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Spring Service-Learning in Costa Rica: Coastal Ecology & Sustainable Development
Eligibility
Open to all UBC students.
Program cycle
Accepting applications for Spring 2012 (April 28—May 13)
Application deadline: February 26, 2012
Program overview
You will work on projects in Costa Rica with ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas) and a group of student peers. Led by a UBC facilitator and Roberto Solano Cordero, a local Costa Rican ecologist and educator, you will work on a service project connected to the community’s goals for ecology and sustainable development while learning about the local area through daily facilitated discussions.
What Is a Go Global spring service learning program?
The Go Global spring service learning program is two weeks long. You and other UBC students will travel with UBC facilitators to Costa Rica. The program takes place after final exams at the end of April and the beginning of May 2012 and it is ideally suited to students wishing to gain an introduction to a topic while contributing to the community organization’s objectives through volunteer work.
Learning objectives
- To engage in a hands-on community service experience in a unique ecosystem.
- To increase understanding of the connections between sustainability of the natural environment and local community issues.
- To increase understanding of why there are species in danger of extinction.
- To enhance critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and leadership skills through reflection and dialogue with members of AVSO, UBC students, and ISL facilitators.
Community placement and partner
You and a team of up to 20 UBC students will be working with ASVO on projects in a coastal community in Costa Rica. The projects will focus on the protection of sea turtles that nest in the area. Of equal importance to sea turtle protection is the conservation of the area’s surrounding land and ensuring its sustainable development. The project is making important inroads in developing a community-based conservation program that includes research stations, sustainable organic vegetable gardens, and the construction of community trails.
You will take part in activities that relate to protection of endangered sea turtles, agricultural practices and environmental education initiatives in the community.
Some examples of this work could include: trail maintenance, recording biometric data on nesting sea turtles, nightly beach patrols working in the garden, assisting in collection and protection of butterfly cocoons, and educational activities with members of the local communities.
Community partner
Our community partner in Costa Rica is ASVO (Asociación de Voluntarios para el Servicio en las Áreas Protegidas). Costa Rica has over 160 parks and wildlife refuges, which are habitats for many endangered species.
With such a large area of the country needing protection, and few resources to support this effort, ASVO was formed to recruit local and international volunteers to assist local leaders in activities in four major areas: control, protection, environmental education and research. ASVO focuses on conservation projects in Costa Rica’s National Park system, as well as in coastal-marine areas that do not hold any official category of protection from the Ministry of Environment, but that are natural nesting sites for endangered sea turtle species.
ASVO is dedicated to protecting endangered species and biodiversity, and to decreasing the negative effects that tourism can have on the environment.
Living & Working environment
You will be staying in modest hostel-style accommodation in shared bedrooms with bunk beds. The project site will be in a remote community. You can expect an immersed work experience that may include evening work and physical labor.
Awards
You will be automatically considered for a $1,000 Go Global International Service-Learning Award.
Program cost
The $2,500* spring service learning fee includes:
- Pre-departure learning sessions
- Room and board
- Airfare
- Local transportation
- Professional advisors
- Reflection materials
- Community partner management fee
- Go Global project management fee
*Fees may be adjusted prior to offer and will be confirmed upon offer. The variable cost of the program is due to price fluctuations with flight bookings.
*Visas and vaccinations are not included in the program fee.
Other considerations
A basic level of Spanish is an asset, but is not required.
Program dates
| Spring Service Learning Placement: Costa Rica 2012 | |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. | Application deadline |
| March 1, 2012 | Interviews |
| March 2-9, 2012 | Offers – successful candidates are notified; acceptances and deposits are due |
| March-April, 2012 | Orientation and three pre-departure learning sessions |
| April 28-May 13, 2012 | International placement in Costa Rica |
| May 2012, 2012 | Post-placement reflection & presentation sessions |
Application
- The application deadline for this program is February 26, 2012 at 4:30 p.m
- Start a new application
Continue an existing application
If you encounter any problems submitting your application via the Go Global Gateway, please direct them to Kerri Leeper at Go Global, at kerri.leeper@ubc.ca
Eligible applicants will be invited for an interview which will take place on Thursday, March 1, 2012 prior to being accepted into the program.
Please send any questions about applying to this program to goglobal.isl@ubc.ca.
