Education
The Turtle Conservancy offers innovative educational opportunities tailored to students of all ages, encompassing both classroom-based learning and immersive field experiences. Some of our programs follow a structured formal curriculum, while others adopt a more dynamic and interactive approach, fostering insightful and interesting conversations and awareness.
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Partnership with the Thacher School
The TC has a partnership with the Thacher School, a private high school in Ojai. Each year, we co-teach a field biology and conservation course, focusing on the captivating world of reptiles and chelonian wildlife. We also offer internship opportunities to students, providing hands-on experiences in animal husbandry, vet care, field studies, and more.
Internships
The Turtle Conservancy welcomes a small number of high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Applicants can choose between a minimal four-week internship in field research or one in animal care and husbandry. Interns must complete a research project and present it during their last week. Minimum age is 18 years old, although exceptions can be made for those demonstrating exceptional abilities with strong experience in animal care or related fields of interest. Interested individuals should submit a letter to the Turtle Conservancy expressing their area(s) of interest.
Helping out an injured turtle
Telemetry tracking of Geometric Tortoises in South Africa
Tortoise enrichment on a hot summer day
Head of education Manci Rasmussen
Workshops for Students & Educators
The TC’s educational programming extends beyond the classroom. Through community outreach and speaking engagements, we cover varied subjects, from turtle behavior and biology to advice for pursuing a career in conservation. Sessions can be designed to cater to select groups of adults or children, while offering workshops for teachers who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in environmental education.
Contact: Manci Rasmussen - Head of Education
manci@turtleconservancy.org
Turtle Camp
Through our affiliation with Thacher, we successfully hosted a few summers of Turtle Camp—a fully funded, weeklong program at our Ojai campus. This unique initiative caters to inner-city teens, providing them with insights into diverse topics ranging from turtle biology to conservation strategies.
Turtle Camp is only open to lower income students by invitation only.
