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26 Mar 2025
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Description
We are an educational facility that has been operating for over 30 years. As one of the first tourist attractions in Monteverde we have a long standing reputation for excellent tours and beautiful gardens.
Volunteers provide important backup to our incredible Costa Rican staff as they care for the longest running place in all of Central America. As a woman-owned and family-run operation, we celebrate diversity and work together to create a space where everyone feels comfortable and appreciated.
Volunteers always help with Facility maintenance + Butterfly husbandry, including sweeping, moping, bathrooms, watering, trail maintenance, compost, digging, planting, weeding, pest control, feeding the butterflies by putting out and taking in fruit, and adding nectar. We are always looking for someone who loves to cook for a crowd 🧑🏼🍳.
Aside from that, we always have 1000 other things that you can do.
We have a giant Pitbull who lives on site with Bryna. If you are good with dogs, and Argus likes you, you can always ask Bryna if you can give him some cuddles or take him for a walk. If you enjoy Lego, math, birding, and general chaos, we can see if you and Rook (our 7-year-old) hit it off.
We are always looking for people who know how to fix things, carpentry, plumbing, electric, do Tech stuff, websites, social media, art, murals, photography, marketing, fundraising, tattooing etc… if you want to share your skills with us, we would love to find a way for you to help us.
If you want to learn about the bugs or how to do tours, you are more than welcome to sit in on any of the training sessions that we are doing, or follow our training program outside of your work hours or look into our internship.
Much plant care and watering goes into keeping butterflies happy. If you would like to get dirty in Costa Rica surrounded by beautiful bugs, then this is your place!
Our volunteer facilities are rustic and we strive to be as sustainable as possible, come ready to abandon creature comforts for the creatures!
We do not usually take couples or friends
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Interns will work and live in monteverde Costa Rica with many lovely options to hike and see wildlife.
You can also converse with Spanish speaking staff.
You will also work along side our Science Education Interns and are welcome to dive in and learn about entomology and science education
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Two week Minimum*
GARDENS VOLUNTEERS will be- digging, planting, caring for plants and butterflies, cleaning, sweeping, raking, developing sustainable programs, cooking for volunteers, gardening, weeding, construction, chicken care, etc... task allocation will depend on skills.
SUSTAINABILITY VOLUNTEER- In addition to our regular volunteers we are also looking for someone who could stay longer 2+ months and with some of our sustainability projects. We currently collect kitchen waste from a restaurant in town and compost it. We also have a composting toilet, solar power and a small veggie garden. We are looking for someone to help maintain the existing and help us with some new projects. Some of or our future goals include a grey water system, more vegetable gardens, a food forest, and an earthen oven. The ideal person has some experience in a few of the above.
SCIENCE EDUCATION INTERN- 10 week intensive entomology internship at our gardens. This program is not offered through workaway due to the work load. Please contact us if you want more details.
CHILD CARE VOLUNTEER- The gardens is also home to Bryna and David's 7 year old Rook. If you enjoy child care, please mention this in your application. We are looking for help with childcare. He is an outgoing and inquisitive child who loves to help at the gardens, play at the park, and do science experiments!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
Volunteers live in eco bunkhouse. Our off grid ecohouse is run by a small solar panel, there is no electricity.
Breakfast is made by each individual with fruit and oats as well as eggs and pancake mix.
Lunch and dinner are made for the group most days. Basic Costa Rican staples are provided, rice, beans, fresh fruit and vegetables, flour, corn flour, eggs, oats, seasonings.
Things like Peanut butter Meat bread and cheese are not provided, but can be purchased at local stores by volunteers if they need more than we provide.
What else ...
This is an amazing opportunity to experience Costa Rican cloudforest and learn all about insects and gardening!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (37)
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Accuracy of profile:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(4.9)
You work 5 hours a day 5 days a week, in company with your fellow workawayer and the sweetest gardener Daniel and once a week you make lunch for the whole team.
There is a lot of different people to connect with, all with the… read more
For two weeks I lived in the Casita, a lovely little… read more
David, Bryna and the whole butterfly team are welcoming, fun and supportive.
I'd highly recommend the gardens as a positive environment, place to learn a lot about Costa Rican bugs, and to explore beautiful Monteverde.
I felt the… read more
Firstly, in these crazy times of a global pandemic, I was so impressed that David reached out to me and kept our communication open in early March. We’d already had an agreement that I’d come as a Workawayer in late March for 3 weeks, but with the crisis worsening David… read more
I Helped out with watering the plants and cooking lunch, I had a blast doing it, there is always something to do or to see in Monteverde, so If it's not on your list you should definitely add it!
There are a lot of great… read more
Bryna, David and the volunteers were super welcoming and friendly.
Would definitely recommend :)
I did have to get used to their lifestyle (toilets, room, shower,... all very natural), but I learnt so much there, I am so thankful!
The work tasks are very different, always depends on the day. But even as a not-experienced one, I got to get in touch with butterflies! And I was… read more
