Get involved
Training
Required before your first night. A short refresher each season.
- Session
- Two hoursOnce, before your first night.
- Refresher
- Each seasonA short one, before nesting.
- Languages
- Tamil and EnglishSay which when you apply.
- Safeguarding
- CompulsoryRules for under-18s below.
Two hours, once
What the session covers
- The animal and the seasonThe basics, as on the Ridley page.
- The night codeNo white light, flash or phone torch. Pick up nothing. Stay behind the leader. Silence near a nest. And why each rule exists.
- Recognising a nestReading tracks, spotting a body pit, and calling the captain instead of investigating.
- Managing peopleKeeping a group together in the dark, handling someone who wants a photo, and turning away anyone who has been drinking.
- Safety and the stop callTides, currents, dogs, obstacles. Any volunteer can call a stop and is never questioned for it.
- SafeguardingCompulsory. See the rules for under-18s below.
Training runs in Tamil and English. Say which when you apply.
Non-negotiable
Code of conduct
- The animal comes firstLess disturbance to the turtle always wins over a better experience for people.
- No lightNo white light, flash or raised screens. Red light only, held low, used by the captain.
- Hands offNothing is touched, moved, dug up or carried: no hatchling, egg or nesting female, for any reason.
- Take nothingNo shells, eggs, sand or souvenirs.
- Around minorsNever alone with a child who is not yours. Under-18s need written guardian consent and an attending guardian. No photos of a minor without guardian consent.
- SoberNo alcohol before or during, for anyone.
- PhotosNo flash. No geotags. Nothing published that reveals a nest location.
- Media and officialsDo not speak for us. Refer them to us.
Safeguarding
Under-18s
These rules cannot be waived by a parent or teacher.
- Guardian consent
- In writing from a parent or legal guardian before the event, timestamped. See consent and waiver.
- A guardian attends
- The consenting adult attends and stays responsible throughout. No drop-offs.
- Never one-to-one
- No volunteer is ever alone with a child who is not their own, for any reason.
- Photos
- Taking a photo of a minor needs guardian consent. Publishing it needs separate consent. No flash for anyone.
- Minimum age
- Set per event and stated at registration.
- Raising a concern
- Tell the site captain immediately and the organisers the same night. Formal complaints go to the grievance officer.
If someone breaks the code
Small slips
Corrected on the spot
Serious
The night ends at once
Handling an animal, using flash near a nest, being drunk, or any issue involving a minor. Reviewed before they return. Some cases end involvement permanently.
To raise a conduct issue, use contact. For your own data or a formal complaint, use the grievance route.