First Family Volunteer Adventure: Jill & Her Son Share Their Costa Rica Wildlife Experience
GoEco’s Zoe recently spoke with Jill Beckel about her family’s first volunteer trip to Costa Rica. Between Spanish immersion, hands-on wildlife work, and everyday life at the Wildlife Center, Jill and her 13-year-old son experienced a trip very different from a typical vacation. Here’s their honest recap for families considering a similar adventure.
Watch the full interview here:
Immersive Spanish & Local Life
The trip started with a Spanish immersion week in San José.
“It was fun and practical – living with a host family meant we had to actually use the language. My son was with peers his age, which made it even better.”
They also tried a cooking class and got to make, and eat delicious empanadas, helping the family feel settled and confident for the rest of the trip.
Comfortable, Supportive & Safe
Accommodations exceeded expectations, and the program’s organization made the trip stress-free.
“Everything was managed – drivers, schedules, safety. I never worried, which is huge when traveling with a child.”
Advice for Other Families
“If you love nature, enjoy animals, and don’t mind a bit of heat or getting your hands dirty, this program is perfect. It’s not a luxury vacation, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Hands-On Wildlife Volunteering
At the Wildlife Center, they prepared food and enrichment activities for the animals, while afternoons offered time to explore the property.
“The volunteering was fun and engaging. We didn’t interact with animals slated for release, but we got a real sense of what the center does and why it matters.”
For Jill and Ethan, everyday routines, feeding animals, exploring, spotting frogs and snakes became the highlight.
