Description

Accompany a local guide and give bilingual tours in French, English and/or Spanish (depending on your language skills) to tourists visiting Mombacho plus work with local guides to improve their English. Note: Because you are working as a volunteer, tips will go directly to the local guide you are accompanying.
Clean and repair trails and bring fresh new ideas to the reserve.

Highlights

Fundacion Cocibolca is a non-governmental organization that runs the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve in the department of Granada. The main focus of this organization is to support and promote a system of national conservation in Nicaragua by taking part in community development and providing education to promote sustainable tourism.
In the early 1990s, scientists discovered that Mombacho's cloud forest is home to species that are unique to the area and do not exist anywhere else in the world. As a result, in 1994 the Nicaraguan Central Government founded the Mombacho Volcano National Reserve in an attempt to protect the area.

The Mombacho National Reserve addresses the social issue of conservation inside Nicaragua. By training and education both staff and visitors on issues of conservation and pollution, the wider population is obtaining a better understanding of environmental degredation and what they can do to prevent it.

Currently, Fundacion Cocibolca is working towards teaching the local population how to protect the forest by engaging in interactive tours of the volcano.

Due to a lack of funding, Mombacho is understaffed and during high season, when there are many tourists, there is a lack of personnel to clean and repair trails, provide customer service, and guide hikes. Additionally, the staff that work at Mombacho come from rural communities and as such, come with little experience and training. Staff at Mombacho are always looking for international volunteers to come and share their experience and knowledge with local guides.

Qualifications

Previous experience as a tour guide would be beneficial and being fluent in several languages would be a bonus.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

• Business Admin, Management
• Tourism

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,245 for 8 weeks; USD 225 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

Enjoy working outdoors and communicating with numerous people.

Volunteer Types

• Business
• Tourism

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998