The opportunities for volunteering with Beyond el Campo are endless. There is
direct work to be done with the library itself: expanding its collection, organizing ...
Beyond El Campo a reader to reader program
Beyond el Campo Reader to Reader Inc. Cadigan Center Amherst College Amherst, MA 01002 (217)-553-7658
Frequently Asked Questions What can I do? The opportunities for volunteering with Beyond el Campo are endless. There is direct work to be done with the library itself: expanding its collection, organizing the books, working with the librarian. There is literacy work that can done in conjunction with the library: hosting teenage book clubs, after school tutoring, women’s recipe swaps, family readalouds and so on. We also encourage our volunteers to think of new ways we can use the library as a productive resource for the community. Besides the library, Beyond el Campo is always working on a variety of community development projects. Currently these projects include English lessons, child nutrition, arts and crafts activities, recycling programs, eco-tourism and so on. We welcome volunteers to work on these projects, or generate new ideas to make Santa Cruz an even more vibrant community. In addition to community engagement projects, volunteers have the opportunity to utilize their skills in other areas of the project. These may include: grant writing, web development, public relations, blogging, fundraising, and any other essential function to a growing nonprofit. What are the volunteer hours? The hours are self-determined and depend on the nature of the projects that you decide to become involved with. There will always be field interns in the community to help connect you to the community in the case that you are unsure of what you can be doing to help out. But trust us, there is always a lot of work to be done! How long can I stay? Volunteers are encouraged to stay for at least two weeks. Placements of up to 10 weeks are possible. Where do I stay? You will be placed in a homestay in the Santa Cruz community. You will be fed three homecooked meals. See more information in the housing section. How much does it cost to volunteer with Beyond el Campo? Volunteers are only expected to pay for their personal expenses (homestay (which covers housing and 3 meals a day), airfare, and incidental expenses). The only “program expense” is that we ask that all of our volunteers make a donation of $200 for a summer stay and $100 for a January trip to the library to keep help keep it running and growing.
Travel: Which airport should I fly into? You will be flying into San Jose (Juan Santamaria) Airport (SJO). We will coordinate with the other volunteers and interns to make insure your passage from San Jose to Santa Cruz. Do I need a visa to enter Costa Rica? Citizens of the US and Canada, and many other countries are granted 90 day visas upon entry into Costa Rica, free of charge. If you are planning to stay in Costa Rica for more than 90 days, you will need to leave the country (we frequent Nicaragua because it is so close and easy to travel to and from) for 72 hours, then re-enter Costa Rica to receive a new 90 day visa.
Housing: Does Beyond el Campo offer housing or home stay options? How much does it cost? We set up housing in homestays with a local family. Home stays include breakfast, lunch, dinner and laundry service and cost $20 a day. We try and pair volunteers and families together with similar interests and gender preferences. How do you choose the home stay family? We have a group of families that we work with in Santa Cruz. All are friends of Beyond el Campo and many have been involved with our work in the library. We will choose the home stay based on availability and time. Usually, we will not be able to tell volunteers who their home stay family will be until close to the time of arrival. Do I need to bring my own sheets or towels? Sheets are provided by the homestay families. We recommend bringing towels for personal use.
Free time: What activities are there to do in the area? There are many different activities and excursions in the area, as well as day or weekend trips. Locally, there are indoor soccer games, hiking, local dances classes, visits to coffee and avocado plantations and the occasional fiesta. Further afield, there are easily accessible trips to the beautiful beaches, volcanoes and rainforests of Costa Rica!
Packing: Should I bring my laptop to Santa Cruz? We leave this decision up to volunteers. In the past, some volunteers have brought down their computers. Since there isn’t wireless in the community, think: DVDs, word processing, and for use when traveling on weekends. There are risks with traveling with electronics, like there would be anywhere. While in a homestay your things should be safe. Please be aware of your surroundings while traveling within Costa Rica and Central America. We recommend bringing a lock for your luggage as a general precaution.
What should I pack? See packing list below.
Logistics: When is the rainy season? The rainy season officially starts in May, although rains do not typically get strong until August. Santa Cruz is still in the Central Valley however, meaning that the climate stays incredibly mild year round. It’s often called the Eternal Spring. Prepare that it might rain once every day or two, but only for an hour. The rest of the time, it is warm, sunny and beautiful! What health issues do I need to be concerned about (water/diseases/access to health care)? The following advice and recommendations are not from a physician and should not be interpreted as such. It is always best to consult a physician about specific health concerns you may have. However, we do offer the following advice and recommendations related to health and physical well being. The water in Santa Cruz is potable. It comes from a deep mountain well and is delicious. Living in the tropics can entail certain inherent medical risks due to the environment and abundance of all forms of life. The malaria risk in Santa Cruz and Costa Rica in general is very low to usually nonexistent. We do not recommend using or bringing malaria medication with you to Costa Rica. There are sporadic, localized outbreaks of another mosquito borne illness, Dengue Fever, but the average number of infected people per year is very low, especially compared with the number of people who visit Costa Rica every year. Bring plenty of insect repellent though, it is the tropics and there are plenty of flying creatures that would like to make a meal of you. It is recommended that you be up to date on your standard vaccine preventable diseases such as Typhoid, MMR, etc... It is always best to consult a physician about any health concerns you may have.
Santa Cruz Is Santa Cruz safe? Crime is very low in Santa Cruz. As a very small, tight knit community, everyone looks after one another and helps create a peaceful, safe environment. Because of the relative isolation and demographics of Santa Cruz, the town is largely absent of the types of crime that are more common in the Central Valley and other large cities. It is always best to take the standard safety precautions as you would in any unfamiliar environment. What is the banking/ATM situation in Santa Cruz? There is an ATM located in Frieles, a town that is a 10 minute car ride away. Generally speaking, you won’t have a day to day need for money. What is the cash/credit card situation in Costa Rica? We suggest bringing between $100 and $200 in small USD bills so that you have cash if needed. Most places will also accept credit or debit cards in larger areas but that’s rarely true in Santa Cruz. You can expect to receive change in colones (the local currency) when using USD. You
can use an international debit card in most ATM's to take out USD or colones. ATM's usually charge a $5 fee for withdrawing money. The exchange rate fluctuates daily, but is usually close to 500 colones to the dollar
How do I apply? Email us,
[email protected],
[email protected], to get the process started
Suggested Volunteer Packing List Clothes: Key is lightweight and things you don't mind getting dirty
8-10 Lightweight t-shirts and tank tops 4-5 Pairs of shorts (modest length) 2 Pairs of jeans or pants 1-2 Pairs of Tennis shoes or hiking shoes that you don't mind getting muddy 2 Light weight dresses or skirts 1 Pair sandals - or other comfy shoes you don't mind getting dirty (some people like crocs) 1 Lightweight rain jacket 1-2 Bathing suits 2-3 Long sleeved shirts or jacket (it tends to be chilly at night)
Other / Optional Items:
Beach towel Bath towel Books Lap top iPod Camera Chargers for electronics (no adapters needed) Sunglasses Toiletries Bug spray Sun screen Flash light Small gift for homestay family At least $100 in cash ($20 bills - you can use the ATM here and get out $ or colones) Small backpack or tote bag for the day time Prescription medicine / ibuprofen Glasses Umbrella Contact lenses and contact solution (if needed)
