I have been lucky enough to spend time at Santa Lucía as a student, researcher, and volunteer. I first visited Santa Lucía when I visited February 2023 with a program studying ecology and conservation in Ecuador. We were able to learn so much about the diverse flora and fauna in Santa Lucía's forests and streams. I was enchanted by the plants, especially the epiphytes that grew everywhere, from the tree canopy to the fence posts along the trail. As a part of my study abroad program, I got to complete an independent study project. I chose to focus my study on epiphytes and how their composition and ability to store water changed along an elevational gradient. For this work I returned to Santa Lucía for 4 weeks from late April to late May of 2023 where I would spend a month climbing trees to study the epiphytes that grew within them. I fell in love with all that Santa Lucía's cloud forest had to offer: the misty mornings, the hummingbirds, the rainstorms, the entire world of moss and ferns and bromeliads and orchids and other plants that could all be found on a single tree branch, the waterfalls and streams, and so much more. Everyday was its own adventure, and I felt like I was always seeing something new, whether it was a foraging opossum, a flock of parakeets, or a giant earthworm. Besides its natural side, however, another beautiful part of Santa Lucía was the community. I embarked on my independent study alone, and was at least a little nervous about this, so when I was greeted by a welcoming community of workers and volunteers that nervousness slowly changed into a sense of belonging. I will always have fond memories Nely and Jeaneth's delicious food, playing music together, games of UNO after dinner, working out and stretching after doing work all day, and fun weekend escapades biking around and going to the river, La Piragua waterfall, and Mindo.
It was this community that brought me back to Santa Lucía for the third time at the end of June 2023. I chose to spend the last couple weeks I had in Ecuador here as a volunteer. In some ways, being a volunteer was a very different experience than being a researcher, but it was still rewarding and the community was the same. It was hard but rewarding work. I spent time clearing and maintaining trails, fixing the fence along the start of the trail up to Santa Lucía, maintaining the lodge, filling the hummingbird feeders, and more. I learned a lot about what it takes to upkeep a remote reserve like Santa Lucía. It was rewarding to be a part of that, especially after my amazing experiences as a student and student researcher. I felt that we worked hard but also that there was a flexible and chill atmosphere. One morning we started a bit late since we woke up early and spent our morning hiking out to see the lek where the Cock of the Rock (or Gallo de la Peña) sings at sunrise.
Considering general advice and thoughts for new volunteers, I think that spending time at Santa Lucia is a wonderful opportunity to develop Spanish skills. For me, my Spanish was decent when starting at Santa Lucia, but I think my time there helped me improve it a lot! At the same time though, there are also people who can speak English, so it works for a variety of different levels of spanish speaking experience. I'd also say bring your sense of adventure! Santa Lucia offers so much of it. If you get a chance, go look at the birds and the orchids. Go jump in the waterfalls! Explore Nanegal on the weekends. Reach out to the workers and other volunteers.
I'd definitely recommend volunteering at Santa Lucia. It can be hard work, but it is so beautiful, and it's rewarding. I hope one day that I'll go back again!
Angelina
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