Volunteer Program
Sharpen your skills and give back to the local community through a volunteer or internship focused service learning experience. Check out the service learning areas below to find the best fit for your skills and interests.
Regular volunteering can also include:
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Spanish Language Classes
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TESOL Certification
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Latin Cuisine- Costa Rican Cooking Classes
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Latin Dance Classes
Butterfly Garden
&
Rainforest Conservation
Live on-site amongst the butterflies while volunteers learn, assist, educate, and participate in active ongoing conservation efforts. This project is the perfect opportunity for a once in a lifetime hands-on experience!
Rainforest Conservation Garden:
Assist hands on with the conservation of the rainforest with our on-site garden which contains native and indigenous species of plants, flowers, trees, and medicinal plants.
Butterfly Educational Tourism Center & Exportation Program: Our on-site Butterfly Tourism Garden serves as a Conservation-based Education Center to share the ecological knowledge and biological importance of a variety of species of butterflies with children and adults from around the world. Our hope is to ignite a fire within others through the majestic beauty of seeing first-hand these amazing creatures in an effort to promote overall conservation, specifically of environments (such as the rainforest) which are necessary for their growth and protection. This worthwhile effort is also promoted through the exportation program of these tropical species to national and international Educational Conservation Centers such as museums and zoos for important research.
Potential Projects
Butterfly
Garden
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Staff education center & create materials
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Prepare, maintain, clean, & assist with laboratories & butterfly breeding & exportation process
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Conduct research onsite
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Serve as docent to visitors
Gardening
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Research native vegetation, assist with pollinator & food gardens
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Help with propagation and maintenance of plants
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Assist in the pathology lab
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Educate visitors & create educational materials
Rainforest conservation
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Help scientists collect data from camera traps
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Record and publish findings to drive for documentation and identification purposes
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Maintain the field research station
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Educate the public on conservation issues & creation of materials
Projects
By sampling the Golfo Dulce, it is possible to gain information on the demographic structure of the population, such as abundance of immature turtles, male and non-breeding females, and their behavior.
In-water turtle monitoring
Parameters Studies
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Identification of resident sea turtles
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Determine age structure of resident population
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Habitat use and behavior monitoring
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Record biometrics
*Note: tasks like tagging and taking tissue samples are exclusively done by our staff or
experienced participants to avoid unnecessary injuries.
Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
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Water changing
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Tank cleaning
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Restraining and carrying sea turtles
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Monitoring patient progress
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Helping with removal of barnacles and other parasites
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Measuring and recording scientific data
Mangrove Reforestation Program
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Collection of seeds and propagules
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Gathering mud for the seeds and seedlings
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Sow seeds into plastic bags in our nursery
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Plant juvenile plants in their natural habitat when they reach a certain size/age
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Maintenance work of the nursery
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Sea Grass Monitoring
Marine Conservation
The project Osa In-Water is in Playa Blanca, close to Puerto Jiménez on the Osa Peninsula in the southern Pacific province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. The surrounding landscape of Playa Blanca is a lot of flat farmland. However, most of the Osa Peninsula is under some kind of protection. This is because this area is one of 25 biodiversity hotspots worldwide, with a vast variety of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. The Golfo Dulce, one of the four tropical fiords worldwide, hosts additionally a fascinating marine life –including sea turtles! In other words, at our Osa in-water project you will be surrounded by a natural paradise! Sea turtles spend only 1% of their lives on the nesting beaches and due to this behavioral pattern, mainly only adult females are studied. Very little information is available about juvenile populations and sex ratios of adult populations. Therefore, more in water work is needed to increase knowledge about habitats used by sea turtles in different life stages in order to assess the types of threats they are exposed to. On the Osa Peninsula, we are working mainly with the Hawksbill Sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Pacific Green Sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the Black Sea turtle. Both species are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Pacific Green Sea turtle is ranked as “Endangered” and the Hawksbill Sea turtle as “Critically endangered”, which means if we don’t take serious measures, it is very likely that they will become extinct. For that reason, every helping hand is welcome!
Community Outreach
Community Outreach:
Work first hand with the local community to learn, share, help, and gain a better understanding of the local culture and Spanish language. Our ongoing community outreach program is continually developing and growing with new facets as we reach goals and look towards the future to best assist and support current events and needs of the community.
On-Site Community Center:
Volunteers support our community center and development projects. We have a small community center on-site which offers different types of workshops depending on the volunteer's knowledge and skill sets, English classes, and a safe space for after-school activities for children.
Community Development Projects:
Beach clean ups, painting of buildings, creating and maintenance of small public spaces such as libraries and parks, public awareness campaigns and more are all a part of different ongoing development projects.
What you can expect from us
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Two meals daily during project days with shared group housing (upgrade available for private rooms at additional cost)
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An educational presentation and/or practical training of instructions of tasks
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Access to staff and professionals for gaining insight
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The opportunity to speak Spanish with the locals and English with the participants
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A unique opportunity to gain valuable field work experience in the conservation of species
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Accommodation- Dormitory or upgraded private accommodations at additional cost
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Participant’s Manual
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*Travel costs NOT included, Free time activities NOT included*
What we expect from you
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You must be able to work hard and live in basic conditions
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Be open minded, flexible and enthusiastic about hands-on work
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You should know how to manipulate lab’s material, camera traps, photographic camera, binoculars, entomological material and butterflies.
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You must have a travel/medical insurance*
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You must not abuse illegal drugs, drink alcohol during working hours/or work under
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the influence of them
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You must be 18 or older; participants younger than 18 years of age need either a
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supervisor with you or written permission and liability waiver signed by your parents
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We recommend having basic knowledge of Spanish and basic biology concepts.
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Please NOTE: The idea of working to help with the Osa Institute and living at the Osa Discovery Lodge here in Osa is very wonderful. The project in Osa is in a rural community. The surrounding communities are small and traditional, they may appear basic from what you are used to. When deciding if this is the type of work you would like to be involved in, please remember:
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There may be times when participants will be asked to work more than 30 hours/week, but also times when participants don’t have a lot to do and have to spend their time on their own.
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The work will continue during rain or otherwise enduring weather patterns.
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The Peninsula de Osa with a tropical climate. This means it is hot with almost 100% humidity; it rains frequently and often heavily. Your clothes and other personal items may suffer under the consequences and will need more maintenance (cleaning and washing) than you are used to.
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There are sand flies and mosquitoes in this area that are unpleasant. Some mosquitoes may carry Dengue fever – don’t forget your repellent and anti-itch cream!
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The project is situated in a remote location. Accommodation and food are basic and
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adapted to the local habits. This also includes the fact that not many local people speak English.
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It is necessary to respect local habits and to consider at all times, that you are in a
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small village where everybody knows everybody and everything – including you as a participant of our program.
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Working hours and schedules vary and can change according to the situation/available material/weather/tide or patient.
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Working with our program is a brilliant and unforgettable experience, and we can use all help. However, this experience is not for everyone.
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Our prices reflect our needs as a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, education, and the improvement of local livelihoods. Rates support our expenses and make it possible to provide you with the introduction, theoretical and practical training, participant’s manual, equipment and material for conservation work, environmental education, workshops for socio-economic alternatives, professional assistance, two meals a day, and lodging.
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If you are older than 20, have some environmental/biological background, and are available to participate for a minimum of 3 months, you can apply for one of our long-term coordinator positions. Please email us for more information: info@osadiscovery.com
Get Started!
How to Arrive:
Fly into SJO Juan Santamaria Airport, walk one block from the International to Domestic Airport. Book domestic flights with https://flysansa.com/ (short flight) and we can coordinate for pick up from the airport with advanced notice.
By Bus -> Please let us know what hotel you will be staying in to set up your pick up by 10am the day after arrival to take you to the Puerto Jimenez bus station from San Carlos bus terminal, also called Terminal Atlantico Norte, in San Jose to catch the noon bus ride to Puerto Jimenez. The address of the bus station is Barrio México, antigua terminal de San Carlos, 600 norte del parque la Merced the phone number is 2257-4121. The bus line is Blanco Lobo and the ticket office is hidden in the back, up one flight of stairs. There is one daily bus to Puerto Jimenez, at noon. The cost is approximately $20 and is covered in your program fees, if you arrive at the bus stop on your own we will reimburse you upon arrival to the Puerto Jimenez group home. The bus goes on the Coastal Road and is 7.5 Hours and includes one bathroom stop and one 20 minute stop for food. Tell the bus driver you will need to get off at the bus stop in Agujas (cerca de la escuela). We will meet you at the bus stop, please text when you have arrived in La Palma. You are able to purchase your ticket in advance at: https://www.blancotiquete.com/venta/carrito.php
Program Registration Logistics & Checklist to Enroll
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Complete Participant In Take Form with all necessary information (sent after registration is complete)
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Complete payment of $425 for first week of program fees $425 (due two weeks after registration payment has been made)
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Receive Volunteer Orientation Packet
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Freetime Activities:
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From Spanish school, tours, activities, workshops, transportation, TESOL Certification, opportunities for other volunteer or learning programs after your visit with us & more- our coordinator will be happy to assist you with setting up your perfect freetime activities for an amazing trip in Costa Rica!