Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

For the past two years Iâ€™ve spent enough time sitting in a tepid, chlorine filled pool to turn any fingers to raisins. Through screaming children and freak hail storms I saved enough money to purchase plane tickets to both Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic where I was able to 1) escape the hail and 2) become involved with coral reef and sea turtle conservation projects. While I was abroad I worked to restore mangrove forests (see photo), clean up beaches, strengthen coral reefs, and protect turtle nesting areas. The service projects my group and I were involved in had been established by locals and powered by people like us. Because of our work they were able to make huge progress. This service expanded my passion for conservation and cemented my decision to pursue a degree in environmental science.
Iâ€™ve been digging in the dirt and recording data since my elementary school days at a special focus environmental school. From the science of compost piles, to the life cycle of the leatherback sea turtle, getting my hands dirty has always been an important aspect of learning for me. Working on these projects made me feel like I could make a difference.