Alpha Project Allocations: Phase 1

Raleigh International aim to have young people from a variety of backgrounds, nationalities and life stages on each expedition. Furthermore we hope all our volunteers are individuals who are open to new experiences and cultures; are team-players who want to develop leadership skills; and are motivated to make a difference to local communities.

Expedition 13A's first 19 Day phase begins on Sunday 3rd February, when all of our teams will deploy to their respective projects: find out all about our projects by clicking here >  (or click on the team titles below for more information) The 3 types of project are Adventure, Community and Environment, so to our first phase teams, drumroll please...

Alpha 1 to 3: Adventure

Each trek covers 250kms in 19 days. Learning navigation, camping and survival skills along the way; teamwork, determination, a good sense of humour and talent for games are essential.  The 4am starts, tough climbs and up to 10 hours trekking a day are all made worthwhile when rewarded with incredible views, abundant wildlife and an enormous sense of achievement upon arrival at the beautiful beaches.

Alpha 1 - The Coast to Coast Trek, Costa Rica

The refried beans 'frijoles' challenge - 10 seconds to eat as many as possible

Led by Project Managers (PMs) Sarah and Colin, Alpha 1 are (clockwise from top left): Billy, Robin, Adelina, Philipp, Rosina, Angus, Colin, Fay, Jeff, Sarah, Ellie, Tabs, Luke (not in picture) and Maykel

Alpha 2 - Corcovado Trek, Costa Rica

Led by Project Managers Chris and Sarah Alpha 2 are:

Clockwise from top left: Alex, Ben, Charlotte, Sarah, Lewis, Anouk, Chris, Flavia, Frances, Catharine, Natasha, Luis, Charlie and Dom

Alpha 3 - Turrisantos Trek, Costa Rica

Led by PMs Gemma and James (clockwise from top right): Gemma, Dougie, Kieron, Imi, Jac, Nelson, Con, Denise, Jaap, Daniela, James, Emily, Rachel, Freddie, Leonie and Katy

PM James, getting Alpha 3 in the spirit

Alpha 4 to 6: Environmental - Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

Working with SINAC (System of National Conservation Areas), the environmental groups live and work alongside the park rangers to help maintain and improve the region’s national parks and wildlife refuges. The projects are hugely important in supporting UN Millenium Development Goal 7: Ensuring environmental sustainability - helping preserve natural resources and habitats, and protect important species of plants and animals. 

Alpha 4 - Carara National Park, Costa Rica

Objectives: Maintaining and creating new trails in the park, increasing tourist numbers and ensuring income for the park and local economy. 

The Carara crocodile being allocated her prey

Alpha 4 led by PMs Louise and Emma (clockwise from top left): Louise, Emma, Emilie, Hidde, Jos, Ben, Cecilia, Josh, George, Ollie, Celine, Emma, Amy, Adriana and Henry 

Alpha 5 - San Lucas Island Costa Rica

Objectives: Environemental Protection Project - creating new trail, development of visitor centre.

Alpha 5 led by PMs Sally, Paul, Kate and Artist Holly (clockwise from top left): Holly, Greg, Charlie, Sally, Charlotte, Jade, Nick, Emily, Anna, Matt, Job, Gina, Ollie, Ben, Kate and Paul

Alpha 6 - Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica

Objectives: Environmental Sustainability Project - working alongside park rangers to maintain park infrastructure.

PMs Clive & Zoe

Alpha 6 led by PMs Clive & Zoe (clockwise from top left): Nacho, James, Lilly, Jelmer, James, Abi, Izzy, Dom, Tom, Ottie, Alex, Adriana, Zoe and Clive.

Alpha 7 to 10: Community - Sustainable Development

Living in the heart of some of the most remote areas of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, these projects provide a unique opportunity to work alongside members of the communities to provide basic facilities such as access to clean water and education. The hard work of the Raleigh groups helps to improve the quality of life and provide valuable resources for the many generations to come.

Alpha 7 - Matapalo, Achuapa, Niaragua

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal to improve the health of the community through education in water sanitation and installation of a gravity water feed.

Led by PMs Lena and Antonio (clockwise from top left): Lena, Mark, Sarah, Mat, Robbie, Willie, Nina, Matt, Nina, Charlie, Berny, Antonio and Seb

Alpha 8 - Siares, San Ramon, Nicaragua

Objectives: UN Millenium Development Goal 2: Universal Primary Education, Alpha 8 will be building a pre-school, installing two latrines and a water standpipe.

Led by PMs Dav, Denise and Marie (clockwise from top left): Thomas, Alex, Merle, Jess, Mary, Tom, Denise, Marie, Ella, Anthony, Harini, Victor, Dav and Rakeem

Alpha 9 - Conte Burika, Costa Rica

Objectives: Health Improvement Project, building a health post in a remote indigenous society. This project hopes to improve the overall health of the community in treating conditions from respiratory issues to malnutrition.

Led by PMs Helena, Katharine and Shane (clcokwise from top left): Wisha, Drew, Flo, Katinka, Philip, Bella, Kieran, Cas, Don, Helena, Kate, Kat, Shane and Roger

Alpha 10 - Arenilla, Miraflor, Nicaragua

Objectives: Creating sustainable housing using natural materials which ensures the local community can repair the properties themselves.

Led by PMs Sacha, Vic and Angie (clcokwise from top left): Sacha, Villo, Henry, Iona, Michelle, Laeticia, Anders, Joe, Vic, Flo, Glyn, Elpha, Alejandra and Angie

Find out more about the projects, our partners and objectives here or by clicking on the team title.

Ralei-leaks

Title doesn't quite roll off the tongue does it? ....sigh....

I’m a man of my word. As promised here’s the scoop on some of the first-rate projects being undertaken by venturers on Expedition 12B, you lucky things, you:

Community phase

Miraflor Disaster Relief Housing project, Nicaragua

An incredible opportunity to work in an unbelievable setting, with possibly the friendliest and most hospitable people on the planet.

The gorgeous Miraflor Reserve is 206sqkm of beautiful mountainous terrain with various different ecosystems such as tropical savannah, dry tropical forest and mountain cloud forest.

Within the reserve there are a number of communities living through subsistence farming and gaining income from coffee growing, cattle farming and some small tourism initiatives. However the people have few resources and lack access to basic services such as health and education.

Towards the end of 2011, Miraflor was hit with a spate of bad weather and Raleigh groups will be working on a disaster relief project to rebuild houses in communities affected. 

Adventure Phase

Corcovado Trek

Grab yer boots, and lace ‘em tight. This is a corker of a trek.

Starting in the stunning montane La Amistad National Park, the largest national park in Costa Rica and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the trek gets the chance to walk through beautiful mountain scenery and towering cloud forest. After passing by waterfalls and hot springs the group will cross the Coto Brus valley to the Fila Costena – a chain of mountains that run parallel to the sea.

Once they are out of the mountains the group will finish the trek by crossing the famous Corcovado National Park that straddles the Osa Peninsula, walking through the best preserved tropical rainforest in Central America. The group will have a chance to see monkeys and Tapirs before the walk along the beaches of the Pacific Ocean for three days to meet the bus home.

Environmental Phase

Braulio Carillo National Park, Volcan Barva Sector

Possibly the closest you’ll get to playing Tarzan...

This phase will work at Volcan Barva sector of the Braulio Carrillo National Park – a stunning area of primary cloudforest situated on the Cordillera Central. Braulio Carrillo National Park abounds with animals, birds, insects and plants. The reserve acts as a biological corridor between many neighbouring protected areas. Raleigh has been approached to build a water system for the ranger station in this sector so that the rangers are able to manage and control this important protected area.

We are now a full complement of Advance Fieldbase staff as Lucinda our medic has arrived. Hopefully she will be underutilised (I think you understand what I mean by this). Below is a snap of your advanced fieldbase team. Compliments on haircuts and dress sense are most welcome.

What can you expect...

Buenas dias! When I told you yesterday that our advance fieldbase team was now complete I lied a little bit. We were missing one person, quite an important person as it turns out! Our Country Director Julian was away being spoilt by ambassadors and meeting with project partners; he arrived back in fieldbase yesterday afternoon in time to cook our dinner and show us his impressive pool skills!


Like the rest of us he had dreams when he was a child….



Despite all the practice, he never made it as an architect

















Now, part of the excitement and attraction of Raleigh is heading into the unknown and taking on challenges that you would not normally have the opportunity to tackle. I am sure that the anticipation is building for our venturers as d-day approaches and, while we like to maintain an element of mystery, here is a little taster of the projects that you will be working on when you arrive in Costa Rica….to help fuel that excitement!!

Adventure - The Turrisantos Trek


A new trek for this expedition but every bit as challenging and rewarding as those tackled by previous venturers. This trek has an incredible start climbing between two active volcanoes – Irazu and Turrialba to over 3000 metres. On a good day from the top you will be able to see the Caribbean Sea. From the top you pass by the Guayabo National Monument – the ruins of an ancient settlement in the jungle before passing close to Fieldbase and then on to the Tapantí National Park. After climbing up to nearly 3,000 metres you will then follow the ridges of the Fila de Bustamante towards Cerro Dragon, before heading down to the Pacific Ocean at Playa Matapalo – a stunning finish to an awesome trek. This and the other trek truly will be an unforgettable experience that will test you physically and mentally but reward in ways you can only imagine.

Environmental - Chirripo National Park – trails


Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in Costa Rica, with an altitude of 3,820 meters. It is located in the Chirripó National Park and is noted for its ecological wealth. The high peaks in this and La Amistad International Park host important areas of Talamancan montane forest and Costa Rican Páramo with high endemism and an extremely high biodiversity. Due to the height of these mountains, its peaks are sky islands for many species of plants and animals, snowfall happens from time to time in the peak. From the summit it is possible (only on clear days) to see across the entire continent, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. For the first time Raleigh will be working right at the top of the mountain to repair the trails for the many thousands of visitors who undertake to climb in this stunning national park. Working in these stunning surroundings will truly be a once in a lifetime experience.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Community - Achuapa, El Carrizo and La Brisa, Nicaragua


Close to the town of Achuapa, in one of the poorest most remote areas of Nicaragua, you will be working on a gravity-fed water project to bring clean and safe drinking water to 50 families in the community of El Carrizo. At present the local people get their water from the river which often dries up in summer or comes from polluted water sources.

You will be working with the local population to dam small streams, build tanks to collect the water from where it can run through pipes to all the local houses. The benefits of clean water will be felt by many generations to come. During this phase, you will be living directly with families in the village and will help out with their day to day tasks. Be ready for lots hard of work but an amazing welcome from these friendly, compassionate people.

So, there you have it an amazing experience awaits you all and believe me, the other projects will be just as excellent!

Adios for now and watch out for a fieldbase update in our next blog.

Pura vida!