Description

The conservation programs carried out by GVI Costa Rica takes a holistic approach to the conservation of the area. GVI are helping to monitor every ecosystem of this incredibly diverse area - forest, canal, beach and sea. As with all conservation, trained personnel, resources and accurate information are essential to make and carry out informed decisions. This six month Internship has been designed by our award winning team for just this purpose.

During your time, you have opportunity to gain an internationally recognized qualification in Biological Survey Techniques, will live and work with our research team in a remote environment, and gain vital skills and experience essential for future work in the field of conservation or beyond. Included in your training is a First Aid qualification and two weeks of Spanish classes in Nicaragua. You will be taught many skills, from canoeing to camera trapping, species identification to data input, and have the opportunity to hone your organizational and people skills. Qualifying Interns will have the chance of a work placement, either supporting GVI staff and assisting with the running of the expedition, or working with a partner or rainforest lodge in a fields such as wildlife and habitat conservation or human dimensions of wildlife.

Highlights

- Living and working at an established biological station in an important National Park in the lowland rainforest of Costa Rica

- Gaining a BTEC Award (Level 3) in Supervision of Biological Surveys helping to conserve the wildlife and habitats in the area

- Gaining a wide variety of skills, including learning multiple survey techniques and gaining real field experience

- Working with endangered and critically endangered mega-fauna

- Working in an area without road access, traveling by motor boat and canoes along stunning canal networks

- Living a low impact lifestyle and seeing the rewards in the immense wildlife that visit base, including hundreds of species of birds such as parrots and toucans, three species of monkeys and countless other mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects

- Collating and analyzing the data you've collected and helping to write scientific reports for partners and the wider scientific community

- Learning some Spanish

- Experiencing the beauty of the region from sunrise to sunset and beyond

Qualifications

At the end of the internship, you will have acquired the following experience and qualifications as relevant:

- A qualification in First Aid & CPR training
- BTEC Advanced Certificate (Level 3 ) in Supervision of Biological Surveys
- 2 weeks of Spanish language lessons
- GPS use
- Camera tracking and track identification
- Marine radio use
- Wildlife identification skills
- Tropical forest ecology
- Wildlife biology and conservation
- Canoe skills
- Collection of biometric data
- Sea turtle tagging training (season and placement dependent)
- Transect work, direct counts, and incidental observations
- Tourist & human impact surveys
- Work with endangered and critically endangered species
- Data entry, analysis and presentation

Intern Types

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 7,000 for 20 weeks

Program Fees Include:

Cost includes all your food, accommodation, training materials and project equipment

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 weeks

GVI's Mission Statement

Global Vision International aims to promote the advancement of sustainable development through the creation of partnerships, promotion of local and global education, opportunities and via direct financial support. GVI remains committed to its local partners by ensuring they receive full credit for any research undertaken or achievements reached.

Year Founded

1998