EPI Costa Rica: Conservation with Local Roots
- Luis Diego Molina
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
On a starry night at Pacuare Reserve, on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, a 15-year-old girl saw a leatherback turtle for the first time. That experience, part of EPI’s local program in Costa Rica, not only impressed her—it changed her life.
She wasn’t a tourist, but Allison Centeno, a student at Liceo Experimental Bilingüe de Guácimo, Limón.
“For me, being part of the experience, seeing a turtle for the first time, working and supporting marine biologists who were already doing what I dreamed of, was truly inspiring. And it also helped me decide to pursue a career in science. That’s how I made the decision to enter the Marine Biology program at the National University,” shares Allison.
Today, Allison is pursuing a master’s degree in Marine Sciences and Oceanography at Florida Atlantic University with a Fulbright scholarship. Through her account Bióloga Ilustrada, she is dedicated to science communication under the motto: “Know to conserve.”
And it all began with a turtle, at Pacuare Reserve.
What is EPI Costa Rica’s local program?
Our local program offers public high school students—especially from the Caribbean and rural areas—a transformative experience: learning science in the field, in direct contact with biodiversity. Over the course of several days, these young people immerse themselves in studying the ecology of sea turtles, coastal ecosystems, and conservation. They take part in night patrols, hands-on workshops, and scientific research sessions guided by specialized instructors.
But the experience doesn’t end on the beach. The programs include virtual follow-up workshops and mentoring to support students in designing environmental projects they can apply in their communities. These processes culminate in the BIOCIENCIA event, where students present their proposals. Some outstanding projects have received funding for implementation.
A commitment born in Costa Rica
In the year 2000, EPI took its first steps in Costa Rica, specifically at Pacuare Reserve, with the dream of bringing science closer to local students. Today, 25 years later and with a presence in five countries, EPI continues to strengthen that commitment: expanding internationally, but with firm roots in every community where it works.
In Costa Rica alone, in the past year, more than 200 students and teachers from regions such as the Caribbean, Heredia, San José, and Los Santos have participated in our programs. Thanks to the support of partners like MSC Foundation, Fyffes, and the U.S. Embassy, this educational model continues to grow and transform lives.
Randy Porras, a student at Colegio Técnico Profesional de Guácimo, shared: “EPI has been a very nice experience because we have highly trained instructors who have been with us to talk about everything we’re interested in: biology, animals, and especially turtles.”
Voices of change
“One of the reasons I enrolled in EPI’s course is because I thought it was an excellent opportunity to learn and connect with nature and other projects that help us in these areas. And what I’ve learned the most are things like teamwork, determination, and I’ve even learned a lot about marine biology,” explains Brigitte García, from Colegio Experimental Bilingüe de Siquirres.
Professor Jonathan Granados, from Liceo de Cariari, highlights the importance of being part of this change for his students:
“That they have meaningful learning through real field experiences. It’s also essential that we continue conserving the environment and supporting all programs that are valuable and help Costa Rica move forward and protect leatherback turtles.”
Beyond Pacuare Reserve
In the words of Olman Alvarado, Local Programs Coordinator for EPI Costa Rica:
“The trip sparks a flame, but the most valuable thing is that students return with a different vision; they feel responsible for their surroundings and understand that they can be agents of change within their own communities.”
And so, like Allison, hundreds of local students have lived that first spark at Pacuare Reserve. Some will go on to careers in biology, others will not. But all will carry with them a conviction: that their actions matter, that their voice counts, and that conservation begins with knowledge.
