How you can help
The Butterfly Conservatory has programs for visiting professors, students, and volunteers in many areas, including biology, ecology, water quality, diversity surveys, and environmental studies.
Volunteer Program
The Butterfly Conservatory has a volunteer program for persons who have a strong desire to make a difference by helping us heal Mother Earth; through giving your time and talent to specific projects.
Our project is demonstrating how nature can be restored, and there are always plenty of things to do for the "hands-on" kind of guys/gals that volunteer and participate in making the Butterfly Conservatory the best demonstration center for Nature Regeneration in Costa Rica. (We are not a traditional farm, and only raise limited quantities of organic food for personal consumption. Also our animals are butterflies and frogs along with a growing list of wild creatures and birds that are beginning to habitat with us).
Current volunteer capacity is 4 persons with a minimum stay of one month, however longer stays are preferred. We also have a six month intern program that teaches everything necessary to become an expert butterfly farmer. In this program you will learn the most advanced methods of raising butterflies, and everything necessary to build and maintain a successful butterfly farming operation.
Our training program will build your knowledge of butterflies, tropical frogs, and plants so that you learn to become a competent nature guide, and assist with helping our tourist visitors from around the world understand more about nature. You will also have the opportunity to work on a personal project that will allow you to express your talents freely. Our working language is Spanish, and improving your comprehension is part of the program. We also occasionally assist the community and school with specific improvements projects.
We also have a six month intern program that teaches everything necessary to become an expert butterfly farmer. In this program you will learn the most advanced methods of raising butterflies, and everything necessary to build and maintain a successful butterfly farming operation.
There is a requirement to have accident insurance, as our Costa Rican provider does not cover foreign visitors. If you don't have insurance in Costa Rica, then the best option is to buy travelers insurance, it's inexpensive and effective.
To apply for a stay with us, please advise the approximate dates you are applying for; also send along a short resume of your personal information and experience, include any other interesting facts about yourself.
Supporters
Supporters are those individuals who wish to sponsor or donate to the Butterfly Conservatory. Supporters can make financial contributions and also serve in other capacities as they are capable. With the low cost of operations in Costa Rica compared to the U.S., your gift will purchase considerably more.
Other Programs
Programs are available to allow students and volunteers to work and study at the Butterfly Conservatory (a Tropical Field Study Laboratory) on the following topics.
- Rainforest Regeneration
- Butterfly and Frog culture
- Aquatic insect culture and water quality
- Inventory of plants, butterflies, frogs, etc. in the wild areas.
University Programs by the affiliated institutions and Thesis development are considered primary objectives of our Educational Programs. Grants from supporters of the Butterfly Conservatory allow students to live on site to conduct research and study projects.
Why be involved?
- There are more reasons than we can list here, but a few are as follows:
- Fulfillment of personal goals by better understanding of nature.
- Learn how nature works in balance and harmony, and how to observe nature.
- Self-reliance through your ability to try your own ideas and watch the results.
- Gratitude of feeling your contribution toward healing Mother Earth.
- To learn or improve your Spanish, and experience living in a Latin culture.
- To relax in a tropical atmosphere and live in the present moment.
Why Give?
Whether you offer your time or resources, you will gain more than you give. Allow the law of giving and energy exchange to work through you. You can make a difference, and see the results in a short term. Your contribution allows the Butterfly Conservatory to regenerate and preserve the ecological treasures surrounding the Arenal Volcano and Lake. With the low cost of living in Costa Rica compared to the U.S., your gift will purchase considerably more.
