About SEEtheWILD

SEEtheWILD works to support conservation of endangered wildlife by promoting alternatives to destructive activities, increasing critical funding for conservation, and inspiring new wildlife activists. We believe that conservation travel is the next big trend in ecotourism.

We promote conservation projects that offer ways for travelers to directly support their efforts and partner with top responsible tourism operators to get people to these sites. And we work with conservation organizations to ensure that we avoid causing harm to wildlife.

The trips on our site offer travelers the opportunity to support and participate in inspiring and successful wildlife conservation programs around the world.

Background & History

SEEtheWILD is an expansion of SEE Turtles, founded by conservationists Brad Nahill & Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. SEE Turtles connects travelers and volunteers with community-based turtle conservation projects in Costa Rica, Mexico, Trinidad, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

Since our launch in 2008, the project has generated more than $400,000 in support for turtle conservation and nearby communities, educated millions about turtle conservation travel, our activists have taken more than 4,000 actions for wildlife conservation, and our volunteers have filled more than 2,000 shifts at turtle nesting beaches. Learn more about the accomplishments of SEE Turtles.

Staff Bios

Brad Nahill: Co-founder & Director

Brad launched SEE Turtles with Dr. Wallace J. Nichols in 2008 to build the market for sea turtle conservation tourism. He has worked in sea turtle conservation, ecotourism, and environmental education for 12 years with organizations including Ocean Conservancy, Rare, Asociacion ANAI (Costa Rica), and the Academy of Natural Sciences (Philadelphia). He has also consulted for several ecotourism companies and non-profits, including EcoTeach and Costa Rican Adventures.

He has authored several book chapters, blogs, and abstracts on turtle conservation and ecotourism and has presented at major travel conferences and sea turtle symposia. Brad has a BS in Environmental Economics from Penn State University and teaches a class on ecotourism at Mount Hood Community College.

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols: Co-founder

Dr. Nichols has been a leading ocean wildlife conservationist for 15 years working on scientific research, education, and capacity building. J. co-founded several conservation groups including Ocean Revolution, WiLDCOAST, and the Grupo Tortuguero, a coalition of fishermen, local residents, and conservationists spanning Mexico’s Pacific coast. He is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences, former President of the International Sea Turtle Society, and Eastern Pacific co-chair for the IUCN’s Marine Turtle Specialists Group.

Dr. Nichols is a member of numerous advisory boards including Oceana, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, and Save Our Shores. Dr. Nichols has a PhD. in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Arizona, a Master’s of Environmental Management from Duke University, and BS in Biology from DePauw University.

Paula von Weller: Research Associate

Paula has worked on protected species projects for over 10 years. Focusing primarily on marine mammal and sea turtle field research for environmental consulting firms, government agencies, and conservation groups, her fieldwork has taken her to Alaska, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Micronesia, the Arctic, Australia, Latin America, and across the Gulf Coast and Southeastern United States.

She has worked on sea turtle nesting beaches in Florida and South Carolina, surveyed for turtles in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, and assisted sea turtle facilities in rescue and rehabilitation. She has a BS in Biological Sciences from Portland State University.