Climate change is reshaping life at Costa Rica’s Pacuare Reserve. Rising sand temperatures skew sea turtle hatchlings toward all females, and coastal erosion threatens nesting sites. EPI students witness these impacts firsthand, joining nightly beach patrols, collecting data, and learning how science and conservation practices help protect endangered turtles.

At Pacuare Reserve, a young girl saw a leatherback turtle for the first time and discovered her scientific calling. Today, programs like EPI Costa Rica’s continue to inspire local students to protect biodiversity and become agents of change.