Each year IYCC offers a variety of conservation projects where our effort is most needed. It is our intention for students to return each year to participate in a different project in order to gain new skills, learn about other conservation issues, travel to new locales, and build on previous years accomplishments.
For the 2023/24 session we are offering two international projects, in conjunction with our local component, both located in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is known for it’s abundant wildlife and natural beauty and is a perfect place to gain valuable environmental conservation experience while making a tangible difference in communities and with non-profit organizations that need our help. Please see below for a description of each project and for more information contact us here .
To apply for acceptance into our program please go here. We accept applications each year from August 1st through October 1st.
2023 VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Link to recorded video can be found on our home page.
All international projects are approximately two-weeks in duration, including travel.
2023/24 teams are full!! Please check back August 2024 for next year!
Costa Rican Sea Turtle Project ~ Aprox departure date of June 18, 2023
Located on a beautiful beach north of Limon on the Caribbean coast, our Costa Rican Sea Turtle Project focuses on threatened and endangered Leatherback and Green Turtle conservation. Both of these species populations are dwindling and are under threat due to entanglement in fishing gear, consumption and illegal trade of eggs and meat, habitat loss due to coastal development, plastic and other marine debris, ocean pollution, global warming, and turtle shell trade.
Students will be volunteering with an established non-profit that is run entirely with volunteers and will be helping with all aspects of turtle conservation. Due to the time of season, most work will be done in the hatchery as endangered Leatherback babies will be hatching while we are there. During hatchery shifts students will monitor nests, and measure, weigh and release baby turtles that hatch. We also are trained to dig new nests and participate in chaperoned beach patrols as Leatherback Turtles are also nesting while we are there. During these beach patrols, if we are lucky enough to see one, we will bring back eggs to the hatchery for reburial. Other work may include beach clean-ups, grounds and infrastructure maintenance, organic gardening, and tree planting.
Students will be working alongside wildlife biologists and be participating in educational talks concerning ocean health and the role turtles play as keynote species.
During down time students can relax or read in a hammock, play games, play soccer or volleyball or just take in the natural beauty of the area.
By participating in this project, students can expect to gain valuable experience in scientific data collection, sea turtle conservation, ocean conservation, biology, and wildlife rehabilitation and release.
This project’s start date will be approximately at the middle of June. Exact dates will be determined once airfare is purchased for the group.
Accommodations
The project is located on a beautiful 10km stretch of beach surrounded by rainforest and mangroves. Accommodations are basic, safe and within eyesight of the ocean with students staying in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds. Three organic and locally sourced meals are served in the open air dining area. There is a fresh water well on-site with unlimited clean water but no on-grid electricity. Toilets are modern western style and there is cool running water for showers. The surrounding rainforest and mangroves are a wonderful backdrop and offer plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.
Costa Rica Rainforest Project ~ Aprox departure date of July 6, 2024
Our Costa Rican Rainforest Project is located at a biological research station on the Osa Peninsula in a mature rainforest on the Pacific Ocean. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most biological diverse places on earth and is under increasing pressure from proposed national transportation and hydroelectric infrastructure projects, industrial agriculture, illegal resource extraction, human encroachment, climate change, pollution, and deforestation. Huge strides have been made to help protect this important ecological corridor and students will work alongside researchers and scientists as they continue that progress.
Students will be helping with all aspects of the station including scientific data collection, plant research and rainforest restoration, sea turtle conservation, organic gardening, wildlife monitoring with camera traps, beach clean-up’s, trail maintenance and community outreach. Students will be surrounded by and working with scientists and researchers making this an excellent program for anyone with a curiosity of what it would be like to work in the science field or who loves to be surrounded by biodiversity.
Students will also be participating in three educational modules taught by the bio-station’s scientists and researchers. These modules start off in an open air classroom and then move to the field where students put their knowledge into practice. The topics for modules range from sea turtle conservation to wildlife monitoring and more. Topics will be chosen based on availability.
During down time students can read, relax, go on guided nature hikes, play games, cool off in the nearby river, or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the rainforest.
By participating in this project students will gain a better understanding and experience in rainforest ecosystems and conservation, deforestation, restoration, biology, ocean and sea turtle conservation, wetland and river conservation, wildlife research, organic gardening, and community outreach.
This project start date will be approximately in early-July, exact dates will be determined once airfare is purchased for the group.
Accommodation
Students will be staying in dormitory style cabins at the biological research station located near the Pacific Ocean which back’s up to mature rainforest. Each cabin has three rooms, each with two bunk beds and two shared bathrooms with modern western toilets. The research station has an open air dining hall where organic and locally sourced meals are served three times per day. The research center is run 100% on solar power and has unlimited clean, cold running water from a spring. The mature rainforest offers many wildlife viewing opportunities.
Visit us on our social media accounts to see more pictures and videos of our projects, links via the icons at the top right of the page