Wildlife Volunteer

How Visitors Help Make Enrichment Toys for White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys at Proyecto Asis

by

White-faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) are among the most intelligent primates in Costa Rica — and that intelligence needs to be exercised every single day.

At Proyecto Asis, our caregivers use enrichment toys to stimulate natural behaviors like foraging, problem-solving, and manual dexterity. These are not store-bought accessories. Every toy is handmade from safe, natural materials — and visitors can help build them.

What Are Enrichment Toys and Why Do They Matter?

Animal enrichment is a core principle of responsible wildlife rescue. When a monkey arrives at our sanctuary after injury or rescue from illegal captivity, rehabilitation isn’t just physical — it’s behavioral. Enrichment toys help animals:

  • Practice species-typical behaviors (foraging, manipulating objects, exploring)
  • Exercise cognitive problem-solving skills
  • Maintain physical dexterity needed for eventual release
  • Reduce stress in a sanctuary environment

For white-faced capuchins, whose hands and minds are in constant use in the wild, enrichment is not optional — it is essential care.

How Visitors Help at Proyecto Asis

In the video above, you can see a young visitor working alongside our guide Carlos to assemble enrichment toys that go directly to our capuchin monkeys. She’s selecting live worms — one of the natural food rewards hidden inside the toys — under the guidance of our team.

This is exactly what guests experience during our Wildlife Tour + Volunteer: a 2.5-hour program (Monday through Saturday, 8:30 AM and 1:30 PM) where visitors participate in real sanctuary work — preparing diets, building enrichment toys, and observing feeding from a respectful distance, in line with Costa Rica’s Ministry of Environment regulations.

It is suitable for all ages and families are welcome.

Join Us in La Fortuna

Proyecto Asis is a certified wildlife rescue sanctuary and educational center located in La Fortuna de San Carlos, steps from Arenal Volcano. We care for over 30 rescued species, and every tour directly supports their recovery and long-term welfare.

Wildlife Tour + Volunteer — from $60 USD adults / $35 USD kids (ages 5–9)
→ Book your spot here

Meet Carmen: 15 Years of Welcoming Volunteers into Her Home

by

Carmen Sánchez has been welcoming Proyecto ASIS volunteers into her home in La Fortuna, Costa Rica for 15 years. Warm, family-oriented, and full of life, Carmen’s home gives volunteers an authentic taste of Costa Rican culture — from Sunday breakfasts with grandkids to backyard horses and a little parrot named Tuti. We sat down with her to learn a little more about the family behind the homestay.

Hi, I’m Carmen Sánchez. I’ve been hosting volunteers at my home for 15 years — it’s been a joy, a blessing. I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. We have a little one with us — we’re on our own now, everyone is married — but we have a baby who keeps us great company.

This is Tuti! One more member of our family. We have 3 more, but this is Tuti, the little companion who’s here with us all the time.

So, Carmencita, what do you all enjoy? What are your hobbies here as a family?

Here in the family, the main thing is horses. My husband is a horseman, so that’s his hobby. On Sundays the grandkids come over for breakfast and we play bingo, cards, things like that. We also go out to watch soccer sometimes — the boys are soccer players, so we go watch them play on Sundays, or during the week too.

👉 View Homestay Options