Volunteering on the Rich Coast

Wow. That was my exact reaction both when I first set foot on the beach of my project site and when I stepped into the boat to leave two weeks later. Costa Rica, or the Rich Coast, was nothing short of incredible. Packed with intense biodiversity, the lush rain forest environment created the perfect setting to perform our work. Throughout our two weeks in the country, us volunteers helped out with a variety of projects, from counting seeds dispersed through the rain forest, measuring trees, planting soil bags, making signs for tourists to read, and researching the human impact in the environment through ecotourism. Because I am an engineering student, the project work I was assigned in Costa Rica provided the ideal real-world scenario for experience. Furthermore, the group I was assigned to was amazing--everyone was so helpful and kind; the project coordinators, host families, and fellow volunteers all around were very friendly. I have so many stories from those two weeks, including an up close encounter with monkeys, fishing coconuts out of trees, and sunset swims. I would highly recommend this country and ISV for anyone who loves traveling and making an impact in their world. So enough reading--get out there and help your Earth!