How to write a letter requesting someone sponsor you for the trip;
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Letter-Requesting-Sponsorship
Website to register for the trip: www.casterbridgetours.com/register
Trip ID #: 84346
Pack your bags! Neuse Charter School is going to Costa Rica! The following is the proposal, from Casterbridge Tours (http://www.casterbridgetours.com/ ) for our service trip to work with sea turtles for 4 days and travel 4 days in Costa Rica next summer. We will have several fundraising events for the trip to try and offset some of the costs, including letter writing to local churches, businesses and civic groups in an effort to get individual sponsors for students, candy and chip sales and fundraising events from school. (If you would like to contact your own church or civic group to obtain sponsorship, please reach out! We can provide updates and pictures to all sponsors!
Initially, this trip will require a $500 deposit in early September and families pay monthly for about 9 months before the trip (we have to be paid up 30 days before we travel). All children younger than mature 5th grade will require an adult to accompany them. There is an option, for an additional fee, for younger students and chaperones to stay at a local hotel during the 4 days of volunteering. Please contact Mrs. Brindle or me with any questions
GROUP NAME: Neuse Charter School - 17308-E
TOUR TITLE: Sea Turtle Conservation Project
TOUR DATES: June 8 - 17, 2013
TOUR AIRPORT: Raleigh-Durham
ITINERARY OUTLINE
DAY 1 DEPART RALEIGH - ARRIVE SAN JOSE AREA (1 NIGHT)
DAY 2 SAN JOSE - BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK –
MANZANILLO AREA (5 NIGHTS)
DAY 3 VOLUNTEER: SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
DAY 4 VOLUNTEER: SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
DAY 5 VOLUNTEER: SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
DAY 6 VOLUNTEER: SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
DAY 7 MANZANILLO - LA FORTUNA FALLS - ARENAL AREA (2 NIGHTS)
DAY 8 SKY TREK & LAKE ARENAL CANOEING
DAY 9 ARENAL - SARCHI - SAN JOSE (1 NIGHT)
DAY 10 DEPARTURE FROM SAN JOSE
“SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT”
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM RALEIGH - ARRIVE SAN JOSE (1 NIGHT)
We will be met at the airport by our Tour Manager/Guide, and then board our own private coach to transfer to
our hotel in San Jose.
Meals Included: Dinner
DAY 2 SAN JOSE - BRAULIO CARRILLO NATIONAL PARK - MANZANILLO (5 NIGHTS)
Today we will make an early departure and travel across Costa Rica to the southern Caribbean coast. En route,
we will stop in Braulio Carrillo National Park, home to several distinct life zones due to its large size and
varied altitudes. The park ranges from high-altitude cloud forest to tropical lowlands rainforest, and it
maintains one of the highest levels of bio-diversity in Costa Rica. We will enjoy a guided Nature Walk
through the Rain Forest, which will be a perfect introduction to flora and fauna of Costa Rica. The park is
known to contain 600 identified species of trees, over 530 species of birds, and 135 species of mammals. Our
day continues as we travel to the Caribbean Coast, our base for the Sea Turtle Conservation Project. After
getting settled in, we will learn all about the Sea Turtle Conservation Project, as well as the various service
tasks we will be performing during our stay.
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
DAY 3 VOLUNTEER: BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
Today we begin our Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Work. Dependent on the specific needs of the
project during our visit, our daily tasks may include night patrols (4 to 6 hours per night), hatchery
surveillance (24 hours per day), general infrastructure maintenance, repair and upkeep of the hatchery
building, counting baby turtles and releasing them back into the wild, making baskets, nursery care, data
collection and statistic processing, creating information signs, and beach cleaning.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4 VOLUNTEER: BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
Today we will continue our Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Work.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5 VOLUNTEER: BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
Today we will continue our Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Work.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 6 VOLUNTEER: BEACH SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION PROJECT
Today we will continue our Sea Turtle Conservation Volunteer Work.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 7 MANZANILLO - LA FORTUNA FALLS - ARENAL AREA (2 NIGHTS)
This morning we will make an early departure and transfer to our hotel in the Arenal area. This afternoon we
will hike to the impressive Río Fortuna Waterfall in a lush jungle setting. After viewing the falls from the top,
we will take another hike (weather permitting) down a steep path to the pool formed by the waterfall. We can
swim in the pool, the calm pool just around the bend, or join the locals at the popular swimming hole under the
bridge. This evening we will travel around Arenal Volcano to a viewing spot where, if we are lucky, we will
witness Arenal Volcano hiss and spray lava.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 8 SKY TREK & LAKE ARENAL CANEOING
This morning we will travel to the Arenal Rainforest Reserve, where our morning begins with an Aerial Tram
Tour. Telefericos with open carriages will whisk us up the northern slopes of the Cordillera de Tilaran to the
lookout point at 4,250 feet. From here you will have an amazing view of Lake Arenal and the volcano. Our
day will also include Sky Trek in the Arenal Reserve. This exciting adventure combines walking, hanging
bridges and the thrills of a canopy tour into one adventure. This afternoon we will enjoy a pleasant afternoon of
Canoeing on Lake Arenal. Our relaxing tour will provide breathtaking views of Arenal Volcano and we will
have the opportunity to observe different species of birds including the Flycatcher, Kingfisher, Great Blue
Heron and magnificent Anhinga. This evening we will relax in Hot Springs and have the opportunity to
submerge ourselves in the natural medicinal waters. The springs include several pools with varying water
temperatures in a natural setting.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner
DAY 9 ARENAL - SARCHI - SAN JOSE (1 NIGHT)
This morning we will travel to Sarchí, Costa Rica's main artisan town, where we will view the colorfully
painted miniature oxcarts that are made here. This morning we will learn all about the handmade and
traditional oxcarts (or carretas) of Costa Rica, the country's most famous type of craft. Today they are admired
for their decorative qualities; however, the oxcart played a very important part in the cultural history of Costa
Rica. In the middle of the 19th century, when coffee was first being cultivated in the surrounding countryside,
oxcarts provided the only method in which to transport the handpicked beans over the mountains and to the
coast. Arduous and timely were these trips; a good, reliable, well-built oxcart could mean the difference
between successful transit and financial ruin. In many cases, oxcarts were a family's only means of
transportation and, at times, even served as a status symbol. Thus, the tradition of painting and decorating the
carts commenced in the early part of this century. Originally, each region of Costa Rica had its own particular
design, enabling one to identify from which part of the country the driver lived simply by observing the pattern
on the wheels. We will begin by viewing a Demonstration on Constructing Oxcarts in an artisan’s
workshop. The artist will use the same methods applied during the early part of the century, as well as the same
tools required to carve, cut and piece together these magnificent carts. After lunch we will return to the
workshop where we will have an opportunity to Design a Handicraft by painting delicate freehand designs on
a miniature oxcart, an array of salad bowls, wooden fruit, lamps, or jewelry (subject to what is available at the
shop during our visit). After some free time to explore the town and shop at our leisure, we continue to our San
Jose area hotel. As a wonderful conclusion to our tour, we will attend a Tiquicia Dinner and Show so we may
enjoy native Costa Rican folklore dress, dances, and a buffet of local cuisine.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 10 DEPARTURE FROM SAN JOSE
Our rewarding and enjoyable tour will come to an end as our Tour Manager/Guide accompanies us to the
airport for the return flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Quotation
Prepared For
Beth Marks-Berner
Neuse Charter School
TOTAL TOUR COSTS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FULL PAYING PARTICIPANTS
Neuse Charter School - 17308E
(Subject to final airfare confirmation)
(a) All airport taxes are included and there
are no registration fees, optional excursions or
adult supplements to be added.
(b) This proposal is valid until 15 October
2012 and this tour cannot be operated in its
present format with fewer than 10 full paying
participants.
Participants Price in USD
30 2,548
24 2,614
18 2,649
12 2,687
What is Included:
* Round trip airfare with a major carrier on scheduled flights and guaranteed dates
* Airport taxes/fuel surcharges (currently $250.00 but subject to change until ticketed usually 45 days prior to
departure)
* Accommodation in San Jose and the Arenal area in 3-star superior tourist class hotels, lodges or resorts
with private facilities guaranteed in each room. Accommodation in Manzanillo area in shared cabins with shared
facilities. Seperate cabins are included for males and females.
* Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the program
* All transportation by private, air-conditioned coach
* All admissions, activities and excursions as per the itinerary
* Services of a full time tour manager/guide
* A free place in a single room and provision of an international cell phone for the main Program Leader on your
tour.
* Additional free places in shared twin rooms (as determined by the number of full paying participants stated below)
* Basic health insurance while on tour (including medical treatment on tour up to $7,500 and up to $1,500 for
accident-related dental)
* Free Professional Development Points/Credits (35 points or equivalent) for all faculty chaperones
* All applicable taxes (excludes departure tax, which must be paid at the departure airport)
This Does Not Include:
* Personal beverages with meals
* Costa Rica Departure Tax (currently $28), which must be paid at the departure airport
* Visas (if required)
* Gratuities
* Any fees that might be imposed by the airlines at the airport for checked baggage
* Travel insurance - Casterbridge offers a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy to all participants. This Policy includes Health, Cancellation and Property coverage and costs $75 for those 30 years or below and $118 for those aged 31 years or above. This travel insurance is gratis for all free group leaders.
Information about volunteering: Please forgive any typos or fractured English. This was written locally in Costa Rica:
Volunteer Program Description Gandoca
Gandoca
Gandoca is a small town in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica, in the canton of Talamanca, near the border with Panama. It has a population of 280 persons, who are engaged in various tasks such as the protection of turtles, the attention of volunteers who come to the site, construction, and work in the banana companies, among others. Visitors will find the community with constant electricity and fixed telephone, but no such service the cell phone or drinking water, however, some lodges have water filter in your property and not, seek to maintain drums of purified water to the attention of their customers. Currently, a committee formed with the same people working vigorously with Aqueducts and Sewers (AyA) in order to provide all inhabitants of drinking water, however, cannot yet set a date certain in which the service will have. It is estimated that drinking water will have by January 2013.
You can access a couple of grocery stores, which are equipped with very basic products, so if a better supply require to be moved 8 miles to the village of Las Palmas, which also has an ATM Bank Costa Rica, that dispenses both dollars or colones as well to Finca 96, 12 miles away. The Pura Vida Soda or the Bar, are places where visitors can get food service, soft drinks and bottled water. Do not have a clinic or health center, the nearest community is located in Daytona Gandoca 14 kilometers, which is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 pm From the junction of Farm 96, there is a gravel road 12 km. We recommend no larger buses that Coaster.
Wildlife Refuge Gandoca Manzanillo
Wildlife Refuge Gandoca Manzanillo is one of the most important elements in this community. This is a site of great ecological diversity, with tropical rain forest. Its waters are privileged with coral reefs. It also has a lagoon where you can observe several species of flora and fauna, among which include the palms of Yolillo and howler monkeys and squirrel. Additionally, it is recognized as one of the best places for observation and participation in volunteer turtle spawning.
Turtle Nesting Season
The turtle nesting Leatherback, Hawksbill and Green is from mid-February to mid August. The peak season is between April and May. The births of turtles ranging from mid-May to August. The number of turtles arriving at the beach begins to decrease between June and July.
Volunteer Program
Each season, as part of conservation efforts, the turtle conservation project recruits national and international volunteers to help with conservation work and research. Volunteers can commit to a minimum of 5 days to several months in the conservation project.
Today, the protection of the leatherback turtle is a project which many of the residents are identified, hence arises the Association of Producers and Micro Business Agricultural Production Gandoca (ASOMIPAG), whose primary objective achieve better quality of life of people in Gandoca, through coordinated training with IMAS and through conservation of natural resources in the area. This association is led by Ms. McCarthy and Gladys Rojas support APROFUTURO committee, which consists of local youth and which together with the support of the volunteers are able to develop the program for the protection of turtles in Gandoca through activities such as beach cleaning, patrolling and nursery construction and care of turtles.
Essence of Volunteers
This is a program that is of great importance to the community, for those involved it is a cultural opportunity, because ideologies are able to exchange with local cultures are shared, narrow friendships while promoting environmental conservation environment.
Volunteering is a very important aspect for conservation. They support the work of patrolling, which, especially in peak season, is hard and could not be accomplished without the help provided by volunteers. Additionally, they are an important source of income for the community. If the community has alternative income, it prevents the marketing of turtle eggs.
Volunteers are active with active members of the community and in their places of lodging, are welcomed into a warm and homey environment, which will make them feel comfortable during their stay in Gandoca.
Registration
To participate as volunteers must pay a fee of $ 30.00 per person, this is paid only once regardless of the time they are in the project. (This fee is included in the tour package) This fee is specifically to assist in the purchase of materials that are relevant to the development of activities such as, latex gloves, plastic bags to deposit eggs, turtles, measuring tapes, pencils, paper to take notes, lamps red light, among others. In addition, payment of the leaders and field assistants.
Activities
Once positioned in place of lodging in Gandoca, the volunteer is welcome and provides an introductory talk in which they indicate the various tasks that will be performing on the beach, which include:
Cleaning Beach - This is done during the day to improve the chances of spawning turtles.
Construction of Nurseries
Nursery Care
Night Patrols - the group of volunteers, along with an experienced leader on patrol, walk a section of 11 km of beach looking for nesting turtles. As a turtle laying stands, measures are taken from the shell and the size of the nest. The turtle is marked eggs and relocated if necessary.
One day before the committee has the responsibility to distribute tasks among volunteers and inform every leader and volunteer their role for the next day. Importantly, once enrolled in the program, the volunteer must always fulfill the tasks assigned; it is part of their commitment. In case you are sick, you must know as soon as possible to the committee to make appropriate changes in the activity chart. Working hours are from 5 to 8 hours a day, depending on the amount of human support to count the committee. For every 6 days of work will have a day off or rest, which can take advantage of the charms of Gandoca descurir both inside and outside the shelter. To do this, the community has several guides are ready to provide the services requested of them.
The Night Patrol
Nightly patrols are conducted to find turtles, take evidence, and provide protection to them and the eggs. The volunteers, accompanied by a leader, must be between 5 and 10 minutes before the start of patrols in the meeting point is established by prior information.
There are two rotating schedule, in which volunteers must be willing to collaborate. These are from 7:45 pm to 12:00 am and 11:45 pm to 4:00 am. Each patrol group is composed of no more than 10 volunteers per leader. No group travel without a leader. Those that work the late shift will have the morning free to rest and evening perform other activities such as beach cleaning or working in the nursery. Importantly, the volunteer must be willing and prepared to volunteer work at set times.
What to Wear
Pack for the hot and humid climate. Take 2 to 3 sets of dark clothes, preferably black and long sleeves for night patrols. Ponchos or dark-colored layer of quick drying shorts to work on day-Enough socks and underwear, swimwear, sunglasses and hat-towel-black closed shoes, for example, that can get wet Crocs-Shoes walking-sandals. Also suggested:
Extra batteries
Battery charger
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Alarm
Water bottle
Small backpack for day-
Basic first aid kit, especially against mosquito bites
Flag or banner of your country
Snorkeling equipment
Games or cards for down time
Books
Toiletries (preferably biodegradable)
Personal medications
How Can you Further Help?
The turtle conservation project needs help not only physically, but also groups, individual travelers and the volunteers they can bring and donate materials such as:
Batteries
Tape
Rakes
Plastic Bags
Rope
Pens or Pencils
Paper
Notebooks
Playing Cards
Lodging
Since this is a volunteer program in which the equitable distribution of resources contributes to the conservation of the turtle, is seeking volunteers willing to stay with host families, which are located not more than 500m distance from one another. Groups of volunteers can be distributed equally among four shelters. Each of these projects has a limited capacity to host groups, so we try to distribute to customers both properties. These are at a distance of 500 meters apart, so you can easily walk or between both properties.
Volunteers stay in shared rooms - 4 to 6 volunteers. This includes 3 basic meals taken in the workplace or at the lodge.
Cabinas El Rinconcito
The owner, Mary and her husband Gerardo Sanarrucia Matute, will give a warm welcome and together seek to provide excellent care. They have a large wooden house, which has 6 bedrooms, 5 of them with 2 cabins each, and another room with one double and one single, for a total capacity of 13 people. Each room is equipped with private bathroom (no hot water), fan, small wardrobe, mosquito nets and towels. Dona Maria is a small restaurant, located on the same property, which offers the service of breakfast, lunch and dinner and have an outdoor lounge where you can organize activities for groups of 25 people, the establishment has Water Filter, which customers can access without extra charge and ample parking.
Residential Leatherback
Very near the beach, is the property of Mrs. Sandra Medrano, she is a good natured person who likes to talk much with his guests, telling stories of Gandoca and make them feel at home. There are two cabins, independent of each other, one has 2 cabins and in the other two cabins and one single bed. Each room is equipped with private bathroom (no hot water), a small fan, mosquito nets, towels and a small terrace where you can relax in a hammock. Mrs. Sandra has 6 rooms that are within her home, some of these are equipped with cabins, some with double or single beds, all must share the bathroom, there is one for women and another for men, but none of these have hot water. The maximum capacity to accommodate customers in this area is 18 people. In the dining room of her house, she provides food service for its guests.
Cabinas Caribbean
Doña Maria has a small shelter on the second floor of a typical local house with 6 rooms with shared bathroom, only one of them has a double bed, while the rest are equipped with bunk beds. They have a simple fan, mosquito nets and a unique safety deposit boxes, made of wood. For volunteers, she offers food service and is not further than 500 meters from one project to another, very close to the grocery store and plaza of sports.
Carmen Posada
Carmen with her two children share 3 rooms in your house, and next to it also has a house where 11 beds are located, which share the two bathrooms at their disposal. They are equipped with mosquito nets and fans. In the dining room of her home, she offers volunteers the three meals. This inn is very close to the Cabinas El Rinconcito and Caribbean, in addition, Doña Carmen is the owner of the shop, so if the volunteer can access this service with ease!
