ARCAS and the wild animals it protects benefit from the support of over 500 volunteers per year both in Petn and Hawaii. Volunteers contribute technical expertise and increase the financial self-sufficiency of ARCAS’s conservation efforts while themselves gaining valuable work experience and an insight into Guatemalan culture.

PETEN The Wild Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center situated on 45 hectares of forested land on Lake Peten Itza across from the town of Flores in the northern Peten region of Guatemala, 45 kms from the world famous Mayan archeological site of Tikal. Volunteers at the Rescue Center help in feeding and caring for the animals at the center which include parrots, macaws, spider and howler monkeys, margays, ocelots, coatimundis, taras, jaguars and kinkajous. Nearly all of these animals have been seized from smugglers and are very young, needing constant care and attention. There are also opportunities to take part in veterinary medical treatment, animal releases and wildlife surveys, though the scheduling of these activities is irregular and we can't guarantee you will be able to participate. At the Rescue Center, volunteers live in a spacious two story wooden building situated in a beautiful tropical forest with comfortable wooden bunk beds, "western" shower and toilet facilities and US-style 110 electricity. Volunteers eat and socialize at a separate spacious kitchen/dining room rancho and there is a very nice floating dock for late afternoon swims.

HAWAII Our other volunteer program is at our sea turtle and mangrove conservation project near the town of Hawaii on the Pacific coast of Guatemala where volunteers assist in conducting nightly patrols of area beaches in search of nesting sea turtles, collection and burial of eggs in the hatchery and collection of research data. Volunteers can also take part in the iguana captive breeding program, mangrove reforestations, educational activities in area schools and other community projects. The turtle season in Hawaii is from July to December with peak months of August and September for olive ridleys. For the much scarcer leatherbacks, (who, unfortunately, are going extinct in the Pacific) the nesting season is November to January.

For more information please visit the organization directly at: http://www.arcasguatemala.com/