Programs Abroad

COSTA RICA - Environmental Conservation at Biological Reserve

	Project: Wildlife and Nature Booking Nº: CR102 Country: Costa Rica + Location: San Carlos Minimum Stay: 2 weeks Start dates: Year round, every Monday Price: 2 weeks, from 900 USD
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Task

Maintain and improve the trail system
Maintain and improve facilities of natural reserve
Bird feeding at natural reserve
Taking care of natural gardens and tree nursery
Maintain and improve the butterfly farm
Develop facilities to increase the survival chance for released animals
Research on animals and compiling reports and statistics
Prepare tree seedlings for delivery to reforestation programs

During your time at the Biological Reserve you will have a number of specific assignments as well as encouraged to be proactive and develop your own ideas that might be applied for the benefit of the reserve. Chiefly, responsibilities of volunteers are the maintenance and improvement of hiking trails on the reserve’s facilities.

Trails should be designed for the easy to moderate hiker. The goal of the final trail production is to get guests a bit dirty, prevent options of getting lost and have safe infrastructure to cross rivers and avoid climbing over dead trees.

If you are more interested in doing garden work or taking care and feeding birds, butterflies, turtles, bats or plants, you can be assigned to work in the reserve’s reforestation and nursery project. You can also help reverse the damage done by deforestation by preparing tree seedlings for delivery to reforestation programs. Volunteers are also needed to do research on the animals and compile reports and statistics. From time to time it is necessary to clean the surroundings of the reserve and to pick up the rubbish people have carelessly left behind.

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 as living with a family creates the full immersion experience. Our host families have been carefully screened to support you improving your language skills and build your community away from home. Further, you will experience a natural home setting with the hospitality for which Costa Ricans are known for.

Volunteers are accommodated with a private room and three meals per day. With advance notice the host families can meet special dietary needs, including those of vegetarians. Bathrooms will most likely be shared and host families provide laundry services. 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 and fostering positive cultural exchanges through education. It serves as an animal rescue center, Spanish school and volunteer center.

The Animal Rescue Center strives to give wildlife 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 service. It is the center’s vision to provide all 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, thus an ideal setting for renewing your connection with the world around you. There are plenty of activities which you can enjoy during your stay in the center such as explorng the eight private acres of ecological reserve land, resting on the edge of the rainforest. Here you will be in close contact with wild animals like monkeys, caimans, wild pigs, parrots and more!

In addition to all of these listed highlights, 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. On the weekends and during your spare time we also invite our volunteers to check out the reserve activities like canyoneering, rafting, kayaking, horseback rides, mountain biking, 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!