Costa Rica Volunteering-Conservation-Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center Conservancy Project

Description

The SCLC's mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica's northern lowlands. The SCLC focuses its efforts in four areas: environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism. This helps to form future environmental leaders, raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and offer tourism that serves as a source of support for sustainable development in the area. Our programs serve hundreds of local people and thousands of ecotourists each year.

Why does this organization need volunteers?

In contrast to its biological richness, Sarapiquí is the sixth poorest county in Costa Rica (76 out of 81) and has experienced staggering population growth (616%) over the past 3 decades. Much of this is due to an influx of workers coming to labor on the Dole banana plantations and, more recently, pineapple plantations that supply multinational companies. Literacy rates in Sarapiquí are much lower than the Costa Rican average, and over ¼ of all children born in the county are to teenage mothers.
The SCLC is working to link community and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica. The SCLC believes strongly that ecotourism can be an effective tool for sustainable development in the rural tropics. True ecotourism encompasses economic, environmental, and social sustainability, and the SCLC seeks to connect conservation with the well-being of the local community by facilitating interaction between tourists and local residents. In this effort, the SCLC provides educational programs and organizational capacity building directly to the local population. The SCLC has all the right ingredients for making sustainable development a success – a young generation with open minds and knowledge of environmental issues, organized communities, and international visitors with an interest in helping build a greener future in Sarapiquí.
The SCLCÂ’s major initiative is a small-scale native species reforestation program working with small farms and a diversity of native tree species. Reforestation is a clear environmental need that is beginning to receive more attention worldwide. It is something that interests many farmers and can be offered at low cost and minimal sacrifice to them. Indeed, reforestation can be done by nearly everyone and for multiple purposes, such as shade, riparian zone protection, soil recuperation, nitrogen fixing, living fences, wildlife attraction, and wood for home/farm and artisanal use. Small-scale reforestation of this type is a key component of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC). As part of the MBC, the SCLC falls within the San Juan-La Selva Biological Corridor (CBSS) that attempts to form ecological connectivity between the Braulio Carillo National Park and the newly created Maquenque National Mixed Wildlife Refuge in the northern part of the country. SCLC was recently chosen as the local office for the CBSS, and will soon begin offering community outreach talks and workshops about conservation and biodiversity issues.
In addition to these programs, the SCLC also has a public library with bilingual coverage of many subjects and computers for use by local students. The SCLC also offers a comfortable and well-equipped meeting room that is available for use by tourist and professional groups from Costa Rica and abroad.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

The Ecotourism intern position is available for those with a passionate interest in conservation. This position involves learning the information pertinent to conducting education tours of the area, and facilitating sustainable ecotourism for visitors to the center. Some of the tasks for this position will be:
Tourism Assistant: Assist with Tourism Programs. Motivating the visitors and performing community service projects if necessary Assisting with implementation and management of community service projects Arrange, participate and lead local conservation/community service projects for tourists with Community Development coordinator.

Requirements:
Knowledge of environmental concepts, especially those related to water, forestry, waste management, biodiversity, agriculture and tropical ecology Experience working with children and youth Computer skills, GIS a plus Experience conducting presentations

Requirements

Language

English

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Cost (per person)