Volunteers do not need to have any special knowledge or skills. Volunteers need to be willed to live in a remote area in the middle of nature.
Volunteers responsibilities may include organic gardening, planting, reforestation, maintaining the infrastructure, data collection of flora and fauna. It is important to note, that there are activities that require a certain level of independence, initiative, and intermediate Spanish skills, such as environmental education workshops and community work with the indigenous people.
This volunteer project is located in the Peruvian Amazon jungle and gives you the chance to immerse into the adventures of the wilderness. You will learn a lot about the rainforest and the local culture, not only during your daily volunteer work, but also during fun activities, such as swimming, hiking, water sports, and animal watching. During your life in the jungle you will be surrounded by an immense variety of species, plants, colorful birds, apes, reptiles, and other exotic animals.
The activities that can be carried out within the protected area are:
- Sustainable Agriculture. Cultivation of organic polyculture fields for the reproduction of alternative and sustainable resources.
- There are plantations of copuatzu (white cocoa) and other fruit trees. These seedlings require special care (control, cleaning, transplanting, seedbed preparation, composting, inventories, etc.
- Patrol. The reserve has 3 trails for wildlife observation activities (monkey species, wild boar, coatis, anteaters, porcupines, exotic birds, insects and sometimes cougars, jaguar tracks etc. The work consists in registering and photographing the largest number of existing species in the reserve.
- Reforestation Activities: The goal is to create a natural barrier and restore the water level of the Laguna Seca Circuit.
- Repair and sustainable maintenance of installations within the reserve.
- Cleaning and maintenance of the hiking trails through the nature reserve.
- Support in the wildlife sanctuary (currently undergoing organizational change due to new government proposals).
Note: The tasks may vary. They depend on factors such as number of volunteers, season, current needs of the project, as well as self-motivation. Not every volunteer may be fully involved in all these tasks.
The work rotates according to the number of volunteers, weather conditions and the current needs of the project. A day could look like: Volunteers get up very early for a delicious local breakfast. Then they get the backpacks and tools ready and head into the jungle towards the organic plantations. On the way, the paths are cleared of vegetation (if necessary) and the fauna is observed. During the morning the volunteers work in the organic plantation and are back at the volunteer house for lunch. They have time to freshen up, have lunch and rest. Afternoon are free or volunteer do activities and tasks related to the maintenance of the facilities, painting, repairing, beautifying facilities, etc. Depending on the needs of the project, volunteers and coordinator visit the village to make purchases or we look for local people to work for a few days. Volunteers can take advantage of the village visit to connect with their family, recharge their batteries. From time to time, volunteers and coordinator visit the animal rescue shelter to lend a hand there as well.
