Our butterfly garden is an environmental education centre focusing on Insects and Arachnids found in Costa Rica. We have about 50 species of Costa Rican butterflies we use as a lure to get people here and then teach them about insects in general. Besides butterflies; we have many other types of arthropods including spiders; tarantulas; scorpions; giant cockroaches; walking sticks; katydids; millipedes; beetles and more.
We are mostly staffed and run by volunteers. We are in constant need of intelligent and enthusiastic people to help us teach the world about insects. Volunteers are responsible for giving tours; maintenance of the facility and other tasks. Once you are trained; you will give 1 to 4 tours a day through our gardens. During the tours you are encouraged to handle insects (though it is not absolutely required) and express enthusiasm for your subject. The tours last approximately 1 hour and are conducted in English and Spanish; though you need not speak both. When not giving tours volunteers get involved in other tasks such as helping out at the reception; general care and maintenance duties; work in our gardens collecting eggs and caterpillars; and advancing one’s own knowledge of tropical ecology. Work hours range from 7.30am in the morning to 5pm in the afternoon. Volunteers work 6 days a week and get one day off per week.
The town of Santa Elena is about a 25 minute walk away. Santa Elena has restaurants; bars; shops; a supermarket; laundry facility; etc. The butterfly garden has a hand-wash sink and clothes line for laundry. There are many good places to hike including a great sunset look-out and a couple of waterfalls just a 20 minute walk away. Please note that Monteverde is a high elevation rain forest. Sometimes it is sunny and wonderful and other times it is cold; rainy; windy and wonderful. You mostly likely won’t get a tan while there; but the environment is one of a kind and absolutely stunning.
Monteverde
Year round
10 weeks
Adults of both sexes 20+
Some knowledge of Spanish is useful but not necessary. As 90 percent of visitors speak English; fluency in English is a must. A passion for nature and teaching is a must. Volunteers must be physically fit.
Volunteers live at the butterfly garden and receive free accommodation and basic food supplies (rice; beans; flour; fruits and vegetables; etc). Breakfast and dinner are your responsibility and can be prepared on your own or with other volunteers. We have a communal kitchen area that is stocked with food. We can accommodate 4 volunteers in a Casita; a small out-building with bunk beds and a kitchen.
