For my Wildlife business management degree, I have done several internships, mostly revolving around animal care but this time I chose to visit a different type of organization. In August 2023, I landed in Costa Rica to spend 8 weeks with the research project of Adopt Rainforest.
I am waiting in Batán when a car pulls up with four happy faces waving to welcome me. They are Hanneke, her two children and Lewis, a volunteer. I immediately feel very welcome and that feeling has never left; it feels right at home here despite the huge difference. The busy student period has not started yet, so I have the luxury of first getting used to my place to live for the next few weeks in peace. There are only two volunteers present who immediately share some valuable tips such as, for example, that you should hang out your things as much as possible because this reduces the chance of mold due to humidity.
In my first week at the project alone I experience so much that does not fit in one blog. The following days there is an immediate tour of the huge garden which is full of all kinds of beautiful and edible things and where many insects and some lizards find a home. At dusk a giant toad visits, I see the largest grasshopper I have ever seen, a giant spider walks the wall and there is a good chance to see snakes. That last one has been causing me some anxiety for some time, I am not necessarily afraid of snakes but I am afraid of some of the dangerous species that live here. This first week a visit to the reserve is planned, frog pools are being created and we get to help. The climate takes some getting used to and soon I am dripping with sweat but what a beautiful place this is!
The following weeks I am awakened by the calls of a family of howler monkeys and the subsequent response of Zeus the dog. During my internship, I participate in mammal research by placing wildlife cameras in the reserve and by processing the data on a computer. Very cool to see what’s out here. Visiting the reserve is one of my favorite activities, even though I find it quite a tough hike at times. Among other things, we do butterfly counts here under the guidance of our project manager Hanneke. We note down every butterfly we encounter and by the end of my internship I already recognize quite a few species. The walks are different every time and the view from the mirador (the viewpoint) is beautiful. We also encounter quite a few cool animals along the way such as various snakes, the fer-de-lance, different types of racers and a hognosed pitviper. One day we even have a special encounter with a kinkajou that follows us high out of the trees with its gaze! These are nocturnal animals so it is very exceptional.
On the other days of the week I paint signs for the garden and sanctuary, create a mural of a prehensile porcupine and keep busy with my internship report. In addition, every week we spend an afternoon cleaning up trash in the streets of San Miguel after which we are rewarded with a nice ice cream, there is also the garden day where there are different chores on the program. Finally, I like to wander through the garden with my camera, there is a lot to see and occasionally the howler monkeys, different species of frogs, lizards and sometimes a sloth comes into sight! An if not there is always no lack of colorful insects.
Of course there is also free time, although my entire stay feels like an intensive vacation of sorts. The boat trip down the Pacuare River, early morning bird watching with Maarten, visiting the Irazú volcano and the welcome change from the dry air on the beaches of Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Limón.
Thinking back on my time in Costa Rica, I would love to go back again. The memories of the high humidity, mosquitoes and sweat have disappeared like snow in the sun, making way for memories of the beautiful surroundings, good food and the tremendous hospitality of the project managers Hanneke and Maarten.
Did you read this and would you also like to come and do an internship in Costa Rica?
From 25 hectares of grassland to a thriving rainforest
This month chairman Martin and founder Matthijs were at Trees for All’s headquarters to ratify a new cooperation for reforestation of 25 hectares of grassland. One of the largest projects in Costa Rica for the Adopt Rainforest Foundation to date. A total of more than 27,500 trees will be planted. (more…)
Is it possible to restore the original rainforest in a deforested area where cows have been grazing for years? In Costa Rica at least they accept the challenge. This article tells in short how a Dutch foundation in Costa Rica is trying to transform degraded land back into a fully fledged rainforest. (more…)
In the spring of 2023, there was suddenly an opportunity to go to Costa Rica for Adopt Rainforest. I was also in Costa Rica a year earlier and there someone tipped me off about an organization of two Dutch guys who were working to protect and restore the rainforest. When I got home I decided […]
A family adventure at Adopt Rainforest by Zoë Schreurs World Family Day, also known as International Family Day, is celebrated worldwide on May 15 to recognize the value of family bonds and family relationships. This day emphasizes support, love and cooperation within families. While we at “Adopt Rainforest” are of course all a little bit […]
Discover our special partnership with the Bromelia Specialist, where passion for the Bromelia plant and the conservation of Costa Rican rainforest come together. For three years, the Bromelia Specialist has supported the work of Adopteer Regenwoud in protecting the origins of the Bromelia plant, while providing Europe with the most beautiful Bromelia products. Behind the […]
And then there you are, atop a hilltop, having a good cry. Or frantically trying not to let your fellow volunteer see how touched you are. My name is Zoë, I live near Hasselt in Belgium. I am an adult education teacher, and enthusiastic but very novice when it comes to nature. I would like to tell you about my wonderful experiences as a volunteer in the reserve of Adopt Rainforest.
Did you know… in the wet months the frogs in Costa Rica show themselves more often? They are less prone to drying out because of the wetness and are singing because many species lay their eggs in the rainy season. Earlier we talked about the glass frogs, but there are many more frogs to be seen in this period. (more…)
In recent years, the reserve of the Adopt Rainforest Foundation has been easy for project manager Maarten to oversee. Two or three times a week he and the students make his rounds through the project area for the biodiversity research. For this research they visit several plots of the area, giving them a good insight into what is happening. Should any illegal logging occur, it is immediately noticed. The same goes for illegal hunting. In addition to the local presence, camera traps are hung at various places in the reserve. These are checked weekly. Should hunters or poachers walk through our reserve, this is quickly noticed.
We are extremely proud to tell you that the reserve has been expanded by 48.5 acres! And it is not just any expansion, it is finally the connection between the reserve of Adopt Rainforest and Barbilla National Park that we have been working towards for so long. 48.5 hectares, that’s almost 100 soccer fields and […]
We all know how important trees and plants are for producing oxygen and absorbing CO2. Especially lately there has been a lot of news about the climate crisis, global warming, sea level rise, CO2 offsetting and the importance of preserving trees, plants and forests. In this blog you can read some background information on how trees store our CO2 emissions.
Despite the fact that there are no students because of the Corona crisis, the research continues (partly).
In the Netherlands, some students are busy analysing data, but also in Costa Rica inventories are still being made. Accompanied by guide Tapa, Hanneke and Maarten walk the transects in different habitats.
In July we told about the expansion of Adopt Rainforest’s reserve through the purchase of 48.5 acres of land. This parcel is very important because it forms a land bridge between the foundation’s current reserve and Barbilla National Park. Much of the new plot is existing forest, but there are also several acres of pasture […]
Together with Barbilla National Park and the Bajo Chirripó Indigenous Reserve, the Work with Nature reserve forms a “three-country point”. This place is known as Punta de Lanza or Lanspunt. The community consists partly of the indigenous population of Costa Rica and partly of “white people” (modern ticos). Recently, an association has been founded to achieve more together.
Stichting Adopteer Regenwoud’s research project is entering an exciting new phase thanks to a long-term collaboration with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.
This year we once again celebrated the three days of Dia del Arbol with the enthusiastic school children of our village! Check out this impression of the event, in which we highlighted this year’s theme: water. From building dams and filtering water to exploring frog pools and an exciting water obstacle course – it was […]
Costa Rica is known for its beautiful nature, a country with an exceptionally high diversity of plants and animals (one of the highest percentages of biodiversity in the world). A country for the true ecotourist. Over the past twenty years, ecotourism has become increasingly important to Costa Rica. In 2019, there were nearly 3 million tourists in Costa Rica of which 80% are considered ecotourists. (more…)
Did you know that 5% of all species of flora and fauna in the world live and grow in Costa Rica? Also, Costa Rica is in the global top 20 countries with the greatest biodiversity! Are you a real nature lover? Then put Costa Rica on your bucket list. But… before you pull your backpack and passport out of the closet, we want to give you a lesson about biodiversity. Maybe you have what it is, but to refresh your memory we’ll explain it to you in this blog. (more…)
Supporting a good cause. How do you do that? There are so many charities that it is difficult to choose. To which charity do you donate money? Which charity is reliable? And where do you actually start supporting a charity? The choice is vast in the jungle of charities. If you want to support a charity, it is important that the charity suits you. Choose an organization that does things you find important. This will make donating to charity a lot easier for you. With the tips below, you can be sure that you will soon be supporting a charity in a conscious manner. (more…)
The following weeks I am awakened by the calls of a family of howler monkeys and the subsequent response of Zeus the dog. During my internship, I participate in mammal research by placing wildlife cameras in the reserve and by processing the data on a computer. Very cool to see what’s out here. Visiting the reserve is one of my favorite activities, even though I find it quite a tough hike at times. Among other things, we do butterfly counts here under the guidance of our project manager Hanneke. We note down every butterfly we encounter and by the end of my internship I already recognize quite a few species. The walks are different every time and the view from the mirador (the viewpoint) is beautiful. We also encounter quite a few cool animals along the way such as various snakes, the fer-de-lance, different types of racers and a hognosed pitviper. One day we even have a special encounter with a kinkajou that follows us high out of the trees with its gaze! These are nocturnal animals so it is very exceptional.
Thinking back on my time in Costa Rica, I would love to go back again. The memories of the high humidity, mosquitoes and sweat have disappeared like snow in the sun, making way for memories of the beautiful surroundings, good food and the tremendous hospitality of the project managers Hanneke and Maarten.
on with Utrecht University. The foundation was ready for a new step to professionalize the research project and Utrecht University was looking for a stable and reliable partner in Central America to conduct solid research in the rainforest. So for both parties this is a wonderful collaboration! Because of this we will make a big step in professionalizing our current research on biodiversity in our reserve. Together with the visiting students we will focus on scientific research in which the diversity and development of nature in our reserve, with an emphasis on flora, is central.