Work in Conservation Projects

Project Summary

Costa Rica is prized for its environmental and conservation efforts, but in reality, there are not enough people to maintain the large areas in conservation and to continue to educate the people in the environmental efforts. This volunteer experience is a great opportunity for anyone pursuing an environmental career.

The Atenas office has only one employee for all of the local conservation efforts, so assisting him would be a great help and an excellent way to gain experience. Maintain trails in the municipal forest, promote new projects, or assist in the office. The Ministry of Agriculture is also looking for help to build educative trails and the local environmental committee is always looking for help on fund raising and grant writing. There is also a tree planting project to plant more trees around town.

Placements can also be made directly in the national park system to maintain trails, educate visitors, and more. There are many parks to choose which include volcanos, rainforests, beaches, archeological sites, and more such as Poas, Braulio Carrillo, Carara, Manuel Antonio, Barva, Palo Verde, Santa Rosa , and Guayabo.

Skill/Qualification

Basic Spanish preferred, but not required. To work in the National Parks, volunteers need to have biology, ecology, or environmental studies. Volunteers are expected to be reliable, flexible, and patient.

Volunteer Responsibilities

As a volunteer in the Ministry of the Environment project in Atenas, you will be maintaining trails in the Municipal Forest , planting trees, creating new, educational trails, assisting with new projects, fund raising, looking for grants, and assisting with the office work.

In the national parks, you will be maintaining trails, assisting visitors, educating visitors or local communities, and assisting with projects specific to the sites.

Room/Food

Room and board will be provided by the homestay families in Atenas for the entire duration of the program. They will provide 3 meals a day (lunch may be “to go” if the volunteer experience requires that the volunteer has to be gone from the house throughout the day). Experience the culture of Costa Rica , the incredible traditional food, and expand your Spanish. Supervision will be provided in Atenas for both the homestay and the volunteer opportunity during the entire time of the program.

If placed in the national park system, room and board will be provided on-site at the park in shared staff housing. In Guayabo, housing may be in the community.