This is a Costa Rican organization that is dedicated to maintaining and preserving national parks, communities and beaches throughout Costa Rica. It was started in response to the growing realization that although Costa Rica is renowned for their natural resources and biodiversity, there was very little awareness around environmental protectionism in the country itself. Originally focusing on the preservation of national parks, the program eventually expanded to include sea turtle conservation, community education and habitat identification. ASVO is a non-profit and non-governmental organization whose mission is to promote the importance of preserving the environment by operating a number of grass-root conservation projects and conducting a variety of educational workshops throughout the country. Over the years environmental issues such as deforestation, species extinction, forest fires, and climate change have been addressed by the members of ASVO as they have worked to expand their programs through the country. The program places volunteers in national parks and other areas protected by the Ministry of Environment and Energy all over the country. The organization currently has stations in twenty-eight different locations all over Costa Rica, from Corcovado in the south to Guanacaste in the north. These projects are divided into four categories: Wildlife Refuges, Education and Communities, Sea Turtle Projects and National Parks. It strives to serve these twenty-eight communities and the country of Costa Rica through the use of volunteer energy to combat the many forces threatening the natural elements of this beautiful country.

The main goal of this project is to help the sea turtle populations to recover. The species of sea turtles you can find in this beach are: Leatherbacks, Olive Ridley, Carey and Green turtle of the pacific. As it is a relatively new sea turtle project, the Buenavista project is also quite small and not as well known as some of the other nesting areas such as Ostional or Tortuguero. Therefore volunteers are very important to the success of this program and the protection of the sea turtle population in this area. The hatcheries need constant surveillance or many newborn turtles would dehydrate in the sun or fall prey to human poachers or other predators. Volunteers at this placement might be asked to help with the following tasks:

• Night patrols: walking the beach to protect turtles/eggs from poachers and predators.
• Collecting eggs to transplant to the hatchery.
• Counting the number of eggs found in each nest and relocating the eggs to a secure egg nursery.
• Monitoring relocated turtle nests; monitoring nest temperatures.
• Hatchery Surveillance (24 Hours): must keep newborn turtles hydrated until they are released, must document births/deaths.
• Counting, weighing and measuring baby turtles/maintaining accurate data.
• Releasing baby turtles into the ocean and ensuring they are swimming safely.
• Identify and account for turtle tracks on the beaches.
• Take biometric measurements of adult turtles.
• Making information signs regarding beach safety/protection of turtles.
• Environmental education in the community of Samara.
• Beach cleaning/garbage pick up and disposal especially in the immediate surrounds of nesting zones.
• Work in the organic gardens and in trail building activities.
• General infrastructure maintenance: building and maintaining the hatcheries/dorm house.
• Assisting with house garden/compost: the goal is for the project to be completely sustainable in the future.

Program Fee Covers:

• Placement Selection and Coordination
• Pre-departure Orientation Materials
• Fundraising Support
• In-Country Orientation and General Training
• In-Country Language Training
• 24/7 Emergency Support
• Airport Meet and Greet
• Meals - except on Sundays
• Accommodation at the BaseCamp Centre and/or Home Stay

Program Fee Does Not Covers:


• Flight
• Insurance
• Weekend excursions
• Visa fees
• Immunizations
• Sunday meals, extra meals or drinks

No specific skills or qualifications are required, except volunteers must be eager and willing to work outdoors in hot temperatures, as they will often be patrolling the beach. It is also important that volunteers are passionate about the animals they are protecting, and do not mind living in basic conditions.

Accommodation: During orientation week, volunteers will be living together at our BaseCamp Center with other volunteers and interns arriving in the same month. Once volunteers have completed their Orientation and language training, some will remain living at the Base Camp Center and commute to their placements from there, and other will transfer to their placement where they may have a choice between living in a lodge or home stay.

Meals: During your orientation and language training three meals per day are provided, except on Sundays. Sundays you are responsible for your own meals. Once at your placement, if you are living in our Orientation Center you will continue to receive 3 meals per day (Sundays excepted). If you are living with a home stay family, then you will continue to have three meals per day including Sundays.

Interested candidate can apply on line through the given link: http://www.basecampcenters.com/sites/online-application/index.cfm?site_id=2&retail_partner_id=1&program_name=Volunteer%20Abroad&CFID=16844871&CFTOKEN=247aa113c29911c3-B3F5F141-5056-A338-C8CBA81450244A21&jsessionid=843085df4a5c8a8f92b47f3830d492f3f372 or you can contact us at info@basecampcenters.com or centralamerica@basecampcenters.com

Weather: Playa Buena Vista is quite hot and has a typical climate of the Pacific Coast, with two different seasons. The rainy or "green" season lasts from May to November, with September and October being the rainiest months. During the rainy season, mornings are usually clear with cloud and rain moving in during the afternoon. Although called 'the rainy season', this is slightly misleading as even during this season it typically only rains in the afternoons for a period of one to two hours, with the remainder of the day being quite sunny. The dry season is from December to April. Temperatures range from about 25-35 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity ranges from 50% to 95%. The hours of daylight start from 5.30 a.m. to 6 p.m with only slight variations throughout the year.