroots non-profit organizations.
Want to learn more? Watch the Virtual Field School trailer below or watch it on YouTube.
WCA EDUCATIONAL CONTENT
WCA TOURS
THOUSANDS OF
TURTLES TOURS
Duration: 2 hrs (tour times vary, start times typically 5–7 am or 3–8 pm)
Meeting Point: your hotel or vacation rental
Price: $150 flat fee + $35 per person (8 max)
Join us on an awe-inspiring educational experience to witness thousands of turtles nesting at Ostional. Local guide, community fund donation, taxes and fees are included. Book now and we'll take care of the rest.
What’s included:
Meet an expert, local guide, informational leaflet, certificate, reusable bag, sticker, community fund donation, taxes and fees are included. Personal headsets available upon request.
BLUE SEAS TOURS:
HALF DAY BOAT EXPEDITION
Duration: 4 hrs (8 am –12 pm or 2–6 pm)
Meeting Point: Pilos Bar, Playa Garza
Price: $550 flat rate (up to 10 people)
Go on a boat expedition with National Geographic explorer and marine biologist Dr. Vanessa Bezy. Have the opportunity to observe sea turtles mating and swimming in the open ocean, as well as other marine life such as dolphins and rays, stop at a shipwreck to snorkel and learn about coral reef ecosystems.
Whats included:
Meet an expert, drinks, snacks, snorkels, fins, comfortable boat with bathroom and shade, laminated educational sheets and field guides.
DIVE DEEPER EXPEDITIONS:
CUSTOM MULTI-DAY PACKAGE
Duration: 3 days
Meeting Point: your hotel or vacation rental
Price: starting from $245 per person for a group of 10 people
Dive deeper with our immersive 3-day Dive Deeper Expedition at The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. Head out on a boat excursion to observe sea turtles and marine life in the ocean. Snorkel and learn about coral reef ecosystems. Visit a sea turtle hatchery. Witness the arribadas—a year-round simultaneous sea turtle nesting event. Experience pura vida (pure life) with Costa Rican lunch and dinner. Plus more!
Contact us to create your customized package and get a quote!
SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE
Duration: 2 hrs
Meeting Point: Olga's Bar, Playa Pelada
Meeting Time: 7–9 AM
Price: $30 kids / $45 adults
Learn first-hand what it’s like to be a sea turtle scientist! Meet Dr. Vanessa Bezy, a National Geographic Explorer and sea turtle biologist with ten years of experience working in the area. Then set out for a walk on the beach to look for sea turtles, learn how to identify turtle tracks, and learn how to collect data from a life-size model of a sea turtle and mock-nest.
What’s included:
Meet an expert, life-sized sea turtle model, training and all materials and supplies to collect data
NATURE TOUR
Duration: 2 hrs
Meeting Point: North entrance to Playa Pelada
Meeting Time: 7–9 AM
Price: $30 kids / $45 adults
Explore local trails, learn all about the tropical dry forest ecosystem, find and identify creatures in the jungle. Take a walk through the jungle along local trails. Learn about our camera trap study and how you can contribute scientific data by submitting observations on the iNaturalist app. Wildlife Photographer Carlos Clemente will document the entire experience and share photos with you.
What’s included: Species guides, binoculars, photography
WATER QUALITY
MONITORING EXPERIENCE
Duration: 2 hrs
Meeting Point: your hotel or vacation rental
Meeting Time: 12–2 PM
Price: $30 kids/$45 adults
Join us to learn all about the local watershed and our water quality program with this hands-on activity. Follow along as we visit several locations, watch a demonstration of our procedure, and collect a water sample yourself. Then, we’ll visit our lab to prepare the samples for incubation. You’ll get the results of our analysis the next day!
What’s included:
Meet an expert, supplies and materials, training, lab visit, and results
SEA TURTLE
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
REPORT SEA TURTLES
SIGHTINGS
SEA TURTLE
SCIENCE SERIES
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY SERIES
OLIVE RIDLEY
SEA TURTLE FLYER
LIGHTS OUT
CAMPAIGN
WATER QUALITY
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
WATER QUALITY
PROGRAM STORY MAPS
WASTE WATER
GUIDE
WATER QUALITY
RESULTS
BLUE WATER
TASK FORCE
WATER QUALITY
VIDEOS
WATER QUALITY
QUIZ
SEPTIC INSPECTION
CHECK LIST
NOSARA WASTE WATER
TREATMENT OPTIONS
WCA BIODIVERSITY
PROGRAM & RESOURCES
BIODIVERSITY
PROGRAM
OCEAN-FRIENDLY
GUIDE
WILDLIFE ID
GUIDE
PRINTABLE COLORING
PAGES
SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
VIDEOS
iNATURALIST
PROJECT
BECOME A WCA COMMUNITY SCIENTIST
iNATURALIST
APP
SEEK
APP
MERLIN BIRD
ID APP
eBIRD
APP
MARINE DEBRIS
TRACKER
NATURE'S
NOTEBOOK
ZOONIVERSE
APP
GLOBE OBSERVER
APP
MARINE LIFE
COMMUNITY SCIENCE
BIODIVERSITY
