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Rainforest
Conservation Project Details |
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 You
will be working in Tijuca National Park, a lush rainforest
located right on the edge of urban Rio de Janeiro. Our
partner organization in Tijuca has dedicated itself to
counteracting the mass destruction of the Brazilian rainforest,
one of the world's most precious resources. The non-profit
group prides itself on promoting intelligent environmental
conservation and education through ecotourism. Working
hand-in-hand with park administration, our partner organizes
and implements reforestation, cleaning, and ecological
education projects.
Volunteers with our Rainforest Conservation Project have
renovated hundreds of acres of rainforest, helped map
trails, and removed harmful constructions from the rainforest.
A highlight of the experience is the "living school" program,
in which volunteers lead informal tours and education
classes for poor children from nearby shantytowns. Because
these children have limited resources, your help is key
in enabling them understand the value of the rainforest
in their own backyard.
Orientation:
After arrival in Rio, you will be picked up by a shuttle
service provided by Volunteer Adventures. You will be
transported to your hostel or host family for the first
night. You will be given instructions on how to arrive
at the school the following morning, where you will begin
your volunteer adventure with an extensive orientation.
During the orientation, you will be become accustomed
to living and working in Rio, using public transportation,
and volunteering in the rainforest.
Transportation:
Volunteer Adventures will provide airport pick-up in Rio
and transportation to the host family. Volunteers pay
for transportation to and from the project and other activities.
 Language
Classes:
Volunteers enrolled in the Gold package
will be taking Portuguese language classes at Bridge-Lingautec,
our affiliate language school in Rio. Your first day in
the school, you will take a test to place you in the appropriate
language level. For the rest of your time in Rio de Janeiro,
you will be in a group of four or fewer students, learning
conversational Portuguese for four hours a day.
After your class hours, you will go directly to the rainforest
according to your volunteer schedule. During your volunteer
work, you'll get a chance to practice the Portuguese you've
learned during the day while working with rainforest guides
and tour groups.
Accommodations:
Bronze: You will be staying at a hostel
with breakfast included. Commute time to the project can
be 30-60 minutes. Silver and Gold: You
will be staying with a Brazilian host family. Our host
families are carefully screened and meet Volunteer Adventures'
stringent host family requirements. All of our families
are middle-class and live in safe, middle-class homes.
The distances from the school vary from about 20-40 minutes
by bus. You will be given a key to your host family's
house, and you can come and go as you please. The family
will provide two meals a day, a private room, and upon
request (and extra charge), a private bathroom.
Meals:
Bronze: Hostel serves breakfast
only.
Silver and Gold: Host family provides
2 meals a day, 3 upon request and with an extra charge.
Excursions:
Although you wil be serving the community for most of
your time in Brazil, there may be time for some sightseeing.
Below are a few of the trips that the school organizes
for students and volunteers, schedule permitting. Students
are expected to pay their own transportation costs and
entrance fees.
  Christ
the Redeemer Statue –
Located atop the Corcovado Mountain, this is one of the
world's best-known and most-visited monuments.
Botanical
Gardens – Visit Rio's
impressive Botanical Gardens, home to outstanding examples
of plant life from Brazil and the rest of the world.
Sugar
Loaf Mountain – The views
are spectacular from Rio's most famous landmark, which
stands at the entrance of Guanabara Bay.
Modern
Art Museum – Situated
on the water close to downtown, this museum houses some
1,700 paintings, sculptures and engravings.
Paquetá
– Take a ferry trip to the beautiful
little island of Paquetá, which lies in the middle
of Guanabara Bay.
Activities:
Seminars
about the country, the Portuguese language, history, geography
and culture.
Classes
to teach you samba, the most famous dance in Brazil.
Social
outings with Bridge-Linguatec students to local bars and
restaurants to practice your new-found language skills
and to meet more new people.
In-country
support:
We work directly with our school in Rio de Janeiro
to ensure your safety and support during your time in
Brazil. You can expect help from the teachers, staff,
and other employees at Bridge-Linguatec. We also always
have on-site support at the community center, where both
coordinators and professional volunteers can help you
with anything you might need. |
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 Eduardo
Project Leader |
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Volunteer
Adventures - 915 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80246
Phone: 1-888-825-3454 or 303-785-8887 Fax: 303-777-7246 UK Toll
Free: 0800-028-8051 |
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