Study and Volunteer in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• Central Pacific Coast: 
Coronado,  Osa Peninsula
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Gandoca

Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks
Dates: From February 15th to December 15th

Description: Volunteer and Study in Costa Rica!

Our Volunteer and Study program in Costa Rica will allow you to improve your Spanish while saving the sea turtles!

The first 4 weeks of your stay, you will be in our carafully selected language school in Coronado, near San Jose. During the last part of your stay, you will be volunteering to save the sea turtles in a local Costa Rican non-profit organization in Osa Peninsula.

This program allows you to study Spanish and Volunteer in Costa Rica! If you want more information, do not hesitate to contact us!

Highlights: Our volunteer in Costa Rica Program will allow you to get a significant experience of Costa Rica, allowing you to learn about both the Costa Rican culture and the Spanish language. Nacel International offers you the possibility to learn Spanish during four weeks at our language school in Coronado (near San Jose) in Costa Rica, and then practice your knowledge of Spanish language while volunteering in an association trying to save sea turtles.

Volunteers help the team of sea turtle researchers to complete the many goals of the project. They patrol beaches nightly looking for nesting sea turtles, record data, help finding and relocating nests, release hatchlings and maintain a protective hatchery. Volunteers also help to maintain the turtle research equipment and field station.
Everyone works hard but there is always time for hikes in the rain forest, swims in waterfalls and sunsets on the beach.

We only organize the language courses and we help you booking the volunteer program, but you will have to pay for the volunteering separately. We will put you directly in contact with the association, letting you pay the fees directly, avoiding this way any extra fees. The additional cost for the volunteer program will be of 18 USD or 25 USD per additional day (2008 costs, may differ in 2009), depending on the period of your stay and your destinations choice.

Please do not consider this program as a low-cost travel option!

Qualifications: Minimum age 18 years
Requirements
-Be in good physical condition to walk 10 to 15kms per night.
-No severe eyesight problems (most work is at night, without artificial lights).
-No use of illegal drugs; no consumption of alcohol during working hours or abuse of alcohol at any time.
-Preferably non-smoking. Those who do smoke should do so only in open areas and never on nightly patrols.
-Be willing to work under difficult and uncomfortable conditions.
-Know if you are allergic to mosquito bites.
-Have a personal insurance policy.
-Must be over 18 years old. Younger people must travel either with parents or a chaperone

Cost in US$: 1380 euros

Salary / Pay: Saving the sea turtles!

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Volunteers spend their first 4 weeks in our language school in Coronado, where they receive Spanish classes in order to be able to communicate with the teams of the organization. During the last part of their stay (at least one week) volunteers work in a local organization in Osa peninsula, trying to save the sea turtles.Volunteers help the team of sea turtle researchers to complete the many goals of the project. They patrol beaches nightly looking for nesting sea turtles, record data, help finding and relocating nests, release hatchlings and maintain a protective hatchery. Volunteers also help to maintain the turtle research equipment and field station. Everyone works hard but there is always time for hikes in the rain forest, swims in waterfalls and sunsets on the beach.

Age Range: 18 -30

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

Nacel International's Mission Statement: No one learns the same way. No one has the same level. No one has the same goal. Nacel International proposes a large variety of stays abroad, which will help you to develop your personality. Their goal was to provide opportunities for students to extend language learning and knowledge of another culture through a well-organized and affordable summer program. These programs bring people together enhancing cultural and linguistic awareness and to promote international friendship and harmony.

Year Founded: 1957