National Park Volunteer Project in Costa Rica!

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INTRO: Would you like to work on as a park ranger on the most incredible conservation site of Costa Rica? Do you have a passion for nature? Then you should volunteer on our 'National Park Volunteer’ project!

DETAILS: As a volunteer on this project will help the rangers at Ranger Stations around Corcovado National Park and Caño Island (a protected marine area and PRIME dive and snorkel spot in Costa Rica). The rangers need your help because there is not enough staff to cover all shifts and for safety reasons it’s best to have always 2-3 people on the site. Often staff or rangers are alone on the island / ranger station which can potentially be very dangerous if something happens. There is not enough resources form the Ministry of Environment (MINAET) to cover extra rangers. Green Life Volunteers wants to contribute to the beautiful nature of these sites by helping with the daily tasks of the rangers. During your stay you can also improve your Spanish because the rangers speak and understand little to no English. They really want to learn English, so you can teach each other your languages during your volunteer time.

VOLUNTEER DUTIES:

• Beach clean-ups
• Patrol the beach and station
• Volunteer has to help with maintenance work, for example, painting, housekeeping
• Help with tourists arriving at the station (sign up process)
• Help with constructing building
• Help with cooking meals, cleaning, daily tasks at the station
• Teaching English to Ranger Station staff (they usually speak very little English)

QUALIFICATIONS: You should be able to speak some Spanish on this project, at least beginner level. The reason is that you’ll be working with Costa Ricans who often do not speak English very well. One aspect of the project is to teach the guarda-parques (rangers) English while you’re on duty.

DATES: The project is offered year around except in the month of October.

LOCATION: Corcovado National Park and Isla de Caño are located on the Osa Peninsula, in the South of Costa Rica. The ranger stations are mainly San Pedrillo Ranger Station (accessible via Drake Bay by boat), Isla de Caño (accessible via Drake Bay by boat), La Leona Ranger Station (accessible via Carate through Puerto Jimenez, by foot), and La Sirena Ranger Station (accessible via Drake Bay by boat and Carate by foot). We’ll decide during your sign-up process where you’re most needed at the time. You can give us a wish as to which ranger station you’d like to volunteer at, however, we cannot guarantee that you’ll get the ranger station you desire - as it strongly depends on where they need help and how many volunteers are at the project at a certain time.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: The project offers shared mixed-gender volunteer rooms with bunk-beds. Food is made by you - together with the park rangers. They’re not there to cook for you. You’ll help with meals as part of your job duties. The food/ produce is pre-purchased and provided by the project.

FEES: First week’s fee: $ 499. Every Additional Week: $ 179.

FEES EXPLAINED: Our organizational fee of around 299$ is included in the first week’s fee and covers the "behind the scenes costs", such as staff salaries, office space rental, transaction and bank fees, and more. Our weekly fee for additional weeks covers the costs of your host family or project accommodation and food, the local staff on your project, and a donation to help with the daily running costs of the program you will help on.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE: First and last night in San Jose in a hostel, travel to and from the international airport (airport shuttles are around 30$ each way to San Jose - We can set this up for you, just ask us during sign-up), travel to the project site (usually by public buses, which are from around 10-16$ one way), national/ International flights, travel insurance, visa costs, Any additional food or snacks besides the host family meals, extra-curricular activities.

IMPORTANT: Keep in mind that there is no internet or phone connection at some of the ranger stations. Only La Sirena Ranger Station offers limited wifi. Be aware you are in a very remote location and cut off from society.

MORE INFO AND PHOTOS: http://www.glvolunteers.com/national-park-volunteer/

APPLY: www.glvolunteers.com/apply/