Volunteering at Jatun Sacha's Galápagos Biological Research Station

By Amanda Massello

The Jatun Sacha Foundation—which in Quechua means “Great Wilderness”—is an environmental conservation organization with eight biological stations in Ecuador, spread between the coast, the Andes, the jungle and the Galápagos. “The San Cristóbal-Galápagos Biological Research Station” opened in 2003 to begin reforestation work replacing exotic plants with Galapagos endemic ones. The station is also developing a greenhouse that will grow Galapagos varieties of organic fruits and vegetables. Volunteers pay $700 a month for the program, which includes room and board, plus an application fee of $60. They must also commit to a minimum of fourteen days at the station. For more information about volunteering visit Jatun Sacha’s website (www.jatunsacha.org).