Casa Pampa opens many doors to experience Santa Teresa

Casa Pampa opens many doors for you to experience Santa Teresa and generally Costa Rica more than "just the average" tourist. By offering and giving your time and your individual Know-how, Casa Pampa will in return give you a true connection with the culture and community of Santa Teresa. On one hand, you can learn a lot about the local flora and fauna, composting, Permaculture, and gardening in general, and at the same time you can bring in your own expertise in whatever you like.

You can take part in Beach-CleanUps, plant some vegetables in the Community Garden behind the local public school or do some sort of cultural exchange like a Language-Tandem when asking for it.

Important to understand that Casa Pampa doesn't offer accommodation for volunteering at the moment (2021). However, it is a perfect place to take initiative and connect to a community on a daily basis.

Gracias, Casa Pampa. Nos vemos. Cheers, Davide

Casa Pampa abre muchas puertas para experimentar Santa Teresa y, en general, Costa Rica más que el turista "promedio". Al ofrecer y dar tu tiempo y su conocimiento individual, Casa Pampa le dará a cambio una verdadera conexión con la cultura y la comunidad de Santa Teresa. Por un lado, puede aprender mucho sobre la flora y fauna local, el compostaje, la permacultura y la jardinería en general, y al mismo tiempo puede aportar su propia experiencia en lo que quiera.

Puede participar en Beach-CleanUps , plantar algunas verduras en el jardín comunitario detrás de la escuela pública local o hacer algún tipo de intercambio cultural como un Language-Tandem, cuando lo solicite.

Es importante entender que Casa Pampa no ofrece alojamiento para voluntariado en este momento (2021). Sin embargo, es un lugar perfecto para tomar la iniciativa y conectarse con una comunidad a diario.

Gracias, Casa Pampa. Nos vemos. Saludos, Davide

Teaching Spanish Lessons at Santa Teresa Costa Rica

Tucked on the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, you will find the sacred little beach town of Santa Teresa. After spending 6 weeks traveling Costa Rica, I found this town with special energy in the air. One simple dirt road running along some of the best waves in Costa Rica, and lush forest on the other side. Santa Teresa offers something for everyone; from yoga retreats, world-class surfing, and waterfalls worth chasing. Simply put: it’s paradise found. In between the infinite exploration here, I was able to work the grounding volunteer projects offered at Casa Pampa. I have always found joy through the adrenaline of exploring new places, but I find the most value in travels when I have the opportunity to truly engage with the community for foreign places. Casa Pampa caters to each of their volunteers to find the perfect project that caters to any traveler.  

After spending time in Samara, Costa Rica teaching locals English as a Second Language, Casa Pampa quickly contacted the local public school in Santa Teresa to coordinate lessons with the local students. Within a few day’s time, I had the opportunity to conduct my own private lessons at the school!

Casa Pampa and their team provide the experience to feel the heart and soul of this special town, with projects of beach clean-ups, Perma-culture development, and ESL lessons, just to name a few. If you are caught in the vortex and wanting to stay in Santa Teresa forever, or just passing through, I cannot recommend Casa Pampa enough to delve into the genuine community of this magical Costa Rican town.

Gracias para todos!!

Pura Vida! 

Kristin Collins, United States

Permaculture, Sustainability and Pura Vida!

Costa Rica is known as a role model in nature conservation and for its rich biodiversity. For me a reason why I choose it as my destination for my 2,5 months travel. Through my professional background in environmental management and sustainability I’m interested in organizations which work in the field of sustainability, environmental conservation and creating awareness I wanted to help and exchange my knowledge and learn more about sustainability in Costa Rica.

During my stay in Santa Teresa I was happy to find Casa Pampa with its Permaculture Learning Lab for sustainability and environmental awareness. Casa Pampa is dedicated to spread environmental awareness, through volunteering programs, workshops and events around permaculture, composting and general environmental topics. 

Within my time there, I learned a lot about gardening in the tropical area and the principles of permaculture and composting. Daily activities included all kind of work which arise in a garden as watering, planting, covering the beds and so on. Beside that there is always time to have wonderful conversations about all the important world topics.

I enjoyed my weeks in that beautiful community garden with the choir of tropical birds and the monkey family which is living there a lot. For me it was a great enrichment working with nature having all these conversations learning and exchanging about diverse topics with like-minded people.

I can everyone recommend being part and contribute in the Casa Pampa Volunteer Program. It doesn’t matter if you have already experience in sustainability, gardening or permaculture you will find your place there make your positive impact, learn and grow. ☺

Gracias para todos!!

Pura Vida!!

Vanessa Riepl, Austria

Biological Corridors help to reinforce biodiversity

A biological corridor is the set of habitats necessary for the accomplishment of the life cycles (reproduction, growth, refuge, eat, drink, hunt, etc.) of a species that are functionally linked together. Road, house, deforestation, fire, can destroy those corridors putting species at high risk in certain areas.  

It is important that we realize that just cutting a tree could break a corridor and seriously bother animals like monkeys that always use the same path to get to the place they need to go to survive. When a biological corridor is broken, animals are forced to crossroads, put themselves in danger or get in the city which can lead to their death. It is a real threat to wildlife and all the balance of the ecosystem. 

Costa Rica and the SINAC rely a lot on preserving those areas to maintain biodiversity, which is one of the main reasons tourists like to travel to Costa Rica. The general objective is to create those corridors to link protected areas together to help reinforce biodiversity. 

Some countries started to build man-made biological corridors to permit species to cross large highways or urban areas. While it takes some time for wildlife to use those structures, cameras have seen them using it and it is a huge step in the right direction to protect biodiversity. 

Forest fires are also a real threat to biological corridors, and as we entered the dry season the SINAC indicated that with the implementation of the system of permanent alert, the fire will be monitored with satellites, towers, and field inspection. Furthermore, more than 950 firefighters are ready to intervene nationwide. The awareness of the population is also a very important aspect to prevent forest fires and the campaign “A summer without forest fires” has been put in place. Be aware that March and April are the more critical months, but caution must be observed through all the dry season.  

Protection of those corridors is not only the government's responsibility, everyone should know about the importance of those and think of the consequences of cutting a tree, making a fire, building houses, resort, etc. It is our responsibility to get knowledge of those important corridors for biodiversity, tourism, business, the country, and the planet. 

Ghyslain Durand, Canada

If you want to know more about Ghyslain thoughs, please check www.ghyslaindurand.com

Los corredores biológicos ayudan a conservar la biodiversidad

Un corredor biológico es el conjunto de hábitats necesarios para la realización de los ciclos de vida (reproducción, crecimiento, refugio, comer, beber, cazar, etc.) de una especie que está funcionalmente vinculados.

La carreteras, la casa, la desforestación, el fuego pueden destruir esos corredores y poner a las especies en alto riesgo en ciertas áreas. Es importante que nos demos cuenta de que solo cortar un árbol podría romper un corredor y molestar seriamente a los animales como los monos que siempre usan el mismo camino para llegar al lugar que necesitan para sobrevivir.

Cuando se rompe un corredor biológico, los animales se ven obligados a cruzar, ponerse en peligro o entrar en la ciudad, lo que puede conducir a su muerte. Es una amenaza real para la vida silvestre y todo el equilibrio del ecosistema.

Costa Rica y el SINAC dependen mucho de la preservación de esas áreas para mantener la biodiversidad, que es una de las principales razones por las que a los turistas les gusta viajar a Costa Rica. El objetivo general es crear esos corredores para unir las áreas protegidas para ayudar a reforzar la biodiversidad.

Algunos países comenzaron a construir corredores biológicos artificiales para permitir que las especies crucen grandes carreteras o áreas urbanas. Si bien la vida silvestre necesita algo de tiempo para usar esas estructuras, las cámaras las han visto usarlas y es un gran paso en la dirección correcta para proteger la biodiversidad.

Los incendios forestales también son una amenaza real para los corredores biológicos, y cuando entramos en la estación seca, el SINAC indicó que con la implementación del sistema de alerta permanente, el incendio será monitoreado con satélites, torres e inspección de campo. Además, más de 950 bomberos están listos para intervenir en todo el país.

La conciencia de la población también es un aspecto muy importante para prevenir incendios forestales y se ha puesto en marcha la campaña "Un verano sin incendios forestales". Tenga en cuenta que marzo y abril son los meses más críticos, pero se debe tener precaución durante toda la estación seca.

La protección de esos corredores no es solo responsabilidad del gobierno, todos deben saber sobre la importancia de esos y pensar en las consecuencias de cortar un árbol, hacer un incendio, construir casas, resorts, etc.

Es nuestra responsabilidad conocer esos importantes corredores para la biodiversidad, el turismo, los negocios, el país y el planeta.

Ghyslain Durand, Canadá

Si desea saber más acerca de los pensamientos de Ghyslain, visite www.ghyslaindurand.com

Casa Pampa Volunteer Program ; An unique experience full of ´Pura Vida´

Casa Pampa runs Santa Teresa communal garden and different projects with and for the locals (environmental education classes, beach cleaning,...).

I just stayed for one week, but I still enjoyed it a lot and got so many new ideas of permaculture and sustainability in tourism, my main reason to travel to Costa Rica since I work in that area.

So if you plan to stay longer, realize your idea and start your own project!

The team did their best to answer all my questions. They even organized a very interesting tour to a hotel that let me know more about sustainability in tourism. 

In relation to permaculture, I enjoyed the garden while they explained the various principles, such as seeding,  making beds, composting, analyzing the landscape, the importance of the soil, taking care of the plants and harvesting finally

Last but not least: our conversations about sustainable building and the challenges and changes of a greater dispersal of the principles of permaculture.

I really took advantage of my time at Casa Pampa and want to recommend it to you if you want to make a unique experience of impact and which will surely change not just your life!

In Casa Pampa, you always find someone that dedicates a lot of time and energy to each volunteer and spreads good vibes. They are happy to share their knowledge to ensure that you leave richer than when you first came.

Ramona from Germany

Casa Pampa - una experiencia única llena de 'Vida Pura'

Vine a Santa Teresa para un retiro de yoga y permacultura. Después de su cancelación, estaba buscando un plan B y encontré Casa Pampa, una ONG en este pequeño pueblo de playa.

Casa Pampa tiene un jardín comunitario y diferentes proyectos con y para los lugareños (clases de educación ambiental, limpieza de playas, ...).

Solo me quedé una semana, pero aún así lo disfruté mucho y obtuve varias ideas nuevas de permacultura y sostenibilidad en el turismo, mi razón principal para viajar a Costa Rica dado que trabajo en ese ámbito.

Así que, si planeas quedarte más tiempo, ¡discerni tu idea y comenza tu propio proyecto!

El equipo hizo todo lo posible para responder mis preguntas. Incluso organizaron un recorrido muy interesante por un hotel que me permitió conocer más sobre la sostenibilidad en el turismo.

En relación a la permacultura, disfruté del jardín mientras me explicaban sus diversos principios como sembrar, hacer camas, compostar, analizar el paisaje, la importancia del suelo, cuidar las plantas y, finalmente, cosechar.

Por último, pero no menos importante: nuestras conversaciones sobre la construcción sostenible y los desafíos y posibilidades de una mayor dispersión de los principios de la Permacultura.

Realmente aproveché mi tiempo en Casa Pampa y quiero recomendarlo para quienes busquen una experiencia única de impacto y que seguramente cambiará no solo su vida.

En Casa Pampa siempre encontras a alguien que dedica mucho tiempo y energía a cada voluntario y difunde buena vibra. Están felices de compartir sus conocimientos para garantizar que te vayas más rico que cuando llegaste por primera vez.

Ramona de Alemania

Green Dreamers

Italian, 37, passionate about my Pit bulls, keen on nature and travel, I am always learning and trying to get the most of each experience. My name is Maria and I´ve been volunteering with Casa Pampa for 3 weeks with the project “Santa Teresa Community Garden”.

I left my job as Project Manager to start my personal project: find an alternative way of living, closer to nature with less needs and in a more sustainable way. I was looking for a project in the environment field, and in particular with permaculture. I wanted to contribute to protect the environment, learn how to recycle in a smaller scale as individual, share my thoughts and ideas with people who had the same concerns as me.  

At Casa Pampa I found exactly what I was looking for: open-minded people, passionate about their job and eager to share their knowledge. I had the chance to meet other volunteers, make new friends and learn from their experiences too. Each one of us is here for a reason and sometimes you discover you are here for the same reason.

We work at the horticulture site, the so-called “Santa Teresa Community Garden”. The aim is to create a vegetable garden at disposal of the community, where people can learn to grow vegetables in a sustainable way, by using compost and just nature, without pesticides and in a simpler, more natural way.

This site works also as support of the recycling process. We receive organic waste from restaurants and we use it for making the compost. We also do beach cleaning; we separate what we collect and we give it to recycling centers.

I learn something new every day: how to seed, transplant, how to make the compost at home, what can be recycled and be used for new purposes. Creativity is our guide and everyone is free to express her/himself. I also love our brainstorming time. We just sit together and we chat at the shadow of the garden. We try to figure out how we can improve things and do a better job for the community and it's a very powerful moment, where you feel like one team of superheroes ☺

I am very proud of the results we achieved, even if the path is still long and there is a lot to do. But we don't give up, we are dreamers and warriors and we already work to achieve the next step for a better greener future!

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