Biological Research Volunteer in Costa Rica!

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INTRO: Are you interested in biology, wildlife, and love nature? And do you want to learn more about the exotic animals and nature of Costa Rica? Then you should be a volunteer or intern on our 'Biological Research Center’ project!

DETAILS: As a volunteer on this project, you will help the biological research center to collect more information and data about sea turtles, mammals, crocodiles, butterflies and other wildlife.

There is an ongoing turtle project which runs from June - December. The mammal research is offered year-around. The researchers and volunteers collect data on the mammals with camera traps and by studying their behavior, and they constantly collect information about their local distribution and movements. Another great research project is the caiman and crocodile project, which aims at gathering information about their distribution, their relationship with the environment and human impacts on the ecosystem. The butterfly garden of the Biological research center offers visitors to see butterflies and learn about their behavior. Often school kids come and visit the center, and you can help educating them about nature, butterflies, and conservation. Green Life Volunteers partners with the Biological Research Center to provide them with more researchers and volunteers to help with ongoing research projects and also establishing new research.

VOLUNTEER DUTIES:

• Help with ongoing research projects, such as the turtle, mammal, crocodile and butterfly research
• Install cameras in the reserve, check the cameras for activities and replace the batteries of the cameras
• (Nocturnal) monitoring of the animals
• Counting of the animals
• Marking of the animals and their locations
• Capturing of the species
• Help in the hatchery at night and during the day
• Patrol beaches during sea turtle season to collect eggs and bring them to the hatchery
• Release baby turtles into the ocean once hatched
• Other research project help - whatever is ongoing at the biological research center

QUALIFICATIONS: An ideal volunteer / intern on the 'Biological Research Center’ project wants to learn more about the exotic animals and nature of Costa Rica. Also, the volunteer has to enjoy physical labor and being outside. You do not need a degree for this project. You can volunteer on this project if you are 18+ years old.

DATES: The projects runs the whole year around, except for the sea turtle project which is seasonally restricted from June until December. The peak of turtle nesting season is in September, October and November.

LOCATION: The location of the Biological Research Center is on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, in a town called Ojochal. It’s just South of Uvita. The town of Ojochal is really small - but the nearby town Uvita is bigger and has supermarkets, restaurants, banks, pharmacies, a National Park, and more. You can go and visit Uvita in your free time or if you need anything special.

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD: The Biological Research Project offer shared (separated by gender) dormitory rooms with bunk beds. You’ll share the accommodation with your fellow volunteers. Food is Costa Rican typical food cooked for you and prepared by a chef. You’ll all eat together in a common space at certain hours. Breakfast is usually around 6-7am, lunch is around 12pm, and dinner is around 6 -7pm.

FEES: First week’s fee: $649. Every Additional Week: $299.

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.

MORE INFO, VIDEO AND PHOTO: http://www.glvolunteers.com/biological-research-center/

APPLY: www.glvolunteers.com/apply/ !