Marine Life and Coastal Restoration

Arrive into Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo (SDQ) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head directly to Bayahibe and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Start learning from the FUNDEMAR team about marine conservation and the impactful work you’ll be doing during your time in the Caribbean.

Divide into small groups as you familiarize yourself with the tools and techniques of marine life conservation. Service initiatives may consist of building coral reef structures, marine life and coastal erosion monitoring, building buoys, and others, depending on current local needs. Enjoy an evening getting to know your group and your beautiful beach town over dinner and a gorgeous sunset.

Take a boat ride to Saona Island where a group of community members protects vulnerable sea turtle populations and learn how they’re creating change at the grassroots level. Participate in a beach walk late at night to look for turtles and help preserve the eggs they lay and, if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of a mama turtle laying eggs!

Sleep in and enjoy the beach after a long night. Once you return to Bayahibe, you’ll take a bus ride north to Sabana de la Mar in a remote corner of the island. Arrive in time for a discussion about your next service projects and a delicious dinner.

Work alongside park rangers and youth volunteers in Los Haitises National Park during your last day of service. Help restore mangrove ecosystems and the marine life that rely on them, including local dolphin populations that feed in the Samaná Bay. Take in the sights of the park, home to a high percentage of the biodiversity and fauna indigenous to the country, during a boat tour that includes a stop to visit some ancient Taino caves.

Head back to the capital to the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the first university, cathedral, and hospital in the Americas. Tour of the walled city and learn about the deep history of the first European settlement in the Americas. Enjoy a special dinner and dance show at a typical Dominican restaurant.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Say goodbye to your new friends and the beautiful DR. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.