Internships
Punta Mona is excited to take our educational offering to the next level with our new internship program starting January 1, 2011!!
This new program will take place in January and July only, offering a Permaculture Design Certificate, workshops in Medicinal Plants, Nutrition, Fermented Foods, Community Service and Garden projects, field trips, daily yoga and spanish classes...
Cost for the program is $1200, which includes Permaculture Design Certificate, lodging, 3 organic meals per day, access to kayaks and all activities.
Tico and Costa Rican resident prices available upon request.
Program will be available for months of January and July ONLY!
Basic Schedule:
(Monday through Saturday)
- 6 AM - Yoga
- 7 AM - Breakfast
- 8 AM- 1130 AM - Permaculture Design course work
- 12-1 PM - Lunch
- 130-500 PM - Continued course work, projects and other workshops
- 6 PM - Dinner
- 8 PM - optional night activity and discussions
- Sundays are a day off to rest and retreat.
For the course syllabus and teacher bios please email: contact@puntamona.org
Payments and Money-
The internship is $1200, payable in US Dollars or Costa Rican Colones only. To reserve your space we require a $500 deposit and balance paid in full prior to arrival via check or Paypal.
You will be financially responsible for all boat trips in and out of Punta Mona. The boat costs $50 for a private boat, and prices vary as the number of people increase. The ride is a pleasant, scenic 30 minutes.
The exchange rate for USD to Colones You can check the rate online at www.xe.com/ucc.
Housing for Interns-
Interns live together in two communal houses. Rooms are dorm-style with bunk beds and shelving. The housing is rustic and basic, yet comfortable. We have mosquito nets, but ask that you bring your own net as well as sheets (twin bottom, top and pillow case). Interns can also bring a tent to camp in a designated area if they prefer.
We also have private rooms available for an addition fee upon request.
Like the sleeping quarters, much of what we do and have at Punta Mona is communal in nature. We eat meals together, cook in teams, work on projects in teams, and we share bedrooms/living spaces. This makes for a great sense of community and inspiring discussions!
Diet and Food-
Punta Mona is mostly a vegetarian center. We do occasionally cook locally caught fresh fish and sustainably raised chicken from local farmers. We also serve eggs and cheese several times a week. Staples of our diet include plantains, fresh fruit, garden salads, coconut meat and milk, vegetables, yucca and other root crops, and fresh herbs. Very rarely we get milk or yogurt, and when we do it is from locally raised organic cows or goats. We serve 3 wholesome homemade meals a day, many cooked by our interns under direction from management.
*Please let us know of any and all food allergies, sensitivities, vegan or raw food tendencies, or other dietary needs before your arrival at Punta Mona. Raw foodists especially should inform us of food preferences in advance so we can make sure that your needs can and will be met without inconvenience on anyone's part.
Phone Access-
We DO NOT have a phone for communal use at Punta Mona (we use it for emergencies only). However, if your computer is set up with a Skype account you can call the United States for 2 cents a minute during internet hours,
*when/if it is sunny and there is enough power to turn on the internet.
We do have a radio direct to Manzanillo in case of emergency and to call in for a boat or other needs.
Laundry-
We do not have a washing machine. Most of us here hand wash and sun dry our laundry. You are welcome to go to town to get laundry done as well on your day off.
*Please bring biodegradable laundry soap or powder for washing your clothes.
Basic Rules-
- No illegal drugs
- No filtered cigarettes
- No animals
- No weapons
- Only biodegradable soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
- We do not tolerate violence, frequent anger or outbursts, theft, negativity, sexual misconduct, inappropriate behavior around underage guests or non-participation.
- We are seeking only dedicated, mature, responsible individuals to participate in the internship program and be a part of our community.
*Anyone who does not abide by and respect these basic rules will be asked to leave and no refund will be issued. We reserve the right to ask any person to leave that causes disturbances or uncomfortable feelings within the community. We also expect interns to maintain good personal hygiene, as well as keep their personal and work spaces clean and orderly. You will be held accountable for any broken or lost tools or other items belonging to Punta Mona.
General Health-
Malaria and Dengue fever, while common in parts of the tropics, really are not issues at Punta Mona. Dengue is an issue in Limon and Puerto Viejo, but as it is contracted through contact with a mosquito that has bitten someone else with Dengue. Dengue makes infrequent appearances at Punta Mona. We do not recommend any immunizations or medications, other than medications you are currently taking for specific health issues, prior to coming.
We do ask that you bring a basic first aid kit, as well as basic immunity support from natural health aids, including vitamin c, iburprofen, tea tree oil, lavender oil, grapefruit seed extract, charcoal tablets, acidophilus or other probiotic supplements, EFA's, and homeopathic remedies for bites, stings, sunburns, and digestive issues.
Bugs are quite a problem here, with mosquito and sand flea bites being the most frequent health and personal comfort concern. Bring bug repellent (lavender oil works extremely well as both a natural bug repellent and an itch reliever, as well as Burt's Bees All-Natural Bug Repelent), long sleeved shirts, and tall socks to help guard against them. Check out our What to Bring page for further recommendations on supplies to bring.
Health Emergencies-
A boat is always available to take anyone injured or sick to the closest clinic with an emergency room, 40 minutes north of Manzanillo near Puerto Viejo in a town named Hone Creek. The closest full-scale hospital is in Limón, 2 hours north of Manzanillo. We recommend getting travelers health insurance if you do not have an insurance plan that covers international health care and/or emergency needs. Punta Mona is not responsible for any health care costs.
Applying to be an intern-
We accept many of the people who apply to be interns here at Punta Mona. Please write to us before coming, we have a limited number of intern spots available. In addition to providing for space concerns, if you let us know beforehand a boat can be arranged to bring you from Manzanillo to Punta Mona.
You can contact us using the contact page or by email at contact@puntamona.org . Please include the following information in your email:
Your Name:
Age:
City, State, Province, and Country:
Email Address:
January or July Program:
Description of why you want to participate in the program at Punta Mona:
How you plan to contribute to the program:
Interests and other relevant information:
Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. We look forward to hearing from you!!
