Rainforest Restoration & Sustainability

As the only student from my university to accept a summer position with Iracambi, I was originally nervous about what to expect. However, after my first contact with Carla, all of my nervousness was erased. At Iracambi, I was met by a supportive and interesting staff and volunteer cohort that not only worked tirelessly to make me feel at home, but helped me discover my passions and a project that related to them. From visiting local coffee plantations to leaning about agroforests and sustainable farming to teaching English courses at the local school, I was given ample opportunities to learn and challenge myself intellectually.

While Iracambi allows their volunteers to learn through real world experience, knowledge of the environment is only a small portion of what you will leave with. Minas Gerais hosts one of the richest cultures within Brazil and Iracambi works tirelessly to ensure that their volunteers have the opportunity to experience it. From indescribable comida mineira provided by Iracambi's world class chef, Larissa to the baked goods sold across the street by Carminha, you will leave Iracambi with "saudades" of the food. In addition, Deivid, a professional tour guide and coordinator of Iracambi's nursery, provides all volunteers with invaluable tips and recommendations for weekend excursions across Minas Gerais, Espiritio Santo, and Rio de Janeiro. However, you do not have to travel far to have an excursion. Countless trails, waterfalls, mountains, and attractions are located on or in close proximity to Iracambi's state-of-the-art campus.

Among all of my experiences at Iracambi, the most important to me are the relationships and friendships that I had made. All volunteers and staff members at Iracambi come from different backgrounds, but all are united by a common theme, a passion for the rainforest. There, you will encounter the some of the most passionate, intelligent, and interesting people in the world which, without-a-doubt, lead to future successes and change lives. Overall, my time at Iracambi provided me with an invaluable, intellectually challenging, and meaningful experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

As the only student from my university to accept a summer position with Iracambi, I was originally nervous about what to expect. However, after my first contact with Carla, all of my nervousness was erased. At Iracambi, I was met by a supportive and interesting staff and volunteer cohort that not only worked tirelessly to make me feel at home, but helped me discover my passions and a project that related to them. From visiting local coffee plantations to leaning about agroforests and sustainable farming to teaching English courses at the local school, I was given ample opportunities to learn and challenge myself intellectually.

While Iracambi allows their volunteers to learn through real world experience, knowledge of the environment is only a small portion of what you will leave with. Minas Gerais hosts one of the richest cultures within Brazil and Iracambi works tirelessly to ensure that their volunteers have the opportunity to experience it. From indescribable comida mineira provided by Iracambi's world class chef, Larissa to the baked goods sold across the street by Carminha, you will leave Iracambi with "saudades" of the food. In addition, Deivid, a professional tour guide and coordinator of Iracambi's nursery, provides all volunteers with invaluable tips and recommendations for weekend excursions across Minas Gerais, Espiritio Santo, and Rio de Janeiro. However, you do not have to travel far to have an excursion. Countless trails, waterfalls, mountains, and attractions are located on or in close proximity to Iracambi's state-of-the-art campus.

Among all of my experiences at Iracambi, the most important to me are the relationships and friendships that I had made. All volunteers and staff members at Iracambi come from different backgrounds, but all are united by a common theme, a passion for the rainforest. There, you will encounter the some of the most passionate, intelligent, and interesting people in the world which, without-a-doubt, lead to future successes and change lives. Overall, my time at Iracambi provided me with an invaluable, intellectually challenging, and meaningful experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Highlights of my experience:
-Sunrise and sunsets on top of the mountain
-Bonfires and walks under the stars
-Yoga relaxation and meditation
-Reading, Learning, Sharing
-Cultural exchange with locals of all ages
-Language exchange (Portuguese, English, German, French, Spanish)
-Nature and Medicinal Trails
-Waterfalls, Fresh Water
-Intercropping and Agro-forest Methods
-Independent and Group Work
-The most authentic flora and fauna
-Natural Resources
-Farm Life, Animals, and Crops
-Tree planting and identification
-Organic and Green Practices
-Adventure and Friendship
-Laughs and unforgettable moments

Thanks to Iracambi, I feel rejuvenated and changed. It was the experience that I truly needed. Don't think twice to make the best decision ever!

From the moment I stepped foot on to the leaf covered, rich grounds of Iracambi there was an instant connection words could not explain even to this day. Inhaling a breath of fresh air had a new meaning as I was immediately greeted by Iracambi staff members with open arms. Everyday moving forward gave new meaning to adventure from harvesting coffee on an inclined hill with a beautiful sky view of the rainforest, to openly sharing life experiences with other volunteers and staff while planting avocados, to even dancing to different cultural music after a day in the agroforest. Iracambi makes it a point to be well-versed on their sustainability efforts in preserving and reforesting the Atlantic Rainforest with everyone on their staff being well informed on different projects going on as well as having a deep compassion for the NGO altogether! The food here is absolutely everything too - everyone plays their part in being the most conscientious of their actions so after every meal you can expect your viable leftovers to be placed into a pile to be made into compost! From the directors of the organization to the on site restaurant staff, volunteers and everyone in between the experience of Iracambi is one which gives you the most freedom to challenge your leadership and knowledge capacity about environmental sustainability and exponentiate your understanding of your impact.

Iracambi has proven time and time again how successful of a NGO they have become! Every single member of the staff, down to the various animals loving a free life style, have a strong driven passion for the reforestation and restoration of the rainforest. Actions that may seem small, such as making bags in the nursery, all play a bigger factor into the overall goal of Iracambi. Volunteers are treated with such care and attention, not one time have I not been aided by a fellow Iracambi staff in a time of need. Everyone ensures volunteers learn about the ins and outs of the local life and how to incorporate passion into every day work. You could truly tell the difference of the air quality in the main headquarters of Iracambi when you are coming from the city! I along with a group of four other university students have stayed for a total of almost nine weeks and wish we could extend our time! There has never been a dull moment from working alongside other volunteers from various countries to taking a swim in a gorgeous waterfall after working all morning. Iracambi also works alongside volunteers to ensure you are able to take weekend trips to explore other areas! Truly recommend this experience to every single person interested in volunteering abroad for the first time or even as a means to educate yourself on environmental justice!

The staff are amazing and it is important if repetitive work. The food is good and the cook is happy to cook what ever you ask of her. A lot of work in the tree nursery. No cell reception at all but there is WiFi. The wifi does not reach all the rooms but you can always sit in the computer lab or the center where it's pretty strong. Like a lot of NGOs it has budget issues which put a strain on its actual productivity.
The biggest draw for me was undoubtedly the company of the staff. Whole they don't all speak fluent English they are eager to learn and always make sure that you feel like a part of the group and the conversation. Download the English and Portuguese language packs on the Google translate app and you will get along just fine. Drinking beer after work with Hercules and David is a memory I will never forget.

If you are reading this and are soon to embark on a volunteer mission at Iracambi, congratulations, you have made a fabulous life decision. My husband and I volunteered for approximately one month at Iracambi in January 2019. We hail from New York City and although we are not city kids by any means, we had our reservations when first arriving at Iracambi. It is natural. We can assure you that whatever fears or hesitation you may be feeling will dissipate almost immediately after arrival at Iracambi’s stunning grounds and after meeting their friendly and welcoming full-time staff. Nestled away in the Atlantic Rainforest, the tranquility cannot be understated. The accommodations will be basic, but there is very little you need in life when surrounded by the beauty and diversity of nature. There is one main cabin and several surrounding chalets. Our suggestion would be to opt for the main cabin for lodging – it is where all the action is. After just a couple of days of working and exploring with your fellow volunteers and staff, you all start to feel like family. This includes the wonderful Thor himself, who is a playful & charming dog that becomes a frequent tag-along. It's also very safe, so your mother can rest assured.

Now, we will not lead you astray, this is hard work. But you get out of the experience what you put into it, so give it your all! Iracambi offers a wide array of activities and ways to contribute. I particularly enjoyed helping in the nursery with planting, identifying seedlings, weeding, watering, etc. My husband appreciated working in the nearby farm, cleaning up the area around recently planted trees and ensuring there was nothing encroaching on the potatoes and other crops. We both had a personal mission of completing the trail maintenance of this one specific trail near the main house. There is work to be done via educating local children and alternative work with medicinal plants. Iracambi is a treasure trove of opportunity, which you will quickly learn. We have not even touched upon the wealth of knowledge that the founders, Binka & Robin, have and what they will teach you about the history, current status, and future goals for the area you will be residing in. It is all truly inspirational. The staff and those frequenting Iracambi tend to be big activists and we encourage you to interact as much as possible in order to tap into a diverse set of knowledge that may not be so easily accessible back home.

While you may be beaten up after the first week you will likely come to two realizations. The first is that in order to naturally achieve progress, without the aid of machinery or pesticides, it is truly hard work. A newfound or heightened respect will be garnered for farmers and laborers out there worldwide. The second realization, or thought in this case, may be that you have labored so much and yet have seen little progress or achievement. On this second point, our advice is simply – just wait. We held similar notions, but towards the end of our commitment we paid a trip to the nursery and were able to transplant several of the new seeds, which had sprouted at this point, we had found in the forest on day one and planted shortly thereafter. This was magical. It was something visceral that we had created and it was going to help make the world a better place.

We loved the experience so much that we continue to keep in touch and be involved in the overall mission of the organization.

I spent two months in Iracambi in the summer 2018. I got to explore the beautiful rainforest, climbed peaks w stunning views, tripped to colonial towns in other parts of Minas Gerais, picked up a little Portuguese, did some volunteer work I’m proud of, and above all, shared wonderful memories with even more wonderful people:)) it was an experience I still find myself constantly thinking back to and will always be grateful about.

Most importantly, those are people trying to do the right things and have been doing so for over 10 years. Working for them feels like I was contributing for something that could make a change in the long run. Whatever you bring to Iracambi will be valued and supported. I would absolutely recommend going there to live and learn and just have a great time because that’s guaranteed.