Courses

This course will be an unforgettable experience for those who are interested in working hands-on with wildlife, learn about conservation issues, and gain skills for developing practical solutions for these issues, while applying the basics in biology and ecology immersed in the biodiverse rainforests of Costa Rica. This will be an enriching action oriented course for students who want to explore Costa Rica, while working first hand on the field of marine conservation with professional biologists and conservationists, and getting to know the wonderful wildlife of the ocean.

This is a basic introductory course for students over 16 years old interested in the fields of biology, zoology, marine science and conservation science. There are no prerequisites for this program,and students do not need to be enrolled in school to apply.

The course has a duration of two-weeks and takes place at Solo Mundo´s headquarters at Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR), in Quepos, Costa Rica. KSTR has a wildlife sanctuary and wildlife rescue center, where students will experience some of the practical portions of the courses, like wildlife management, animal welfare, how a wildlife rescue center and wildlife sanctuary function, wildlife rehabilitation/release and wildlife care/management in captivity with conservation goals.

The KSTR organization has a partnership with a local marine conservation organization that works on protecting our local marine environment, involving our local community and teaching about marine conservation. They also run a coral restoration project. At this marine conservation organization students will experience some of the practical portions of the courses, related to marine conservation and ecology, which include activities like obtaining snorkeling techniques, species identification and survey. KSTR works with different local conservation organizations, like the Manuel Antonio National Park and a local sea turtle conservation project, and also our own wildlife rescue center where we will do the other laboratory practices also related to marine wildlife management, animal welfare and behavior observations. Students will gain working knowledge on how other conservation organizations work and how each has their own different conservation techniques and goals depending on the conservation issues at hand, while integrating basic marine ecology and biology concepts.

During the two weeks of your hands on experience you will:

Dip your toes in the wonderful world of ecology and conservation. Learn about the ecosystems in the tropics and the marine world. See up close how it all intertwines with wildlife, while learning right in the middle of the jungle and the ocean.

Have an adventure working hands-on with various species of Costa Rica’s wildlife, while learning about their basic biology, ecology, conservation, proper management, husbandry, nutrition and behavior. You will get to work with species that vary from squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, sloths, coatis, kinkajous, parrots, toucans, parrots, macaws and curassows, sea turtles, dolphins and even coral reefs.

Work with professionals in wildlife rehabilitation of rescued terrestrial and marine wildlife, actively be involved in the daily management of wildlife in a wildlife sanctuary and wildlife rescue center, and their conservation management of different species in the region.

Learn how to provide the care needed in husbandry, nutrition and behavioral needs based on their specific ecology and biology, and about treating, rehabilitating, and evaluating the welfare of wildlife to meet their needs.

Immerse yourself in the rewarding field of conservation. Learn about the conservation issues and challenges in conservation in Costa Rica and around the world, and apply your gained knowledge to create practical solutions. Develop problem-solving skills that will be able to be applied to your conservation careers.

Conduct hands-on research techniques that can be developed to practical conservation measures with marine conservationists, while exploring amazingly biodiverse ecosystems in the region, like rainforests and mangroves.

Experience amazing days alongside professional biologists working in diverse conservation projects, from butterfly investigation projects, turtle conservation, reforestation project, macaw reproduction project and our wildlife rescue center.

Learn how to study animal behavior of animals in captivity and in the wild, and how to record this behavioral data with the use of ethograms, and analyze this data for for different purposes, like creating enrichments for captive animals, and for other management protocols, according to the species evolution, niche, habitat and etology.

Immerse yourself in the beautiful world of coral reefs. Learn about their exciting ecology and build conservation skills to protect them.

Gain knowledge on the exciting field of one health and how it is applied for conservation efforts and in the professional practice by interdisciplinary professions.

Experience salty days on a boat or snorkeling, investigating with research techniques the marine world and how these can be developed into practical conservation strategies for marine wildlife. Learn about species surveys and species identification with dolphins, and conservation techniques done above and underwater.

Visit a local sea turtle conservation project to learn their efforts and how they protect and help these species. Depending on the season students will be able to participate in hatchling releases.

PROGRAM DATES:
December 10th to December 20th, 2023
May 20th to June 2nd, 2024
June 17th to June 30th, 2024
July 15th to July 28th, 2024
Aug 12th to 25th, 2024

COST:
EARLY BIRD
BEFORE NOVEMBER 15th: $3300
BEFORE APRIL 1st: $3500

REGULAR PRICE: $3800

You will need to put down a $500 deposit to hold your space. The total volunteer fee is due 1 month prior to your arrival.

The cost is all-inclusive except for airfare, medical insurance, passport, and snacks.

Included in the course fee is the accommodations with WiFi, all meals on site: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (extra meals/snacks/drinks bought by students are not included), laboratory/practical activities, facility fees, excursions, field trips, entrance fees, field supplies, daily transportation, airport transfers.

PAYMENT POLICIES
A $500 deposit needs to be put down to hold your space. Deposits are non-refundable.
The outstanding balance of the program payment needs to be paid 1 month prior to your arrival. They are non refundable.
We recommend that you purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseeable change in itinerary or travel plans.

If you want to talk to our team one on one and get to know the project better, let us know to arrange a meeting!

Students will be working all day with teaching professionals on the field and classroom. For the experience working hours, students will receive a certificate for 80 service hours upon completing the program.

COMING SOON:
Students will be able to receive credits from our School of Record for this program (Additional fee may apply).