Butterfly Garden

  Costa Rica

• Monteverde: 
Monteverde

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Throughout the year, Winter 
Dates: year-round

Description: Assist curators in the running of a butterfly garden. Interns will help on all levels of the operation: butterly collection, interpretation to the public, maintainence of the facility. A great opportunity to learn about the diversity of Monteverde through the wings of its most spectacular creatures.

I.C.E. internships are for exceptional individuals walking the path less traveled. Whether you are a high school graduate taking a time out before college, a college student seeking to earn internship credit, a white collar professional in search of a new career direction, or a retiree hoping to learn a new craft, I.C.E. Internships are your passport to Asia and the Pacific. Our placements teach important job skills while contributing to society and improving our environment.

Highlights: About Monteverde

Several of our internships are located near the town of Santa Elena which serves as the commercial center for the surrounding wilderness. Main street has all the expected pizza restaurants and tour agencies. It also boast two well-populated discotecs that are larger than one would think for a wilderness outpost. So, there is nightlife apart from that of insects and bats.

The region lays claim to some of the best-kept cloud forests in the entire country and is a paradise for bird watchers. Several nature preserves have sprung up to make sure this stays the case. Because of the beauty of the area, it is only natural that Monteverde has become a major part of the Costa Rican tourist trail - despite the poor roads leading up to and through it..

Considered by many as the world's premier cloud forest, Monteverde straddles the continental divide and rides the Carribean winds in grand fashion. Here, massive figs are enshrouded in a cascade of orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and ferns. Amidst this humid wonderland no less than 2500 plant species thrive. Some 400 species of birds, both resident and migrant, have been identified. Add to this mix a 100 species of mammals some 500 species of butterflies and you have a forest of unequaled value. The altitude offsets the otherwise oppressive humidity found at the coast and creates comfortable temperatures that range between sixty and seventy-five degrees.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Qualifications: good academic standing

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian and European Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• Phone Interview

Institute for Cultural Ecology's Mission Statement: The Institute for Cultural Ecology was founded on the conviction that visits to exotic destinations imply a commitment to cultural sensitivity and environmental stewardship. Our programs match the interests, academic goals, and passions of the participant to select host organizations and researchers. Once you connect with a place and its people, they become a part of you. Forever.

Year Founded: 1999