Costa Rica Conservation - Cabo Blanco National Reserve

  Costa Rica

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: Year round, monthly departures

Description: ASVO is a non-profit NGO which places volunteers in Costa Rica's national parks and protected areas. ASVO's objective is to improve the conditions and amount of volunteer work performed at a national and international level, without age, sex or professional distinction. ASVO places volunteers in national parks and other areas protected by the Ministry of Environment and Energy all over the country.

Highlights: This placement needs volunteers to protect one of the last areas of dry tropical forest in transition to wet tropical forest that remains in Costa Rica and to develop a program of maintenance for the park's trails. Although Cabo Blanco is the oldest protected wilderness areas, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that visitors can enjoy the beauty of the park without harming its flora and fauna.

The Cabo Blanco Reserve has three stations, Cocalito, San Miguel, and Cabuya, and volunteers may be assigned to any one of these three. The tasks involved include the following:

1. Repair and maintenance of the entrance road to the sector Estación Biológica San Miguel. This work is difficult, involving moving rocks to refill the road. Some portions of the road will also use cement.

2. Repair of trails for vistors to the Puesto de Cabuya. Work here is also hard and volunteers must walk 3 kilometers every day. The work indcludes making drainpipes, fixing and building bridges.

3. Maintenance of the bridge at the entrance to the Administration Area. This bridge is located along a sharp bend and every year rocks must be moved so that the water does not harm the bridge.

4. Painting the tourist information post and the employee house.

5. Planting of native plants, maintenance of green areas, and reparation of trails.

6. Construction of the new volunteer house in the Cabuya sector.

Qualifications: Volunteers should have the desire to work in a natural tropical forest and enjoy physical work. Patience, motivation, dedication are definite assets!People who do not enjoy physically demanding work may have difficult on this project.

Cost in US$: $1850 USD for 4 weeks; $165 each additional week

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups of Custom

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Resume
• Written Application

Volunteer Abroad's Mission Statement: We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded: 1998