VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Monkey Preservation PROJECT
A DAY AT THE PROGRAMME HOURS ACTIVITIES 7AM-7:30AM Breakfast at your host family or residence 8:30AM-3PM Work at the School (Morning Option). 3PM-open Free time to explore the city and diner. *This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change.
Projects Reservation is an organization that was founded to protect the spider monkeys of Costa Rica. Critically threatened throughout the country, spider monkeys are captured as domestic pets or as tourist attractions at hotels. One of Reservation objectives is the rehabilitation of these captive animals with the intent of releasing them into the wild. Only by protecting tropical habitat and putting an end to the pet trade can we hope to protect this species. In view of this Reservation is actively engaged in increasing public awareness of its campaign. Our organization is gathering people who seek to become actively involved in the protection of tropical forests and their inhabitants. All forms of support are welcomed. The reservation is located in the Southeast party of the peninsula of Nicoya. The reservation contains in total 1496 hectares including the dry rain forest, the humid rain forest, the mangrove swamp, the beaches, the marine habitat, the pasture and the plantations. The protected forests represent a 1100 hectare total (75 %), plantations and agriculture represents 312 hectares (20 %) and 84 hectares represent the shelter (5%).
The objetives To complement our rehabilitation of animals recovered from the illegal animal trade, we want to encourage stakeholders in environmental protection. It is important to demonstrate at every level of this program that every animal in the forest ecosystem is vital. We need to protect our forests since their destruction threatens us as well.
First objective:
CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species).
by trade and threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is subject to strict control and is only authorized in exceptional circumstances.
Second objective: education and increasing awareness of environmental protection This objective is divided into two parts: informing and involving the younger generations through an educational program that stresses the link between the protection of a species and the protection of its environment. This educational program will be introduced to schools in the town of Paquera, Rio Grande, tambor cobano, valle azul situated next to Curu wildlife reserve. 2.The second part consists of increasing awareness of the general public of animals and its consequences, as well as environmental protection. The public awareness campaign will consist of billboards and posters, educational panels and guided tours.
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION 1. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? Maximum 6. 2.Has the organization received volunteers in the past? Yes received volunteers since they open the reservation . 3. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: They have received help from volunteers in all different areas. 4. Are there any special features to which the volunteers has to pay attention to when working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc) The cost of this project is $24 per day that’s include 3 meals per day and the home stay. 5. Any requirements to attend this programme? older than 18 years 6. The project receives volunteers all year round? Yes, but depends on availability. 7. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive volunteers: They receive volunteers all the time. 8. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? No the volunteers can work as many weeks they want
9. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? No the volunteers can work as many weeks they want. 10. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: The work consists in the fitting-out and the maintenance of the cages that will receive monkeys.
Of course monkeys have to be feeded, but it’s very important as well, to enrich their environment. The
spider monkeys eat 80% of fruits. They buy some fruits’ common, and they give forest’s fruit.
Common’s fruits: Guayaba, Guanabana, Mangue, Papaya, Melon, Banana, sweet, cabbage, Chayote… 11. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: The work schedule on the project will be from 8:00am-1:00pm and/or from 1:30pm-3pm Monday to Thursday. You can work full or part-time.
LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 12. PLEASE INDICATE THE CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN TO THE PROJECT. Nicoya Peninsula in the northern Puntarenas province. 13. INDICATE WHAT TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION THERE IS FROM THE CENTER OF THIS CITY TO THE PROJECT, ITS COSTS AND APPROXIMATELY TIME THAT WILL TAKE TYPE COST TIME IT WIIL TAKE Bus 0.25 30 minutes (from the city) Taxi $9 20 minutes (from the city) 14. DESCRIBE THE SORROUNDINGS OF THE PROJECT (country side, urban, town) Located on the southeastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in the northern Puntarenas province, the tiny village of Paquera is perhaps most well known for being a ferry terminal from Puntarenas city. Most of the people who travel here mainly do so because they are either catching a ferry to or from Puntarenas, to get to either San Jose or any of the beautiful beaches on Nicoya’s southern coast. A tranquil place with a relaxed atmosphere, Paquera lies roughly 25 km from Playa Naranjo beach and around 4 km from the ferry terminal itself, which is just on the outskirts of town. A nice place to spend a quiet evening, Paquera is a great stopover if you are visiting the lovely Reserva Isla Los Negritos, which just a short boat ride away. The accommodations and restaurants here are pretty decent, and there
is an internet café in the village as well as a gas station. There are also some tour operators in the village who can arrange snorkeling trips to the Isla Tortuga. There are also plenty of activities here as well such as horseback riding,
kayaking and snorkeling.
ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 15. Type of Accommodation? Volunteers will stay in a house inside the reservation and there is a person in charge of cooking the meals of the volunteers The residence is located only a few minutes from Paquera downtown main transportation system. the residence has shared bedrooms, bathrooms with hot water, a common room, kitchen and a laundry room. The house is fully equipped and features Breakfast Lunch and dinner is included at host families and no meals at the residence option.
WHAT IS INCLUDED? Accommodation throughout your programme at a home stay or residence. Breakfast and dinner (Home stay option). Orientation upon arrival. Airport transfer on arrival to San Jose. Full on-site support and assistance. On-site 24 hour emergency contact number.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? Personal travel insurance. All items of personal nature. Any extra activities and excursions not described on the planned itinerary. Transfer back to the airport at the end of the program. .