Conservation and the building and maintenance of national parks is extremely important to maintain the ecological integrity of Costa Rica. Home to one of the highest concentrations of diverse species of plants and animals in the world; work to facilitate care and to understand and protect the land and the life which needs healthy earth to sustain itself is extremely important.
Costa Rica, is working to enhance awareness of environmental actions needed both nationally and internationally; national park volunteer assistants will be actively engaged in this process when at Palo Verde National Park. Volunteers at this placement, (the most important migratory bird site of the Mesoamerican Pacific), may get to work with biologist in their efforts to preserve one of the largest concentrated sites of aquatic birds.
Volunteers at this placement do not need any educational background in conservation but it is very important to be a nature lover, eager to work in areas concerning conservation issues, able to work outdoors and adjust easily to the Costa Rican climate. They must also understand that they will be living and working in a remote area.
With the regular influx of visitors all year, trails need constant maintenance in order to keep them clear and clean. A national park volunteer assistant would be expected to help in this never ending task. These trails are made to keep visitors in areas where they can walk safely and not interrupt the natural habitat of wildlife.
The National Parks protect a lot of animals in danger of being extinct. In this park a vast number of birds and their environment is also protected. One of the main contributing factors is because hunting in Costa Rica, is an illegal activity. National park volunteer assistants accompany park rangers on regular control walks to make sure hunters are not in the park.
During the dry season, the walks help to find possible fires caused by the extreme temperatures.
Most rangers have not had the opportunity to learn a second language and 75% of the visitors to the park do not speak Spanish; English is the common language spoken. A national park volunteer assistant would be expected to help the rangers, at the visitors information center providing data regarding the park's rules and regulations, where trails are located and what sights they may see while walking on these trails etc.
As Palo Verde congregates the largest concentration of aquatic birds in Costa Rica and is the most important migratory bird site of the Mesoamerican Pacific; a national park volunteer assistant may be ask to help biologist with the counting of species found per season per year.
ASVO (Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas)is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that is dedicated to maintaining and preserving national parks, communities and beaches throughout Costa Rica. ASVO's mission is to promote the importance of preserving the environment by operating a number of grass-root conservation projects and conducting a variety of educational workshops throughout the country. Over the years environmental issues such as deforestation, species extinction, forest fires, and climate change have been addressed by the members of ASVO as they have worked to expand their programs to different regions in the country.
The organization was founded on January 27, 1989 in the response to the growing realization that although Costa Rica is renowned for their natural resources and biodiversity, there was very little awareness around environmental protection by many people who lived in Costa Rica. Originally, ASVO focused on the preservation of national parks but as the program grew they expanded to include projects such as sea turtle conservation, community education and habitat identification.
For over 20 years, ASVO has been striving to call the people throughout Costa Rica to work together to stop the devastating environmental problems. In an attempt to address some of these issues, the members of ASVO have partnered with different Costa Rican schools, government agencies, community groups, local and international volunteer organizations and other environmental agencies. Through these partnerships the members of ASVO hope to raise awareness and encourage people to get involved to help solve these pressing issues.
The issues that ASVO are trying to address are very important for a number of reasons. In Costa Rica the government has allocated more than 25% of the countries land as National Parks or areas where ecosystems should be protected. The challenge is that the Costa Rican Government is unable to fund all the jobs, resources and supplies required to ensure that each area is constantly maintained, monitored and that required data that is needed to be collected from each park is conducted and kept up to date. Therefore organizations like ASVO play an important part in helping to achieve environmental objectives set out by the Costa Rican Government.
Although ASVO initiatives comprise of a number of different goals the three dominant ones include deforestation, illegal hunting or poaching of endangered species and promoting educational seminars to a wide range of people. Each of the above are important to address.
During the 1990's Costa Rica had one of the worst deforestation rates in Latin America. According to reports issued by "State of the World's Forests" at the beginning of the century they had approximately 99 percent of rain forest coverage that diminished quickly to 88 percent and by the 1940's the rain forest coverage was down to 35 percent. Now with the help of government initiatives and organizations like ASVO the current rain forest coverage is at about 50 percent.
The reason that forests where being cut down at such alarming rates were for two primary reasons: a) increased demand for cattle b) lush wood that could be exported to other countries who were wanting that commodity and it provide increased revenue for the country to improve things like infrastructure. There was a high demand from the United States for beef exported from Costa Rica which provided incentives for people to increase agricultural output and start cattle farms. Many historians believe that the increase demand for exported cattle was the the number one cause of the rapid decline in the cutting down of massive areas of rain forests.
Although deforestation has stopped dramatically, the existing forests are still under threat by illegal logging in protected zones, agricultural development in protected zones, and the need for increased environmental awareness projects to stop people from continuing to impact protected land areas.
The increase of deforestation has put a huge amount of pressure on existing ecosystems in Costa Rica. As trees were cut down the natural habitats for so many species became inhabitable. This causes growing concern and challenges because of Costa Rica's vast variety of wildlife that is found throughout the country. As a result the number of flora and fauna that are on the list of possibility of becoming distinct continually grows.
In recent reports from the Costa Rican Ministry of the Environment and Energy have stated that more than 500,000 species live within the country. This represents 4 % of the total number of species estimated worldwide. As a result, Costa Rica is listed in the top 20 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Therefore, organizations like ASVO have an important role to help preserve the natural wonders of Costa Rica.
ASVO has been very successful at setting up grass-root initiatives that are designed to help increase patrolling of park grounds to ensure the park lands are kept safe; that endangered species like the leather-back turtle have a safe place to lay their eggs and a hatchery to monitor them when they are young plus creating educational seminars to various demographics. However, perhaps one of their greatest achievements is providing educational seminars to people whose livelihoods depend on illegal poaching or cutting down trees on protected land, by explaining the impacts this type of activity has on the ecosystems of Costa Rica. In many cases they have not only provided education but demonstrated alternative ways to make money so that they would not have to depend on poaching endangered animals as a way to make a sustainable income.
ASVO does not have any religious affiliations and does not discriminate against individuals who do affiliate themselves with a particular religious sector.
This organization was started on January 27th 1989 by a group of concerned Costa Rica citizens which included several retired civil servants. The group believed that they needed to start actively promoting the importance of preserving the bio-diversity of their country to help ensure that the increase in pollution and population did not have drastic effect on the environment. Many of the original members remain on the board in advisory positions.
ASVO is currently funded by donations, government grants and private donations. They are always looking for new ways to generate money to improve ranger stations, equipment and data collection materials.
Your time and enthusiasm are the most important things you can bring to this organization. Specific donations required will vary according to the project. Volunteers,(if interested), should inquire with the BaseCamp Program Coordinator in Costa Rica to receive a donation wish list that is appropriate to the specific project that they will be working at.
At head office, donations of laptops or desktop computers would be most appreciated, as well as any kind of office supplies.
Palo Verde is one of the most important sanctuaries in Central America for migrating and resident species of waterfowl. Visitors discover the natural beauty of the tropical dry forest and the magnificent wetlands, a rich mosaic that encompasses 15 different habitats.
During most of the year, the marshes, (which can be seen from the station and reached in a few minutes walk), provide shelter for herons, storks, egrets, grebes, ibis, ducks, jacarandas and other waterfowl and web-footed birds, many which are migratory.
The building is located at the entrance of the park and it is manage by the Organization of Tropical Studies. The wooden building has several dormitories for the rangers, students and volunteers. It also has a large kitchen, 3 bathrooms and 3 offices. The only way to get to the park is by private transportation from the main town of Bagaces, located 30 km away.
From BaseCamp house, go to the main bus station which is located 2 blocks away from the centre by the beach and take the bus to Liberia at 8:30 am. Ask the driver to drop you off at the town of Bagaces. Once in Bagaces, take a taxi to the ranger station. From Bagaces to the park it takes around a 30 minute ride.
Distance from BaseCamp: 131
Travel Time from BaseCamp: 3:0
Palo Verde is one of the hottest and driest parts of Costa Rica. The dry season extends from mid-December through to mid-April most years, but does vary somewhat. If visiting during the dry season, be sure to drink plenty of liquid and try to avoid staying in direct sunshine for very long, to eliminate the risk of heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.
Palo Verde, is a National Park covering over 45,492 acres in the Tempisque Conservation Area. The area is comprised of both deciduous and evergreen tropical dry forest, brackish and fresh water wetlands, mangrove swamps and the tidal estuarine ecosystem of the lower Tempisque River.
Palo Verde, is a sanctuary for resident and migratory birds due to the large number of swamps, lagoons, mangroves and marshes. Visitors to the park can often see birds like Scarlet Macaws, Black-Crowned Herons and Spoonbills among many other species; the park is home to White Faced Monkeys, Howler Monkeys, Crocodiles, Iguanas and White Tail Deer. The park has numerous trails named after local animals such as: La Venada (female deer), El Mapache, (racoon) and El Manigordo (ocelot). Along the trails there are three lookouts, Cerro Pelón, Guayacan and La Roca.
It is a protected area 30 km away from the city of Bagaces, between the Tempisque and Bebedero Rivers.
Ebais Bagaces
In front of the MINAE
Bagaces
TEL 1: 2671-1400
TEL 2: 2671-1003
ASVO
30km South From Bagaces
Palo Verde National Park
Costa Rica
All of our volunteers begin their stay in Costa Rica at our BaseCamp Center in San Jose. Given that this placement is more than a 1 hour 15 minute commute from BaseCamp, volunteers here will be living with a host family after your orientation. Living with a host family is an awesome experience for a person looking to really experience Costa Rica and its culture.
The following information outlines a brief description of life at BaseCamp and also what someone can expect living with a host family in Costa Rica.
If you think that living with a host family is not for you, then this placement might not be the best fit with what you are looking for. You should try completing our application. It's totally free and will allow our team in Costa Rica to come up with a list of exactly which placements they would reccommend for you based on your personal preferences, background, skills and interests.
Ave 16 St. 39&41
Los Yoses Sur
San Jose, Costa Rica
Tel: 506-8763-9595
Tel: 506-4030-1891
Mobile: 506-8763-9595
All volunteers on our program in Costa Rica start out at our BaseCamp Center. The center is located in the capital city San Jose, and is a fantastic place from which to start your adventure.
Once volunteers have finished their orientation, where they live depends largely on the location of their placement. If their placement is more than a 1 hour 15 minutecommute from BaseCamp, then the only accommodation option may be host families or volunteer lodges in the national parks. However, if the placement is within a 1 hour 15 minute commute, then volunteers can choose whether or not to stay with us at BaseCamp or live with a host family.
BaseCamp Costa Rica is located in the province of San Jose at Los Yoses area. This is a fantastic area closed to the University of Costa Rica, San Pedro Mall, banks, supermarkets, restaurants, embassies and stores. Walking distance to down town and only 30 minutes away from the Juan Santamaria Airport.
BaseCamp has four bedrooms and three wash-rooms. The beds are mainly bunk beds in dormitory style rooms. Pillows, sheets and blankets are provided. There is a large common area where movies, books and games are available to our guests and there is a patio with a nice set up. This is an ideal setting for reading, studying Spanish or just some quiet relaxation.
BaseCamp is where volunteers first come when they arrive in Costa Rica and where they live for at least the duration of their orientation and training. The meal plan at the centre is based on a 14 day rotating schedule of a variety of traditional dishes from around the country. This meal plan allows volunteers to gain comfort and familiarity with both Costa Rican food and meal etiquette before making the transition to living with a host family.
Orientation and language training sessions take place in the BaseCamp Center. Each day of orientation blends some workshops and lessons with a mixture of outings to explore and become familiar with transportation and knowledge regarding the city.
Living with a host family in Costa Rica is a fantastic way to gain a deep understanding of and appreciation for the people and customs of the country. Each home-stay will provide a bed and three meals per day for our volunteers. The majority of host families offer private rooms with only one or two volunteers living with the family.
In the case of a volunteer lodge or ranger station (which is often the only option for placements within a National Park), volunteers will be living in dormitory type accommodation and meals will be provided in a mess hall or dining area.
Living with a host family can greatly enhance your performance at your placement. For one, it will have a huge influence on the speed with which you gain familiarity with the local language. This, along with your deeper understanding of cultural practices and beliefs that you are likely to gain in this environment, can go a long way to improving or strengthening your relationships with your team mates at work. Furthermore, a significant percentage of our host families are closely affiliated with the organizations with which our volunteers work. As such, even the evening meal or hanging out around the house can become valuable time during which volunteers can share their ideas and continue their support of their host organization.
All of this being said, living with a host family is not for everyone. It is very important for volunteers to honor the house rules in their host family and to be punctual. Also, depending on how remote your placement location, host families can be very rustic. Our staff in country can give you a better idea of what exactly you can expect from a host family in any particular community. However, in general, if these things sound like they might pose a challenge for you, we strongly suggest that you look at a placement within commuting distance from BaseCamp Costa Rica.
Our program structure and costing is completely flexible which lets our volunteers ensure that they only pay for exactly the degree of support that they want.
Some volunteers prefer to coordinate their own accommodation, meals and other support while overseas.
Anyone is welcome to use our volunteer placement search tool to help in finding a placement that is well suited to their interests. Once someone finds a placement that they wish to work with, they are welcome to make all the rest of their arrangmeents on their own.
As well, our team of staff overseas are often able to offer a few helpful pointers for volunteers 'doing it on their own'. Just send us an email with your questions and we will put you in touch with our team abroad. We only ask that you keep your requests fairly general, as this type of advice is exactly how our team earn their living. :)
Other volunteers would like assistance in selecting and confirming their placement, but they plan to manage their own accommodation and other expenses on their own.
These volunteers have the option of choosing to only have our assistance with selecting and confirming their placement. This option also includes ongoing placement support while abroad, so a volunteer would be able to ask our team for help if things at their placement were not working out.
In providing Placement Support, our team works with each volunteer through email, telephone and either Skype or Google Hangouts, to ensure that each volunteer has a clear understanding of their placement options. Our in-country staff will put together a custom list of placement options for each volunteer that they believe are the most appropriate matches with the volunteer's background, skills and interests. Then each volunteer can work with our team both in Canada and abroad to go through each of the options and narrow-down their selection.
For most volunteers who are volunteering for less than a year, they are looking for an option that includes their accommodation, meals, airport reception, country and program orientation and placement support. This is what our Program Fees are designed for.
We are proud of how over the years we have ensured that our program fees are amoungst the most reasonable of any program in the world while we continue to provide exceptional volunteer support both at home and abroad.
Our Program Fees and listings of what these do and do not include are listed below:
| Registration Fee | 250 |
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| 1 Week | 395 |
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| 2 Weeks | 620 |
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| 3 Weeks | 844 |
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| 4 Weeks | 1,068 |
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| 5 Weeks | 1,243 |
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| 6 Weeks | 1,418 |
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| 7 Weeks | 1,593 |
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| 8 Weeks | 1,768 |
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| Additional Weeks | 175 |
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Costa Rica wildlife and conservation placements require an additional $7 USD per day fee to cover park fees and accommodation. All program fees are listed in US Dollars. |
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In some cases, a placement will have to take on certain expenses in order to host a volunteer. For example, some medical internship placements take time away from paid medical staff to help with educational assistance. This has a cost that is compensated by a placement fee. In other cases, the organization may have to pay for additional equipment, energy consumption or other expense in order to put a volunteer to work.
In such cases, the organizaiton charges a fee. This fee is paid directly to the organization in cash on the ground.
One of the reasons that we keep this fee separate is so that volunteers who do not pay us for accommodation, meals etc (Program Fees), will see that they will still have to make this payment directly to the organizaiton upon their arrival.
The placement fee for this organization is: 50 USD
Our regularly scheduled program start dates are the first Friday of each month, every month of the year. We strongly recommend beginning your program on one of these dates as this will allow you to go through our orientation alongside other international volunteers.
If you would prefer, our application will also allow you to select a custom start date for your program. Keep in mind that there is an additional fee for a custom start date which ranges from 50 to 75 USD.
| Nov 05, 2021 | Dec 03, 2021 | Jan 07, 2022 |
| Feb 04, 2022 | Mar 04, 2022 | Apr 01, 2022 |
| May 06, 2022 | Jun 03, 2022 | Jul 01, 2022 |
| Aug 05, 2022 | Sep 02, 2022 | Oct 07, 2022 |
| Nov 04, 2022 | Dec 02, 2022 | Jan 06, 2023 |
| Feb 03, 2023 | Mar 03, 2023 | Apr 07, 2023 |
| May 05, 2023 | Jun 02, 2023 | Jul 07, 2023 |
| Aug 04, 2023 | Sep 01, 2023 | Oct 06, 2023 |
These dates are the day that volunteers should plan to arrive on the ground in country. We can accommodate arrivals in-country at any time day or night on these dates.
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