Volunteer Voices

This was my first workcamp experience and it was the most amazing experience of my life. We were 12 people from different countries all over the world and different languages, English, Spanish, and French. Despite the language barriers, we were still able to communicate and work together so well. We were the first group to begin this project at the Cacho Negro Ecological Center. In 2 weeks, we built a trail in the rainforest, dug ditches, and planted trees. We worked with pouring rain, the hot sun, muddy roads and paths, bugs, no electricity and cold water and results were so rewarding. It completely amazed me how such a small group of people of different backgrounds and languages can accomplish so much in such a short period of time. The workcamp served its purpose and even went beyond. We all came out of it with a new appreciation for the environment, Costa Rica, and each other. In the end we formed new friendships, memories, a bond to Costa Rica, and a passion to help the world. Its really nice to know that we took the first steps toward a future for the ecological center, where all peoples can one day appreciate the natural world and learn from it as we did. This experience changed my life and I will never forget it. I now have a newfound drive to continue working as a volunteer for as long as I can.

Mary Lee ~ Costa Rica 2004