Plane Tickets (10 per year) – STC staff and researchers must travel frequently between the U.S. and project sites in Costa Rica, Panama, Bermuda and Nevis. Travel also is required several times a year to New York and Washington DC for activities related to lobbying and fundraising. Airline tickets for most of these trips (approximately 10 per year) average about $500 each. $500 each
Research Station Mattress Replacement (28) – Every year, STC must replace all the mattresses in the dorm rooms at our Tortuguero Field Station. The salt, dirt, moisture and associate mildew make this an annual expense prior to the arrival of our volunteer turtle researchers and beach surveyors. The mattresses cost about $50 each. To replace all 28 mattresses in the dorm is about $1,400. Any portion of this amount would be appreciated greatly. Up to $1,400
Sponsor first-aid kits for one year – In order to ensure the health and safety of researchers, volunteers, and staff, STC must regularly stock first-aid kits at its John H. Phipps Biological Field Station in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Sponsorship of this item would provide enough kits for an entire year. $1,000
Sponsor salary for turtle track surveyor for leatherback or green turtle season – STC employs a resident of Tortuguero Village to count turtle tracks every morning during leatherback and green turtle nesting seasons. These daily track surveys provide valuable data on the numbers of turtles that emerge on the beach nightly. Sponsorship of this item would pay for the track surveyor’s salary for either leatherback or green turtle season. $1,000
Sponsor purchase of one-year subscription to the Foundation Search Online Foundation Directory – Foundations provide a significant percentage of the funding necessary for STC’s ongoing sea turtle research and conservation efforts. Sponsorship of this item would provide STC’s development personnel with access to an extensive online database of potential funders for STC’s work. $1,500
Sponsor a paid, one-semester internship for STC’s Gainesville, FL office – Because STC’s headquarters are located near the University of Florida and Santa Fe College, many opportunities exist to recruit interns to assist staff in many areas including communications and marketing. Sponsorship of this item would allow STC to provide a stipend for an intern, which would make the internship more competitive and attract highly qualified applicants. $2,000
Sponsor purchase of equipment/supplies needed for one turtle season – During a typical turtle nesting season in Tortuguero, STC researchers require many different items including flashlights, binoculars, batteries, and hand-held radios. Sponsorship of this item would cover the costs of providing these supplies.$2,000
Sponsor travel costs for Florida staff to attend the Annual International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation – This conference is the world’s largest gathering of sea turtle scientists and conservationists. The sharing of knowledge and networking that takes place at this annual meeting is invaluable to STC staff. Sponsoring this item would pay for the travel costs associated with attending the annual symposium. $2,000
Station Building Repairs (4) – Each of the four main buildings that compose STC’s biological field station in Tortuguero is in need of roofing repairs. The materials and supplies for each building repair will cost approximately $2,500 each. The roofing repairs can be accomplished by STC’s maintenance personnel. All we need are the supplies. $2,500 each building
Sponsor computer equipment upgrade – Occasionally STC must upgrade its computer hardware, including computers, printers and scanners. Sponsorship of this item would cover the costs of doing so. $2,500
Sponsor one Tortuguero Research Assistant for leatherback turtle season – STC recruits about eight research assistants each leatherback turtle season in Tortuguero, Costa Rica. These assistants, recruited heavily from Latin America, are vital to STC’s efforts to gather information on and protect Tortuguero’s turtles. Sponsorship of this item will pay for room and board for one of these assistants for a leatherback turtle season. $2,500
Sponsor travel costs for STC Costa Rica staff to attend the annual International Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation – This conference is the world’s largest gathering of sea turtle scientists and conservationists. The sharing of knowledge and networking that takes place at this annual meeting is invaluable to STC staff. Sponsoring this item would pay for the travel costs for STC’s Costa Rica staff to attend the annual symposium. $3,000
Sponsor the Leatherback Field Program Coordinator for one season – Each year STC recruits a highly qualified person, often from Latin America, to head up the leatherback monitoring program. This person is responsible for coordinating the work of eight research assistants and several volunteers. Sponsorship of this item would pay for the salary of the coordinator for one leatherback season. $4,000
Sponsor the printing of one issue of the quarterly Velador newsletter – STC produces a quarterly newsletter, Velador, to keep members, the media, and the public informed of the activities of the STC as well as issues affecting sea turtles. Sponsorship of this item will cover the costs of printing one issue of Velador.$4,000
Sponsor boat fuel and maintenance for leatherback turtle season – STC maintains several boats to provide transportation between the John H. Phipps Biological Field Station and Tortuguero’s sea turtle nesting beaches. In addition to transporting staff and researchers, STC often provides transportation to Tortuguero National Park Rangers and other law enforcement officers involved with anti-poaching efforts in Tortuguero. Sponsoring this item will cover the costs of boat fuel and maintenance for leatherback turtle season. $4,000
Sponsor costs of station security for leatherback season – Due to the remoteness of the John H. Phipps Biological Field Station, STC contracts security personnel to ensure the safety of STC staff and volunteers. Sponsorship of this item would cover the costs of providing security at the station during the leatherback season for two months. $4,000
Sponsor Green Turtle Field Program Coordinator for one season – Each year STC recruits a highly qualified person, often from Latin America, to head up the green turtle monitoring program. This person is responsible for coordinating the work of 15-20 research assistants and several volunteers. Sponsorship of this item would pay for the salary of the coordinator for one green turtle season. $4,500
Sponsor the purchase of one 50 HP, four-stroke boat motor – STC is in the process of replacing the two-stroke boat motors currently being used in Tortuguero with cleaner and more efficient four-stroke motors. Although two motors have already been replaced, we need to replace two more. Sponsorship of this item will pay for one, 50 HP four-stroke boat motor. $7,000
Sponsor one satellite transmitter and satellite time – STC, in partnership with researchers around the world, conducts satellite tracking studies of sea turtles. This research provides valuable data about the movements of sea turtles after they have left nesting beaches. Sponsorship of this item would pay for the costs of one satellite transmitter, the satellite time and travel costs to attach the transmitter. $7,500
Sea Turtle Conservancy
