Overview
Spend your Spring Break volunteering in a rain forest in the mountains. Costa Rica is known for its beautiful beaches and enticing natural environment and is a haven for conservationists around the world. It is surrounded by two oceans and the middle of the country is dotted with lush cloud forests, jungles and rolling green pastures.
You will spend time volunteering in a mountain community to help a rural community.
Highlights include:
- Volunteer in a rural community near the rainforest
- Swim in pristine Pacific waters
- Ride an innertube down a roaring river – check out this video!
- Zip line through the forest – check out this video!
- Hike through the rainforest to a hidden hotspring pool
Experience nature in all its beauty on this unique program in Costa Rica. We’re based in the Guanacaste Conservation Area – one of the most unique places on earth, with so much biodiversity that UNESCO, a UN body, named it a World Heritage Site.
The conservation area is located directly on top of the Continental Divide, where the Atlantic and Pacific ecosystems collide to create a natural kaleidoscope unmatched anywhere else in Costa Rica. The area is home to 140 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 100 species of amphibians and reptiles, and over 10,000 species of insects.
Live near the edge of Rincon de La Vieja Crater and spend time exploring the rain forest. You will volunteer in a village school teaching, refurbishing the school and getting to know local children. Along the way, experience the vast range of natural wonders in a variety of ecosystems through exciting outdoor adventure activities.
Community Service
The project will be in a village school, we’ll start working in an impoverished community where we’ll volunteer at a local school teaching English, sports or arts & crafts. In addition, we will assist in projects to improve the school’s infrastructure, such as building a playground or an outdoor basketball court. In addition, we’ll participate in some environmental projects in the rainforest.
Learning
You will experience the unique ecosystems only found in this part of the world. Along the way, you’ll also learn about taxonomy and learn to identify flora and fauna of the region. We’ll see first hand the challenges locals face with regard to access to natural resources. You’ll also learn about Costa Rican culture, including dance, music, and social issues.
Excursions
You’ll engage in just about every outdoor activity imaginable! The huge range of ecosystems concentrated in a relatively small geographic area provides a vast array of exciting outdoor adventures. We’ll explore the forests by hiking, whitewater tubing, zip lining and horseback riding. You’ll also hike up an active volcano, relax and shop at a local beach, bathe underneath a waterfall, as well as ride horses through a jungle paradise.
Lodging
On the first night, the group will travel to our Home Base – which are rustic and simple bunkhouses, with four bunk beds per room and shared bathrooms. Although the Home Base is remote, students will be able to call home to let families know that they arrived well. Food will be hearty and healthy, locally grown food that consists of meats, beans, rice, vegetables, and fruit.
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