
The Conservation Volunteer will be a caretaker at our Macaw Breeding Center during the non-breeding season. After a training period, the applicant will be given responsibility to care for a group of Macaws. Depending on the successes of the previous breeding season this includes caring for offspring and preparing them for release into the wild.
No previous experience or academic background in Biology is needed. However, applicants with a background in animal care/veterinary or carpentry/construction are preferred.
The volunteer is expected to work 6 days a week. From 5:30am until 5:00pm with a three-hour break.
The minimum duration is one month with a maximum of 6 months. General availability is from the beginning of August through the end of December (some flexibility possible).
All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $40 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.
The MRN Conservation Internship offers young professionals a comprehensive six-month experience that combines hands-on work, learning modules, and direct contributions to MRN’s three core programs: Birds, Habitat, and People.
This Internship program aims to:
Duration: 6 months
Participants: Minimum of 8 interns per program period.
Time distribution:
Rotation:
Months 1-3:
Months 4-6:
Each site will deliver 6 modules, two weeks each. Each module includes:
In Islita (Breeding Center) – Sample modules:
Examples of practical activities: diet preparation, feeding and cleaning, enrichment installation
(perches, foliage, toys), pre-release training, handling and moving birds between aviaries.
In Sarapiquí – Sample modules (focused on wild Great Green Macaws, restoration,
and environmental education):
Examples of practical activities in Sarapiquí:
MRN ensures basic, safe, and adequate living conditions for all interns. Housing at both sites include basic services (electricity, potable water, Wi-Fi) and technical guidance.
Anticipated Costs: Interns cover international trasnporation, health insurance, personal expenses and food.
A Volunteer Coordinator supports each participant as their point of contact.
To be able to achieve its mission, Macaw Recovery Network is completely dependent on donations, gifts and grants. Daily tours at the Wild Macaw Reserve in Punta Islita is a key income source for making this work possible. The Tour & Visitation Volunteer will be leading and managing bookings of the daily tours at the reserve for an international audience, as well as maintain the upkeep of the visitor center’s facilities and tour trails. Additional projects may be given to improve the quality of the visitor’s experience. Depending on the needs of the site, this person may also be involved in some of the day-to-day husbandry of the captive Macaws at the breeding center.
Although not essential, this applicant preferably has:
The volunteer is expected to work on a flexible schedule as tours can be on a daily basis at 7:30 am and/or 4:00pm. General work hours are from 7am until 5.30pm with a three hour break.
The minimum duration is one month with a maximum of 6 months, all year around.
All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $40 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.
Throughout the year, MRN’s facilities are facing heavy rains, scorching heat, and humidity. Combined with intensive usage by over one-hundred parrots and their caretakers, this means a lot of wear and tear. Since we are a nonprofit organization, we work with very limited funds, so by hosting a handy volunteer, we hope to cut our annual operation costs and so increase our impact for the conservation of parrots. The Handy Volunteer will be given responsibility for the annual repairs and improvement of the buildings and aviaries on site. Depending on the needs of the site, this person may also be involved in some of the day-to-day husbandry of the captive Macaws during the non-breeding season.
The volunteer is expected to work 5 days a week, from 5:30am until 5:00pm with a three-hour break.
The minimum duration is one month, but can be up to 6 months. Longer stays are preferred.
Desirable Personal Qualities:
All international and national travel costs to initially get to the site are the responsibility of the applicant. However, once on site, accommodation, daily transport, and utilities are provided at no cost. All team members buy and prepare their own food, for this we recommend you budget for at least $40 per week, or more if you like luxuries. Comprehensive insurance cover for the entire stay is a must, and it should be arranged and paid for by the applicant.
The MRN Conservation Internship offers young professionals a comprehensive six-month experience that combines hands-on work, learning modules, and direct contributions to MRN’s three core programs: Birds, Habitat, and People.
This Internship program aims to:
Duration: 6 months
Participants: Minimum of 8 interns per program period.
Time distribution:
Rotation:
Months 1-3:
Months 4-6:
Each site will deliver 6 modules, two weeks each. Each module includes:
In Islita (Breeding Center) – Sample modules:
Examples of practical activities: diet preparation, feeding and cleaning, enrichment installation
(perches, foliage, toys), pre-release training, handling and moving birds between aviaries.
In Sarapiquí – Sample modules (focused on wild Great Green Macaws, restoration,
and environmental education):
Examples of practical activities in Sarapiquí:
MRN ensures basic, safe, and adequate living conditions for all interns. Housing at both sites include basic services (electricity, potable water, Wi-Fi) and technical guidance.
Anticipated Costs: Interns cover international trasnporation, health insurance, personal expenses and food.
A Volunteer Coordinator supports each participant as their point of contact.
The Macaw Recovery Network (MRN) works to protect and restore endangered parrot populations in the Americas. Our mission is to secure a future with thriving macaw and parrot populations in healthy and protected ecosystems. Our work is built on three pillars: Birds, Habitat, and People.
As an Environmental Education Volunteer, you will support MRN’s People Program in Sarapiquí, Costa Rica. This program promotes community leadership for conservation through educational projects and environmental awareness activities.
You will collaborate with local children and adults to foster knowledge, critical thinking, and a strong connection to nature. Volunteers contribute to workshops, activities, and forest restoration while also gaining practical experience in conservation education.
Pangola, Sarapiquí, Costa Rica – a small rural community surrounded by tropical forest. Volunteers stay at MRN’s field station with shared facilities (kitchen, laundry, internet).
Year-round. Minimum stay: 1 month.
This opportunity might be right for you if:
Spanish and/or English language skills are helpful (basic Spanish is useful for community engagement but not required).
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the conservation of endangered species while inspiring future generations to care for their environment.
The primary objective of the volunteer position in the Habitat Program of the Macaw Recovery Network (MRN) is to assist in various maintenance tasks carried out in the Sarapiquí Rainforest Reserve. Additionally, the volunteer will contribute to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems that are essential for the survival of the critically endangered Great Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus).
The volunteer at Macaw Recovery Network requires a deep interest in biodiversity conservation, teamwork skills, and willingness to participate in a variety of tasks as requested.
Maintenance activities:
Restoration and monitoring activities:
The volunteer is expected to work 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, Monday-Friday.
No previous experience or academic background in Biology needed. However, applicants with a background in Botany, Nursery and Plant management are preferred.
MRN has a team of (mostly) high-performing young professionals. We expect honest and direct communication. We support learning and growth, which requires humility and mutual respect. We are aligned and highly dedicated to our mission.
We offer several online volunteer opportunities for people who are passionate about conservation and cannot travel to Costa Rica to volunteer. You can support us from home, from your laptop and create a positive impact on parrot conservation.
Some online volunteer opportunities are:
You can write to volunteer@macawrecoverynetwork.org for more information.