Green Life Volunteers (Press Release) – We’re pleased to offer a new and very special project: You can work as a park ranger volunteer at the most INCREDIBLE conservation sites in Caño Island and Corcovado National Park of Costa Rica. The Ministry of Environment (MINAET), the entity behind the national parks in Costa Rica, is looking for enthusiastic people who love nature and would like to help out at Ranger Stations in beautiful parks.

Quick facts

• Age requirement: 18+
• Accommodation: dormitory type bunk beds (shared with other volunteers)
• Food: 3 meals per day provided, but you need to help with cooking
• Locations: Caño Island and Corcovado National Park
• Time commitment: 15 days minimum
• Language requirements: Basic Spanish is needed
• Costs: The first week is $449 and every additional week is $169
• Packing list: You need to bring your own bedding / cushion. There is only a bare mattress at the station. You can bring your own mosquito nets (there are none). Bring mosquito repellent, and long quick dry clothes, as well as bathing suits and beach wear (you’re living on the beach).
• Two locations are currently in need of volunteers: Caño Island (a protected marine area and PRIME dive and snorkel spot in Costa Rica) and San Pedrillo Ranger Station in Corcovado National Park.

Why does the project need help? There is not enough staff supply to cover all shifts and to have always 2-3 people on site. Often staff / rangers are alone on the island/ ranger station which can potentially be very dangerous if something happens. There is just not enough resources from MINAET to cover extra rangers. Hence the need to help out with volunteers.

Tourists visit Caño Island Ranger Station and San Pedrillo Ranger Station daily! Everyone entering the island or the park have to sign in at the ranger station. Hence you’ll be dealing with tourists and guides on a daily basis. On Caño Island tourists go diving/ snorkeling and sometimes they don’t even get off the boat to the ranger station – the guides usually do this for them. However, around lunch time there is usually a break for all tourists and they’ll come to the Ranger Station beach to relax a bit and get off the boat for a while.

San Pedrillo Ranger Station Corcovado National Park At San Pedrillo there is more tourist contact, since tourist will get off the boat and “hang out” at the ranger station. They usually have lunch there. There is NO internet nor phone connection at either of the two project locations. Hence, please be aware that you’re in a very remote location and cut off from society.

The projects are SAFE and the staff is very RESPECTFUL. There have not been any reports of a ranger molesting a volunteer in any way. The rangers have families and are trained people who have worked with volunteers for years. Volunteer’s responsibilities include: Beach clean-ups Patrol on the beach and station Volunteer has to help with maintenance work, for example, painting, housekeeping Help with tourists arriving at the station (sign up process) Help with constructing building Help with cooking meals, cleaning, daily tasks at the station Teaching English to Ranger Station staff (they usually speak very little English.

You are asked to help cook meals and clean.

Qualifications

An ideal volunteer on this project is the volunteer really wants to work with nature, conservation, and who’s motivated to help the rangers with their daily duties. Language Because the volunteer will work with local Costa Rican personnel, basic level of Spanish is needed. If you would like to improve your Spanish there is also an opportunity to learn Spanish from the rangers who work with you. In return you can teach them English (they appreciate that a lot)! If you would like to improve your Spanish before your project, you can sign up for group Spanish classes in our Spanish school in San Isidro del General. We can also set up private Spanish classes throughout your stay in Puerto Jimenez. Working schedule The minimum time commitment on this project is 15 DAYS. The daily working time is around 4-6 hours. Your usual work-day schedule is a bit flexible, you can choose work in the morning and get free time in the afternoon. Normally breakfast time is around 7 am. The lunch time is 12 o’ clock and around 6 pm is dinner time. You’ll help with preparing meals and cleaning up which is part of your tasks at this project. The rangers are not there to “cook for you”.

The accommodation is basic bunk beds in a dormitory type of room. It is VERY basic, and there are only mattresses provided, no pillows. If you need a cushion you need to bring your own. There is no mosquito nets either, nor bedding. Those items need to be brought by the volunteer. Supervision and Co-workers: Your direct supervisor will be the park ranger on duty at the station. Your co-workers will be the staff at the station (the rangers). Green Life Volunteers is located on the Osa Peninsula, and available through phone and internet.

Project Locations and How to Get There:

The projects are located on Isla de Caño and in Corcovado National Park. During your sign up process we’ll help you with the organization on how to get to your project sites. Most likely you’ll go first to Puerto Jimenez or Drake’s Bay. Check for flights that go from San Jose to Drake’s Bay or Puerto Jimenez using the local national airlines Nature Air or Sansa (flights are around $80-$140 one way). From San Jose depending on the season you might be able to continue your journey right away and go to Puerto Jimenez/Drakes Bay the same day.

Sometimes if your flight is arriving later in the day, you may have to stay a night in San Jose. In that case we’ll help you with hostel arrangements and explain to you exactly how to get there. Hostels are very inexpensive and might cost you around $12-$15 a night. You may also arrive to the Osa Peninsula by public bus (costs around $16). Buses leave from San Jose twice a day, at 8am and 12pm. Don’t worry though – we’re there to help you set everything up for you so that you’ll get to your project location safe and sound!

If you’re interested in an arranged airport pick up, please ask us. We can pick you up from the airport in San Jose and bring you down to the Osa on a public bus, and you’ll be accompanied by one of our coordinators. The costs are a one time $200 fee.

Free Time Activities: In your free time you can do a LOT of nature and outdoor activities on this project. On Caño Island you can snorkel and even go on a dive tour (with help of the park rangers you can organize this). Bring your own snorkel mask! There is plenty of hiking trails that you can use, and you can go on hikes (note that if anything happens while you’re hiking by yourself, it’s your responsibility/ liability). —- Not included in the project Fee are: National and International flights, travel insurance, taxes and airport fees, in-country transportation during program and for traveling the country, additional food or snacks, food for the first day of your arrival and first morning until you arrive at your host family, and any other personal expenses.

Optional: Air-port pick-up & first two arrival days. This is perfect for volunteers who haven’t been to Costa Rica yet, and/or would like a bit more guidance and security for the first days of arrival until arriving at your project location. This service includes us organizing a stay in a hostel for the first night for you and having a volunteer coordinator pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hostel. The volunteer coordinator will either stay with you in the hostel or stay close by and (depending on project location) bring you to your project the next day. The service includes transport to your project location. We will also provide food for the first two days for you, until you arrive at your host family’s house. All that for an extra $200.