Summer Youth Volunteer Costa Rica
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Location: Atenas, Costa Rica
Start/End point: San Jose
Food: Local food (3 times a day)
Room: Host family or hostel
Date: 4 weeks ( June 29 – July 26, 2009)
Program fee: $2069 for 4 weeks (including 7 Days of Travel) |
Volunteer in Costa Rica, Central America's jewel. While smaller than West Virginia , Costa Rica offers fascinating opportunities at every turn. Whatever your interests--eco-tourism, bird watching, adventure, rafting, golf, or just relaxing on the white sands of an unspoiled tropical beach-you'll find thrilling pastimes in this tropical and secure paradise. Playful monkeys, somnolent sloths, crocodiles, countless lizards,
poison-dart frogs, and a mind-boggling assortment of exotic birds and insects make Costa Rica a travel wonder of the world. IFRE invites you to join its summer youth volunteer program and explore the beauty of this wonderful country. Welcome to San Jose and Spanish Language Training
You will be met by an IFRE local representative upon arrival at the San Jose airport. After a 30-minute drive, you will arrive to the beautiful town of Atenas and be settled into your host family. The following morning, you will begin with orientation, a tour of town, and an introduction into your volunteer experience. The second day begins with your normal routine including Spanish lessons and your volunteer experience. Over the next 3 weeks, work as a volunteer and acquire a working level of the Spanish language - ensuring your enjoyment of this abroad adventure.
 Work in Community Service Projects (21 Days)
For 3 weeks, volunteers go to various community service projects located throughout Atenas and the surrounding areas. Volunteers will be sub-divided in many small groups. IFRE will place 2-5 volunteers in each project depending on the needs of the project. For example, as a volunteer in the school project, you will assist in English classes (3-4 hours a day). Volunteers with the Ministry of Health will be helping with the public notification for controlling dengue and teaching English. Volunteers with the community center will be teaching English and assisting with community activities. Remember that your volunteer experience and Spanish lessons will both be given during these 3 weeks.
Travel and exploration (7 days/6 Nights)
 After serving the communities and children of Costa Rica and acquiring some insightful perspective into the local culture, set out on an unforgettable journey through the tropical beauty that is Costa Rica . As a part of travel and exploration, you will undertake a 7-day, 6 night trip to Coopesilencio, Quepos, Manuel Antonio National Park, Monteverde, San José, and Cartago, seeing incredible beaches, world-renowned rainforests, community sustainable development projects, conservation efforts at both the national park level as well as private reserves, and historical sites. The tour includes hiking trails; guided walks through the forest, palm plantations, farm, and vegetable patch; tours to the waterfalls and pools; entrance into Manuel Antonio National Park; interaction with the community; park entrance into a park in Monteverde; housing; meals; transportation to each of the sites; and free time to do optional activities on your own (not covered in the tour) such as horseback riding, visit to the wildlife rescue center, souvenir shopping, visit to a cheese and ice cream factory, nightclubs, internet cafes, frog houses, serpentariums, butterfly farms, and much more.
This program itinerary is merely a proposed sample and may be altered to meet the needs of the volunteers and changes in field conditions. This proposed itinerary will be finalized during orientation in Costa Rica.
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