Costa Rica Sustainability – 8 Day

Community Service:

Evolve Tours believes strongly in incorporating meaningful service work into our group tours. Service projects like the once described below can be incredibly valuable for communities they take place in, creating lasting and real positive change for years to come. Students participating in the project will also benefit from the experience.

Project: Participate in a community service at a local school.

Purpose: To aid in supporting a school near the town of Quepos. Many schools do not receive adequate funding in Costa Rica. The group will participate in a variety of community service and engagement activities to support the school. In doing so, students will take a personal role in improving the learning conditions in a facility that has become low-standard and dilapidated. This will be achieved through both cultural immersion with the students, as well as light physical labour that is needed to improve the building and facilities.

Beneficiaries: Students and staff at a local school, and their community.

Student Contributions: Specific contributions will depend on the current and pressing needs of the school at the time of the visit. Sample projects may include:

• Interacting with students and staff in Spanish/English
• Constructing or repairing a hydroponic garden that is used to feed many of the local students
• Landscaping, planting local trees and plants
• Repairing student desks and chairs
• Building benches
• Building an outdoor shelter
• Painting classrooms
• Participating in a debrief session/ closing ceremony with members of the tour group as well as the local community, to reflect on the project’s success.

Equipment Needed/Provided

• Pre-cut Wood, Nails, Hammers, Measuring Tape, Work Gloves
• Trees, bushes, soil, shovels, hand shovels
• Paint, Brushes, Water, Buckets

Staff Needed

• Evolve Tours Staff – support students during the activity
• Local community contact – Mauricio– will direct the activity and will help direct the building and project overall.

Additional Activities:

• Hike to see Mountain views, primary and secondary forests, river, waterfalls, swimming holes, wildlife, and two stream crossings
• Paddle down a Rainforest River in White Water Rafts
• Participate in a surf lesson with professional instructors
• Participate in a Zip Line Activity
• Tree planting in the Rainforest
• Play soccer with local kids
• Learn how to cook Costa Rican meals in a responsible way by using a methane biogester, rocket stove, cob oven and solar cookers
• Work with goats, hens, ducks and fish, learn about animal husbandry
• Work on a Soccer Field and Trail Maintenance Project
• Visit a traditional market in Costa Rica
• Learn How to Salsa dance
• Learn basic Spanish