Phase 1 Commences
There are 4 group in Phase 1 and these are known as "Alphas".
Alpha 1 will be going on the "Pura Vida" trek - roughly 260km over 19 days. It starts in the indigenous area of Grano de Oro and was supposed to end in the "La Cangreja" National park but that has recently changed - more later on that.
Alpha 2 is based at "La Marta" Wildlife Refuge (https://lamarta.org/) and they will be cleaning up trails, painting signs, building benches and making improvements as required by the rangers.
Alpha 3 is at "La Cangreja" (The Crab) National Park (https://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/ac/accvc/pnlc/Paginas/default.aspx) . This is the group that Julie is a "VM" for, along with Eyder and Emperatriz. They are clearing trails, painting signs and making other improvements.
This National Park is about 5 hours away from Fieldbase by bus, followed by a 1km walk from the park gates as the road is too rough for the bus to navigate! So the poor volunteers had to carry their own gear plus food, cooking stove, gas tanks, etc and all their tools on the last section.
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| Very Jurassic Park Like! |
I was able to visit for a few days - it was great seeing Julie of course. The volunteers are so impressive - at least three of them are going to Cambridge this year, one runs her own fashion label and is going to Bristol University to study Criminology! Others have overcome challenges in their youth to end up with University degrees and a complete new outlook on life.
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| Starting the day with yoga |
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| Boxing lessons from Stan |
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| Prepping for "Action Day" |
Alpha 4 is at "Centro Educativo Kokotsakubata" which is a school at which they will build a new house for the teachers to live in.
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| Prepping the foundations |
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| Making the windows |
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| Some of "Alpha 4" |
