After spending a month in Parque Hawaii at ARCAS I wasn’t ready to leave. During my stay I assisted with daily care of the animals and grounds, assisted with research of the local otter population, and participated in a boat trip where we tagged sea turtles and took samples. The boat trip was the highlight of my stay, as I got the chance to work with the ARCAS staff and local fishermen to assist with research of sea turtles, and we also released a young turtle back into the wild. In my short time at ARCAS I learned so much about the essential conservation of endangered species, and the importance of good communication with the surrounding community whose livelihood depends on fishing. I was very impressed with the positive relationship between ARCAS and the local community. Everyone at ARCAS was so dedicated and I loved getting to know the staff, other volunteers, and our local neighbors in Hawaii. I will continue to use the knowledge of conservation I gained and the experiences I had at ARCAS throughout my career. I will never forget my time in Guatemala!