Volunteers with an interest in general conservation are welcome to collaborate in duties such as:
Tree nursery
This project is focused to the development and maintenance of the tree nursery on the park that produces to reforest it. The main task in this project is:
- Collecting tree seeds within and around the reserve
- Planting seeds and caring for seedlings (irrigation, liberation, etc.)
- Installing fences and creating nursery beds
Reforestation
The biological reserves count with several acres for reforestation. The work to be done in this area is:
- Clearing to be reforest
- Preparing areas for planting
- Planting tress install
- Maintaining reforested by weeding, etc.
Conservation Education
The main goal of this project is to teach to the communities that live inside of the park the importance of native flora and fauna, specifically how native plants can be used to increase their productivity in a sustainable way, allowing them to value their surrounding and the richness of nature.
For several years, staff of the park and volunteers have been implementing environmental education classes mostly directed to local children because they are the ones will be working the land in the future.
A series of activities such as the following are available:
- Continuing classes on the importance of natural resources
- Vacation classes on recycling and crafts with local seeds.
- Theatre activities during the celebrations of Arbor Day and Earth Day (annually).
Organic Agriculture
This project enables volunteers to gain a greater understanding of organic agriculture and other methods of non contaminating sustainable agriculture. There are no chemicals used at all for anything - all fertilizers are organic, and the pesticides are made of chili peppers and jalapeno peppers.
Main task include composting, seed saving, harvesting crops, etc
Location: Puerto López,
Skills: No specific qualifications are required of volunteers wishing to join the conservation project in Ecuador, only a willingness to share their time and work with nature. Nevertheless, we would like to recommend traveling with an open mindedness, flexibility, a basic knowledge of Spanish and dynamism.
Restrictions: None. This volunteer project is available for individual, families or groups (from 3 and more)
Role: Supporting local staff of the national park in the conservational duties described in the project..
Working hours: Flexible. 30 – 40 hours per week from Monday through Friday.
Accommodation: During the stay in Ecuador, students and volunteers will live within selected Ecuadorian families which will provide comfortable a single room, three daily meals. All families that work with us are chosen according to your profile and requirements. A 'host family' can be a married couple or a single person, with or without children and/or pets. All our families are middle-class and live in safe neighborhoods.
Ages: 18 years old and over.
Arrival & Departure Airport: Quito International Airport
Free time: During the week after the workday, before and after dinner, there is free time used by the volunteers to visit a bar, disco, café internet or cyber café, go to a night cultural sites, concert, go to the movies, meet with new friends, or merely change experience a change of environment such as go to a restaurant and enjoy dinner outside of their homestay, etc. During free time on weekends, volunteers can visit neighboring places.
Local sights: Depending on locations where volunteers are, they can visit cultural sites such as museums, archeological and historical places, etc. Moreover, they can visit rain and cloud forests, national parks, beaches, Indian markets, tourist cities, etc.
Weekly Budget: You will need a weekly budget of up to US$30 to cater for all your other expenses like bottled water, personal costs, beverages and entertainment.
Project Start Dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month
WHERE THE PROGRAM FEE GOES:
Field Expenses: Food, Room, Donation to Project (42%)
Program Development (23%)
Outreach (14%)
Volunteer Coordination (11%)
Administrative Cost (10%)
What is Included in Fees?
Airport Pick Up: Upon arrival, our in country coordinator and a staff will be at the Airport to pick you up. Please do not forget to send us your flight information as we would be waiting to pick you up. We guarantee, you will never miss us at the airport.
Orientation: Orientation about the local culture, history, safety, project and other issues relating to the country.
Accommodation: You will be staying with a host family, within a rented house or a hostel and volunteer will stay either in a single or shared room. Our host families are carefully screened and must meet our requirements before being accepted as a host family. All our families are middle-class and live in safe neighbourhoods. The distance from the project varies.
Meal: In most cases your meals are cooked and provided for you by your host family. You will be getting 3 Meals per day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Traditional but very nutritious. If you're a vegetarian or have any allergies, this is taken into account when we arrange your placement.
24/7 in Country Support & Supervision: There are field offices and staffs all over our projects sites and our country co-ordinator will also be available to help you when you need it, including a 24-hour support team. We are committed to making sure all participating communities and volunteers benefit from the collaboration.
Safety: Your well being while volunteering with us is our priority. We make sure your trip is safe and our in-country coordinator will provide whatever support you may need at any step along the way.
Administrative Charges: Our staff works every day to take care of our volunteers: Emails are answered; phone calls are taken; coordination occurs between projects; and most importantly volunteers are placed within areas of their interest in villages. Even though we try hard to keep these administration costs to a minimum so that your money can be used most effectively.
What is NOT Included?
Flight, Airport Taxes, Visa, Immunizations, Personal expenses, Soft drinks, Mineral Water, Passport, Travel Insurance, Entrance fees and in-country travel expenses including any excursions the volunteer wishes to take whiles volunteering except our programs that include travelling.
Volunteers arriving earlier than the program start date or staying after the completion of the program may be ask to pay additional fee of £20 per day to cover their accommodation and food. |
