DoE Gold - Costa Rica Experience

20^th July 2023 Costa Rica Animal and Wildlife Conservation – Amber and Phoebe

Unfortunately, Phoebe was unable to attend, so Amber made a PowerPoint presentation alone, following their trip on 23 May earlier this year for which we had made a contribution to their fund raising. They flew to San Jose and had a long coach journey to their destination at Reserva Playa Tortuga, near Ojochal in the Puntarenas Province in the N E. This non-profit biodiversity Research institute was founded in 2009.

Their voluntary work involved watering plants, a night walk, putting cameras in the rain forest, observing Capuchin and Howler monkeys, working in a turtle hatchery, beach cleaning; the work is crucial in providing food, shelter and water for the wildlife. Unfortunately, the eating of turtle eggs is viewed as giving “good luck” by the locals, impacting on the turtle population and CR has 50% of the biodiversity of the earth.

The experience, as both have GCSE Spanish opened their eyes to new cultures and making friends locally and with other volunteer students from America and Germany. To complete their Duke of Edinburgh Award they have to complete a four-night camping and five-day walking exercise in the Lake District later this year.

Doug gave the Vote of thanks for this very interesting and informative presentation, congratulating Amber on the standard and the fact that she is only 17 years old. It proves what a great award the DoE scheme is and considering the Global Warming/Climate change situation he could not imagine a more appropriate volunteer activity. He commented that Amber’s ambition was to become a doctor and he foresees no problem in her achieving that from this evening’s performance. As usual we had enjoyed the presentation and the members joined him in an enthusiastic round of applause.             AR