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Country: COSTA RICA
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Program description: |
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Volunteer in Costa Rica with ongoing conservation projects in bird conservation, in turtle conservation, eco-tourism, work in a zoo, work at an old person'a care center, work at an organic fertilizer farm, or combine eco-tourism with teaching.
Bird Conservation Project:
Global Crossroad manages a wonderful conservation project in Costa Rica Volunteer program, which aims to protect two most threatened birds of South American. The GREAT GREEN MACAW, Ara ambigua, the second largest New World Psittacine, has a limited distribution in lowland wet, primarily Atlantic, forests between eastern Honduras and northern Colombia. Currently, active nests are found in only 5% of the macaw's historic breeding range, due to massive, rapid deforestation complicated by poaching nestlings for the pet trade.
As a direct consequence, the great green macaw is threatened by habitat loss and is currently recognized internationally as an endangered species. Because the macaw depends upon a complex array of food resources, dispersed over large areas, conserving its habitat will likely protect a multitude of other resident species about which we have little information. In addition, we selected this macaw as a focal species because of its potential of serving as a charismatic flagship that could rally national support for the corridor.
Our project to help the great green macaws is located in a protected area which name is Bosque del Toro in San Carlos area, northern part of Costa Rica, and there volunteers will have to work with another Birds Conservation organizations.
THE SCARLET MACAW is one of the most spectacular and rarest bird around the world. In Costa Rica, specially, in Tárcoles (exactly where we have our Birds Conservation Project) we have one of the biggest population of these magnificent bird. They nest in natural holes of the Almond trees. Their basic food is the Almond Tree fruit, alternating with another seeds when they are in a shortage.
The Scarlet Macaw usually raises two little birds, but they also usually, have problems because they do not have enough nesting trees or laperos take the little birds to sell them illegally as pets.
Volunteer Jobs:
Monitoring birds.
Monitoring nests.
Monitoring little birds.
Patrolling nests and concentration areas.
Reforestation with trees and plants, which are natural food for the green & scarlet macaws.
Taking care, recuperation and reintroduction of bounded and sick birds.
Delimitation of the main concentration and nesting areas.
Protection of the drinking places, and construction of some new if necessary.
Helping in the instauration of a Theme Park in Tárcoles and at Bosque del Toro.
Communal Education about Birds Conservation.
Repopulation projects.
Technical follow-up of the macaws' populations.
Eco-Tourism Project - Heliconias:
Located between two volcanoes, the Tenorio and the Miravalles, the Heliconias eco-tourism project of Cost a Rica, aims to improve the quality of living for their families by protecting existing forests in the region of the Tenorio Volcano. The project also aims to develop a butterfly garden, build a conference center, establish a snake farm, and develop a biological center in order to attract more tourists and preserve the locally available flora and fauna. This eco-tourism project focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, personal growth, and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. Volunteering for this project involves helping to minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment and enhance the cultural integrity of the local people. Our goal is to teach people and enable them to enjoy and learn about the natural, historical, and cultural characteristics of unique environments while preserving the integrity of those sites and stimulating the economic development opportunities in local communities.
As an conservation volunteers in Costa Rica, you will upgrade the existing facilities and help develop creative eco-tourism related projects. Work includes gardening around the lodge, making signs for the already existing trails, helping with the construction of a classroom for the environmental education program, making new cages for the snakes, establishing a butterfly-garden, and participating in related project jobs.
Old Persons' Care Center:
Like those in other developing nations, the elderly care centers of Costa Rica need help and love. People in these centers lead a more fulfilling life with the care and encouragement of volunteers from across the world. In conjunction with local organizations in Costa Rica, Global Crossroad provides opportunities for volunteers to work with the neediest elderly center residents and make a profound difference in their lives.
In the Volunteer Costa Rica elderly care project, your work will be rigorous, but much appreciated by the people you help. You will lead them in various activities, help them to cook and garden, distribute food, and teach English. You will accompany them as they go about their daily activities and become a positive influence in their lives. Volunteers can work from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, six days a week. These centers provide a home to over 100 elderly people and feature open green areas that provide a peaceful environment for the residents.
Organic Fertilizer Farm:
The Volunteer Costa Rica Program offers opportunities to work in an organic fertilizer farm located in Puriscal, a small rural town in the Province of San José. The project's aim is to reintroduce a safe, effective organic fertilizer which had fallen into disuse once artificial fertilizers became popular.
Costa Rica volunteers will help a local women's group to develop and market this all-natural alternative fertilizer. This will be an excellent opportunity to see first-hand how you can directly affect the local community and help improve the ecological balance for the entire area.
Volunteers for this project can also become involved with other community activities, such as participating in a neighborhood clean-up day, planting trees, and others as described in the Community Volunteers Project.
Turtle Conservation:
Working with the turtles is an unforgettable experience, and our local partner desperately needs volunteer help. These beautiful sea turtles may become extinct within the next 20 years if their rate of decline is not stopped. Conservation volunteers will work on a project intended to protect the Lora Turtle's nesting population on the Ostional beach. The program is designed to protect the nests from human poachers and, more recently, from the erosion of the beach. Volunteers may also work with the local Community Association to implement management strategies according to regulations proposed by Costa Rica's Environment Ministry. The nesting season of the Lora turtle runs mainly from May to December, peaking in December with well over 1,000,000 turtles arriving on the beach to nest.
Each season, the Volunteer Costa Rica turtle conservation project recruits volunteers to help in the research and conservation work, such as night patrolling, working in the hatcheries, collecting eggs, and rescuing turtles. During this time, the volunteer will have a chance to work directly with turtles, taking carapace and nest-dimension measurements, collecting eggs, and tagging the rear flipper of the turtles.
This project is available all year long, but is best during Costa Rica's High Season, from May to December.
Conservation Work in Protected Areas:
Like those of other developing countries, the local people of Costa Rica also need help understanding the importance of nature and its preservation. Safeguarding the wonderful natural feature of Costa Rica is only possible if conservation work starts at the grass roots level. In this Costa Rica volunteer project, volunteers choose one of four Protected Areas to work on different conservation projects.
This eco-tourism project focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, personal growth, and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. Volunteering for this project involves helping to minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment and enhance the cultural integrity of the local people. Our goal is to teach people and enable them to enjoy and learn about the natural, historical, and cultural characteristics of unique environments while preserving the integrity of those sites and stimulating the economic development opportunities in local communities.
As conservation volunteers in Costa Rica, you will upgrade the existing facilities and help develop creative eco-tourism related projects. The primary job of the volunteers will be to maintain and improve the facilities of the projects, help in constructing trails, cleaning the areas, and helping and guiding the tourists. Participants will live in the Rangers' houses, and all meals are included.
Volunteers can choose from four different areas:
1. Carara National Park: Located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, Carara is the perfect place for the Red Macaws' nesting and observation. Small mammals are also abundant here. It is only 2 hours from San José and very near Jacó Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Costa Rica. Volunteers can work constructing and cleaning trails, guiding tours, helping in the ranger's house, patrolling the park, making signs for the trails, and many other tasks.
2. Tenorio Volcano National Park: This park is located in the Northern area of Costa Rica. Here you can observe many different species of exotic plants and animals, and swim in the Río Celeste, a river which suddenly turns to light blue because of certain natural minerals coming from the nearby volcano. Volunteers here will help the rangers with constructing the trails, making signs, cleaning, guiding tours, patrolling, and helping in the ranger's house.
3. Curú Wild Life Refuge: Located in the Península de Nicoya, this amazing refuge is always eager to receive volunteers to help them taking care of the Spider Monkeys, cleaning the park and the tourists' buildings, customer service, guiding tours, etc. In their free time, volunteers are welcome to visit the beautiful beaches of the area.
4. Bosque Tropical del Toro, Private Refuge: This is a wonderful protected area located in the northern plains of Costa Rica. You can find a lot of things to do here, and a lot of fun too. Volunteers can help with forestry activities, constructing trails, organic agriculture, constructing the volunteers' new lodge, and working very closely with the Amigos de la Lapa (Friends of the Green Macaw) Project. Volunteers' acceptance to this area is to be considered by this group and the manager of the Bosque Tropical del Toro.
These Protected Areas serve as educational centers for the community. This project furthers that work by also focusing on developing environmental education for children and the community, and establishing different sustainable systems to guarantee conservation of flora, fauna and water resources in the areas.
The Costa Rican Protected Areas are especially proud of the diversity of birds (red and green macaws) and butterflies (morphos) that live in their forest as well as the small mammals such as ant eaters, raccoons, and others that proliferate within their boundaries.
Work in a Zoo:
A wonderful zoo in the Northern area of Costa Rica needs volunteers to help with the daily care of these unique creatures.
Biologists, veterinarians, and other volunteers are welcomed to this beautiful facility which houses wonderful tropical animals from the area, as well as animals from other latitudes. Become a part of the conservation work that this zoo carries on.
A lot of work, a lot of help is required, which you can provide.
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General program information: |
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Program open to: Everyone
Living arrangements on the program: Varies
How long does the program last?: 1-2 weeks
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Benefits and advantages of the program: |
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Beautiful Costa Rica has something for everybody! Although smaller than West Virginia, this country offers endless adventurous opportunities, even after a few weeks of travel. Whatever your interests - eco-tourism, bird watching, adventure, rafting, golf, or just relaxing on an unspoiled tropical beach - you'll find something exciting to do in this tropical and secure paradise.The Volunteer Costa Rica Program offers you amazing opportunities to experience one of the most exotic and undiscovered vacation destinations in the world, while volunteering in unique conservation and social projects. Global Crossroad invites you to consider this Peace Corps alternative, where you can help the children, teach indigenous peoples, and put your skills to work in grass-roots level development and conservation efforts. During your free time, explore towering and fiery volcanoes, pristine beaches, raging rivers, and virgin rain forests. Observe the abundant wildlife, or get to know the warm and hospitable people of Costa Rica.
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Cost or price of this program: |
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Cost varies- Starts from $699 US
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