Sloth Pre-Release Assistant

location
1 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 16 - 50+

rating  Great 4.4  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Volunteer project with the highest quality. This project sets unprecedented standards in quality - an unparalleled level of excellence.

Highlights

  • Protect endangered wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, ocelots, kinkajous, coati, deer, macaws, and exotic birds
  • Collaborate with skilled veterinarians to rehabilitate Costa Rican animals and release them back into their natural habitats
  • Explore the captivating landscapes of Costa Rica, from vibrant culture to breathtaking beaches and lush rainforests

Highlights

  • Protect endangered wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, ocelots, kinkajous, coati, deer, macaws, and exotic birds
  • Collaborate with skilled veterinarians to rehabilitate Costa Rican animals and release them back into their natural habitats
  • Explore the captivating landscapes of Costa Rica, from vibrant culture to breathtaking beaches and lush rainforests
  • Connect with passionate individuals worldwide, dedicated to animal welfare and making a real difference
  • Hands-on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation experiences.


  • Especially good for

    Age 16+
    Singles
    Couples
    Families
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Join us in our critical mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and whenever possible, release injured and displaced wildlife. Your support is vital in achieving our shared goal

    Are you ready to embark on a wildlife volunteer adventure abroad?

    Join us at the Sloth Pre-release Site to care for our injured and displaced animals, including monkeys, sloths, kinkajous, coatis, exotic birds, and more. Your motivation and passion are crucial to continuing our mission of rescue, ...

    About the program

    Are you ready to embark on a wildlife volunteer adventure abroad?

    Join us at the Sloth Pre-release Site to care for our injured and displaced animals, including monkeys, sloths, kinkajous, coatis, exotic birds, and more. Your motivation and passion are crucial to continuing our mission of rescue, rehabilitation, and eventual release of these animals. Make a meaningful difference by contributing your kindness and generosity to our cause.

    What to Expect:

    Our volunteer program is not only rewarding and memorable but also incredibly enjoyable. Alongside caring for our animals, you'll indulge in delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly cuisine. You'll forge friendships with fellow volunteers from around the globe, explore our stunning country, and create lasting memories. Safety is paramount we offer secure accommodations and optional private transportation to and from the airport and during excursions for an additional fee.

    Upon arrival, our drivers will greet you at the airport and safely transport you to the Center. You'll receive a comfortable bed and a quick facility tour. Wake up to a delightful breakfast and attend a comprehensive orientation tour at 1pm to kick off your first day of work. Enjoy a midday lunch break followed by leisure time by the pool or in a hammock, mingling with other volunteers. Afternoon tasks are followed by dinner and engaging volunteer activities organized by coordinators, such as games and karaoke nights.


    Your Tasks:

    As a wildlife volunteer, your daily tasks are central to our mission. Workgroups cover food preparation and feeding, cleaning animal enclosures, observing sloths, providing animal enrichment through toys, and assisting the vet team. Our dedicated coordinators oversee each group, providing guidance and instruction throughout. They plan the next day's activities nightly, allowing you to express preferences for specific tasks or groups. Your input is valued, ensuring a rewarding and tailored experience during your volunteer journey.


    Packing List:

    • Closed-toe shoes or hiking boots for muddy days.
    • Sneakers and flip flops/sandals for free days and relaxation.
    • Shorts and t-shirts for warm weather.
    • Long pants and lightweight, long-sleeved shirts.
    • Flashlight with extra batteries.
    • Raincoat or waterproof jacket.
    • Large Ziplock bags for keeping items dry.
    • Reusable water bottle.
    • Towels and toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo).
    • DEET-free insect repellent (safer for animals).
    • Antibacterial spray/cream and band-aids for minor cuts and scratches.
    • Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses for sunny days in Costa Rica.

    Remember, you can purchase these items at local stores if needed. If you forget anything, don't worry just let us know upon arrival, and we'll assist you in getting what you need promptly.



    Typical day

    • Breakfast is served from 8AM
    • Workgroups are assigned for the daily activities.
    • Animal food prep, enrichment, enclosure cleaning, and veterinarian activities of the morning begin at 6:30AM and 11:30AM.
    • Lunch is served from 12PM until 1PM.
    • The afternoon meeting begins at 1:30 between coordinators ...

    Typical day

    • Breakfast is served from 8AM
    • Workgroups are assigned for the daily activities.
    • Animal food prep, enrichment, enclosure cleaning, and veterinarian activities of the morning begin at 6:30AM and 11:30AM.
    • Lunch is served from 12PM until 1PM.
    • The afternoon meeting begins at 1:30 between coordinators and their workgroup.
    • Animal food prep, enrichment, enclosure cleaning, and veterinarian activities of the morning begin at 2PM.
    • Afternoon working hours 2:00pm until 5:30pm
    • Dinner is served from 6PM to 7PM.
    • Night activities begin at 7PM including but not limited to movies, dancing (salsa and bachata), spanish class, and more...
    • Volunteers are asked to be in bed by 10PM.

    Free-time activities

    We believe that volunteers who work hard need to play hard as well! We have a swimming pool on our property for plenty of time to cool off or get that much-needed Vitamin D. Relax in one of our hammocks and read a good book or just relax with new friends and have a great conversation. We also offer ...

    Free-time activities

    We believe that volunteers who work hard need to play hard as well! We have a swimming pool on our property for plenty of time to cool off or get that much-needed Vitamin D. Relax in one of our hammocks and read a good book or just relax with new friends and have a great conversation. We also offer weekly adventure tours which are awesome. You can sign-up every week and travel with other volunteers to places around the country like:
    • Poas Volcano
    • Isla Tortuga
    • La fortuna
    • Manuel Antonio National Park
    We provide private transportation for these tours at an additional cost to ensure both your safety and enjoyment. Also, we ensure you receive breakfast before leaving, lunch will be provided in some of the tours, dinner will be saved when you arrive home to program.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 16 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 16 years old on the program start date.

    Language Skills

    You need to speak English (basic level)

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 06:30 - 17:30

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Rescue Center Costa Rica

    The pricing is all-inclusive for your entire stay. 

    • All meals are included which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We cater to all diets including vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, and all food allergies. 
    • The housing we provide are shared rooms never the less, we also provide private facilities and family rooms. We believe sleep comfort is important for all of our volunteers. We appreciate and value your hard work so we work hard to make sure you are happy, safe, and comfortable.
    • The night activities we provide are FREE and we work hard to make them as fun and enjoyable as possible.
    The weekly adventure tours are an additional cost but they are not mandatory. We do our best to keep the prices reasonable and in line with expectations. Any money that is profited from these tours goes directly towards our mission which is feeding and caring for the animals. Your participation in these tours lets you enjoy yourself, experience the country, and donate to helping our furry friends.

    We have a supermarket near the property!

    Accommodation

    The housing we provide includes:

    • shared rooms 
    • private facilities
    • family rooms

    We believe sleep comfort is important for all of our volunteers. We appreciate and value your hard work so we work hard to make sure you are happy, safe, and comfortable.

    Food & Beverages

    All meals are included which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We cater to all diets including vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free, and all food allergies. You will receive a bracelet on arrival in the color that specifies your diet.

    Internet Access

    Limited access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Airport Pickup at Juan Santamaria International Airport

    An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose. We assist you to find cheap flights to Costa Rica. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Costa Rica provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in Costa Rica you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Costa Rica. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    We work 365 days a year, you can arrive any day of the week but we do ask for a time of arrival  before 10:00pm, after 10:00pm our gates are closed. If you'll like transportation services (from the airport and to the airport) we can absolutely arranged them but they have an extra cost and a schedule. 

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program fees

    1 week (min. stay) 379€
    2 weeks 666€
    3 weeks 966€
    4 weeks 1,266€
    6 weeks 1,866€
    8 weeks 2,466€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 3,667€
    Average fees 342€/week

    Program fees

    342€ per week 1 - 12 weeks Age 16 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    1 - 12 weeks

    Deposit

    The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


    Final Payment

    Your final payment will be agreed with Rescue Center Costa Rica during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    Rescue Center Costa Rica

    Great 4.4 rating (133 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2009

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Very high response rate

    Coordinated by

    Vanessa

    Spoken languages: Spanish, English

    About the project

    Work to help rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife. The work includes feeding, enclosure cleaning, enrichment projects and help in the veterinarian hospital.

    Meet your organization

    The Rescue Center story starts with one person, Vanessa Lizano. She arrived in Limon, Costa Rica in 2009 with a goal and passion. Her goal was to start a place where injured wildlife indigenous to Costa Rica could be rescued, rehabilitated and when possible released.

    She secured a rainforest property in front of Moin beach and soon realized she could not only save wildlife but also endangered sea turtles. Vanessa named her project Paradero Eco Tours. She worked hard for many years building animal cages and walking the beaches at night to find and secure turtle nests. It was hard work but her passion and motivation far exceeded any thoughts of quitting. Within a few years, she had monkeys, sloths, kinkajous, coati and exotic birds all being brought to her weekly by people and government workers around the country. If a baby sloth was found injured or abandoned it was Vanessa who received the call and it was her team she trained who would rehabilitate and eventually release that animal.

    The volunteer program was created to bring others, who shared her passion, from around the world. The money volunteers spent to stay and help would be the resource she needed to feed and medicate the animals who were in need. She was surprised to find out how many men, women, and children around the world wanted to help..wanted to make a difference. The volunteer program and donations from generous, kind people around the world kept her afloat so she could continue her mission. Without the volunteers and the donors, the project would have never survived and countless animals would have perished.

    Unfortunately, on May 31st, 2013 everything ended. Her best friend and co-worker, Jairo Mora Sandoval, was brutally murdered by turtle poachers on the beach in Limon. Vanessa was not there that night but rather was in San Jose with her son. She received the news the next morning and was filled with feelings of grief, anger, and utter devastation. She had received threats in the past from the turtle egg poachers but never imagined the threats were this real. The murderers were never fully brought to justice.

    After years of deserved grief, Vanessa decided with the help of Michael and her sister to start her dream again.  They looked for a safe location where dreams could become reality once again and animals could be helped.

    Next to SJO international airport, they found their little piece of heaven, a small oasis with its own waterfall.  In this safe location, they started and in little time, found themselves filled with animals to help and already released many back to nature.

    Why volunteer with us?

    Being a volunteer at the rescue benefits you as much as it benefits the rescue center.  Besides getting unique and meaningful experience to work frontline with the animals and conversation dedicated staff, here are the other benefits of being an animal rescue volunteer in Costa Rica.

    • Getting up close to a wide range of wildlife, you will immerse yourself in hands-on animal care and rehabilitation experience.
    • The more you give, the happier we feel.  The rescue is often home to hundreds of rescued animals.  Volunteers play an intrinsic role in the success of the center.
    • Many animals have to learn basic skills to get back to the wild, volunteers help them by providing enrichment and conditioning their habitats.
    • Conservation programs in natural environments help towards the prevention of the current decline in animal populations.  Animals brought here are in severe threat of decline due to illegal wildlife trade, poaching and habitat destruction.  Wildlife conservation is not only about caring for animals, it is also about education in the local community. Research done at the rescue is important to safeguard against destructive threats and to create educational programs within local populations.



    133 reviews · rating4.4

    Juliana De Sousa Gomes rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    Thank you for this amazing moment I made many friands, have a Nice time, take time to see the animals and take care about it. I Will never forget this expérience ...
    Pippa White rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    We have had an amazing week, we have been made to feel so welcome and met some amazing people from around the world. We have learnt so much about about the animals and cared for them in in surroundings that are respectful to the animals. ..
    Félix Fouillen rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    I've just returned from a month at the rescue center, and it's been an incredible experience! You meet so many great people from so many different countries. We're in charge of preparing the animals' food, feeding them (putting the food in the cages) and cleaning up their environments, and we do ...
    Deb Jeunette rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    This rescue center is a great place to start if you have never volunteered before. They have a comfort you would need! Hot, running water, decent food, their prompt in replying, and communicating with you, very competent, warm and welcoming staff, comfortable sleeping accommodations and it’s a ...
    Dominique Lecher rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    I was helping 2 weeks in the animal Team. I originally wanted to only stay 1 but it was so nice and i met very great people, so i decided to stay longer. I really loved ...
    Linn Stensby rating5

    2024 at Animal Wildlife Rescue

    I had the most amazing experience at the rescue. Runned by incredible people. However, this page needs to note dress code and that the minimum for working with sloths is 2 weeks(most people didn'tknow this). Everything else was incredible and life ...

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    Spanish, English

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