Programs Abroad

COSTA RICA - Animal Welfare at Rescue Center

	Project: Wildlife and Nature Booking Nº: CR100 Country: Costa Rica + Location: San Carlos Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: Year round, every Monday Price: 2 weeks, from 900 USD
More Photos...

Task

Taking care of and feeding animals
Cleaning cages
Assisting in repairing or building new cages

An average week for a volunteer involves cleaning and feeding the animals on a daily basis and construction and maintenance of cages. There are also observation and enrichment projects where you are encouraged to spend time observing the behaviour of the animal.

You as a volunteer should have the real desire to work and understand the animals’ situation. You are responsible for the welfare and day-to-day care of them and that involves not only the daily feeding and cleaning duties but also construction and maintenance work to improve their living conditions. The Rescue Center also releases animals that are ready to live again in the wild jungles of Costa Rica. Volunteers support the release facilities, study about how, where and when is the best moment to return animals to their natural habits.

Animals, especially the monkeys love to play. Volunteers have a lot of fun designing and creating toys for the animals and make them play. This helps the animals to overcome the traumatic experience that they have had in the past and reminds the staff and volunteers how lucky they are to have a center for these precious animals.

If you have experience in any area of conservation or veterinary experience, we would really encourage you to spend time at the center and can try to accommodate any interests that you have.The more time and effort you are willing to put into this project, the more you will get out in return.

Accommodation

Volunteers are accommodated in local Costa Rican families
Full-board, three meals per day
Host Families are close to the center

The home stay program is an important part of our project in

Costa Rica

. Living with a family creates the full immersion experience. Our host families have been carefully screened to support you improving your language skills and make new friends. You will experience a natural home setting with the hospitality for which Costa Ricans are known for. You are accommodated in your own room and you will receive full-board with three meals per day. The host family will also care for your laundry. Bathrooms might be shared with family members. With advance notice the host families can meet special dietary needs, including those of vegetarians. The standard of living of the host families is considered middle class by Costa Rican standards.

Requirements

Language:
English-speaking project; however, Spanish skills are recommended.

Skills:
No specific professional skills and experiences are required

Age:
18+ years

Vaccination:
Up-to-date tetanus shot. Additionally, please ask for medical advice in your home country and check general entry regulation.

Insurance:
Full travel & medical insurance for Costa Rica.

Visa:
Visa is required. Please consult the Costa Rican Embassy of your home country.

Details

This organization is dedicated to wildlife protection, environmental conservation as well as fostering positive cultural exchanges through education. It serves as an animal rescue center, a Spanish school and a volunteer center.

The Animal Rescue Center strives to give animals the care and respect they deserve while rehabilitating them. It is also committed to providing quality Spanish classes, where students are engaged and immersed in the Costa Rican culture. Additionally, the volunteer center offers a variety of opportunities for the local communities and foreign participants to work together in order to increase environmental conservation awareness through communication and community service. It is the center’s vision to provide all its international participants and the local Costa Rican community with a profound immersion experience that will deepen their cultural awareness and create a more environmentally conscious global citizen.

The center is situated in the heart of Costa Rica in an oasis of abundant beauty. It is thus an ideal setting for renewing your connection with yourself and the world around you. There are plenty of activities which you can enjoy during your stay in the center: you have the chance to explore its private 8 acre ecological reserve on the edge of the rainforest and you are in contact with monkeys, caimans, wild pigs, parrots and more!

Besides, you have the chance to study Spanish in a classroom situated in the biosphere and live with a Costa Rican family in a small rural community, where you can immediately practice and improve your Spanish skills. On the weekends and during your spare time you can have a lot of fun with outdoor activities like canyoneeing, rafting, kayaking, horseback rides, mountain biking or just visiting small cities and touristic attractions close-by.

Prices

Duration	in USD
2 weeks	900.-
3 weeks	1,330.-
4 weeks	1,720.-
5 weeks	2,100.-
6 weeks	2,430.-
7 weeks	2,690.-
8 weeks	2,930.-
Additional week	320.-

One time registration fee 75 USD.

What’s included:

Accommodation
3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Orientation kit
Local support
24h-Emergency Number
Daily transfer to work site

What’s not included:

Flight
Airport Pick-up
Medical Insurance
Visa (if necesary)
Personal expenses

Country

Country information Costa Rica

Costa Rica stands as one of the smallest countries in Central America with approximately 19,000 square miles and a coastline of 810 miles. The country borders Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south and the Pacific and Caribbean Sea on either side. Costa Rica is home to 4.5 million people with upwards of 350,000 people living in the capital city of San Jose.

The Costa Rican climate is commonly humid and warm year round, although temperatures in the highlands are typically colder and cloudier. Incredibly, 23% of an already small amount of densely populated land remains protected territory by National Parks and/or private reserves. This protected land is home and host to a wide variety of exotic plants, animals and social/environmental projects to ensure the protection and conservation of the tropical habitat. When walking the streets of Costa Rica, make sure to ask Costa Rican natives, who typically know heaps, about their national treasures.

Further, Costa Rica is the most politically stable country in Central America, with a disbanded army for more than sixty years and a relatively high standard of education. Tourism is one of the main economic income sources for Costa Rica. With over 2 million tourists exploring Costa Rica each year, the country stands as the most visited nation in the Central American region. Through eco-tourism programs, (which CR was one of the first countries offering this type of programming), range of activities and year round tropical weather, the country attracts tourists from all over the world.

Aside from protected land, the true jewels of Costa Rica are the surrounding islands with serene beaches and breath-taking nature. This country offers beautiful landscapes for dream vacations of beach lounging, surfing, snorkeling, hiking volcanoes, zip-lining, rafting, bird watching, fishing and/or exploring rain forests.

The dry season of Costa Rica is between December through April, though like most Latin countries, schools are closed, beaches full and finding hotels may be tricky at last minute notice. A second peak season arrives with the Europeans and North Americans during June and July. As the off-season arrives in May, so does the green with the rainy season. Lastly, Costa Rica encompasses year round possibilities for surfers, fishing enthusiasts and wildlife lovers alike. Depending what coast you want to surf, what fish you want to catch and what bird you hope to see, there are some variations on ideal months to further research.

Finally, Costa Rica is a perfect place to learn Spanish, as the Spanish spoken here is typically slow without strong accents and layers of slang. The Costa Ricans are very friendly, energetic people and rarely without a smile!