Conservation is an important issue, but it can be hard to know where you should start.
There are so many conservation volunteer opportunities out there that it’s difficult to find the right one for you. You want to make sure your time and money go towards a cause that really matters.
We’ve compiled a list of the best conservation volunteer opportunities available today! Whether you’re looking for wildlife conservation volunteer opportunities or other types of volunteering abroad, we have something for everyone on this list. Check it out below!
What is conservation?
Conservation is the act of preserving nature by protecting wildlife, the environment, and plant life. It’s different from environmentalism because conservation focuses on creating sustainable populations, which are populations that have high levels of genetic diversity.
There are many ways to be a part of conservation, from donating money or volunteering to helping communities as a humanitarian abroad for two years. Conservation is not just about saving animals from facing extinction; it’s about trying to protect nature as a whole.
See Related: Best Conservation Posters
What are the best conservation volunteer opportunities?
The best conservation volunteer opportunities are the ones that you have the most passion for but also the ones that need the most support. It’s extremely fulfilling to be able to help planet earth but at the same time have fun doing it. Plus, you get to help out some great organizations along the way and get a chance to meet new people.
Here are some different volunteer opportunities in conservation if you are looking to trade time for a positive impact on our environment:
- Wildlife Conservation Volunteer
- Habitat for Humanity
- Teaching Abroad
- Volunteering with Animals
- Cleaning Up the Environment
- Conservation Internships & Training Programs
- Marine Conservation Volunteer Programs (Ocean conservation volunteer opportunities listed below!)
See Related: Best Climate Change jobs
Conservation and Wildlife Conservation Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering with wildlife is one of the most popular types of conservation volunteer opportunities. There are so many options for this type of volunteering, including working with elephants in Thailand to building homes in Africa.
You can work domestically or internationally, and there are countless different organizations you can work with to help protect animals!
Here are some examples:
Elephant Conservation in Thailand
WWF: There are tons of projects that WWF offers where you can work with wildlife, like the one above. They even offer an elephant experience program to help volunteers bond with their new best friends. You can also volunteer for Panda Week, which helps raise awareness of endangered panda bears!
SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund
If you want to work with animals in the United States, this program might be a good option for you. You can volunteer at one of their parks and help educate visitors about wildlife conservation.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that builds homes for people in need all over the world. Not only do they help people in your community, but Habitat for Humanity also offers conservation volunteer opportunities abroad!
They offer both short-term and long-term opportunities , so there are lots of options available to you if you’re looking for wildlife conservation volunteer opportunities.
Teaching Abroad
You can also spend your time teaching abroad. There are countless opportunities out there to teach English, whether you want to spend a couple months in Ghana or work in Thailand for two years. You can also teach in China, South Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador – the list goes on!
Volunteering with Animals
There are so many organizations that volunteer with animals all around the world that it can be hard to choose. You can volunteer with elephants, orangutans, tigers, seals – the list goes on and on! These organizations also often offer conservation internships.
Cleaning Up the Environment
There are also tons of opportunities out there for you to get your hands dirty and help clean up our environment. You can help clean the beaches, work on building trails, or build trees! Whatever you’re interested in doing to give back, there are probably some organizations out there that would be happy to have your help.
Conservation Internships & Training Programs
If you want to make a bigger impact with conservation, many people choose to pursue conservation as a career through an internship or training program. You can volunteer as a veterinarian assistant, be trained as an environmental policy analyst, and so much more!
Marine Conservation Volunteer Programs
There is so much you can do to help the oceans that we couldn’t fit it all into just one section! So here is our list of marine conservation volunteer programs!
WWF
WWF is among the many marine conservation organizations that offer volunteer opportunities throughout the world. You can help protect turtles, or even help save sharks by taking part in a shark conservation program! There are so many great things you can do to help protect our oceans.
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
If you want to do direct action, this is the organization for you. They do things like remove ghost nets to help protect our oceans!
Project AWARE Foundation
You can volunteer for this organization to help clean beaches, or take part in the Ocean Conservancy ‘s International Coastal Cleanup ! There are many conservation opportunities available through Project Aware.
Marine Conservation Institute
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in marine conservation, you can volunteer with Marine Conservation Institute and receive training and experience.
Whale & Dolphin Conservation
This is another option for those who want to help protect whales and dolphins. They offer research opportunities as well as conservation internships , among other things!
GreenPeace
If you’re interested in direct action, Greenpeace might be a good fit for you. They focus on protecting the oceans!
Conservation Volunteer Abroad
There are also countless conservation organizations volunteer abroad opportunities where you can travel the world while doing good! It’s a win-win situation, because not only do you get to learn about cultures and places you might not otherwise ever get to experience, but you also get to help make a difference.
- Habitat for Humanity offers conservation volunteer opportunities in the US and abroad!
- Countries around the world have conservation volunteer programs that can help you see new places while doing good.
- If you want to teach English or pursue a career in conservation, there are options available for both through conservation volunteer abroad programs.
- Conservation volunteer opportunities are available in many countries around the world, with countless conservation organizations.
- National Park Service is another good resource for conservation volunteer work at home!
See Related: What is The Hunter’s Role in Wildlife Conservation
How to find the best conservation volunteer opportunity for you
It can be hard to find the best conservation volunteer opportunity for you. There are so many great things that you could do at home or around the world.
- What are some things that would matter most to you?
- Do you want to do something local, or would you rather travel the world and learn about different cultures?
Conservation volunteer opportunities are available for people from all walks of life. It’s up to you, what matters the most is that the work being done by conservation volunteers is making a difference!
See Related: Best Outdoor Jobs
Types of Volunteering Jobs in Conservation
The best conservation volunteer opportunities depend on a variety of factors, but here are some popular ones:
Local conservation volunteer efforts:
If you want to dedicate your time and effort to the protections of wildlife in your area, then joining a local organization is a great option. Usually these programs don’t necessitate that you move to another country do spend any length of time abroad.
In general these opportunities require you to devote more time than other conservation efforts, but they’re usually still short enough for volunteers with commitments such as school or children. Examples include the American Littoral Society and River Otter Environmental Association.
See Related: Dambari Wildlife Trust
Volunteering abroad
Most international environmental organizations offer various types of English teaching positions abroad.
These positions can be quite demanding on your time; however, they often allow you to dedicate yourself completely to conservation efforts. They’re usually shorter term opportunities because English teachers are needed in most countries year-round. Examples include International Volunteer HQ and VSO .
See Related: The African Wildlife Conservation Fund
Teaching abroad
Some volunteer opportunities require that you get certified first by taking TEFL courses. This is basically an abbreviation for teaching English as a foreign language.
Teaching positions are often intensely demanding on your time and energy, but they’re also longer term than other conservation volunteer projects. They can last anywhere from a few months to years depending on the organization and country you decide to work in. Examples include Projects Abroad and WorldTeach.
See Related: Importance of Wildlife Conservation
Wildlife conservation volunteer opportunities
There are a lot of conservation volunteer opportunities dedicated to wildlife. These usually do not require that you have any prior experience or qualifications, just a willingness to learn and work hard.
They’re often available for shorter terms than other volunteer positions, but some may be extended as long as six months. Examples include the World Wildlife Fund.
See Related: Ways to Save Animals Facing Extinction
Volunteering at a wildlife reserve
Wildlife reserves provide a variety of conservation volunteer opportunities. Helping with tasks such as field research, veterinary work, and park operations is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to possibilities.
You can get involved in wildlife conservation for anywhere between a week or two and several months at some reserves. Examples include Save the Tiger Fund and the Wild Salmon Center.
See Related: Oceana
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity exists in many countries and provides a range of building and construction volunteer opportunities. There are lots of options when it comes to construction, including single/two week stints up to entire year terms (with the possibility of full time employment). Examples include Habitat for Humanity.
See Related: Wildlife Conservation Society
Volunteering with children in Nepal
Teaching English to impoverished Nepalese children is an excellent way of immersing yourself in a foreign culture while giving back. Before you travel, it might be helpful to learn about the basics of Buddhism and Hinduism so that you can better understand your students’ lives.
But don’t worry, the basics are easy to learn! It’s also very rewarding for your students to have an English speaker in their classroom. Examples include Teach Nepal.
See Related: David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
Volunteering with children in Cambodia
The organization School of Life offers various volunteer opportunities around Cambodia that allow you to teach English and spend time with Cambodian schoolchildren. These stints can last anywhere from one week to six months. Examples include School of Life.
See Related: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Volunteering with wildlife in Botswana
Projects Abroad offers interesting opportunities to volunteer with lions and leopards in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, working to preserve these treasured species. These positions are only open to volunteers aged 18 or older for insurance purposes.
See Related: Botswana Predator Conservation Trust
Volunteering with the WWF
The World Wildlife Fund offers volunteer opportunities for people who are passionate about wildlife conservation.
Projects vary greatly, from hands-on involvement in field research to administrative work behind the scenes. They provide excellent work experience and you never know where it might lead! You can get involved for anywhere between a few weeks to several months.
See Related: PDXWildlife
Volunteering at an elephant sanctuary
If you have a passion for animals and are looking for conservation volunteer projects overseas , check out the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, one of the world’s most reputable sanctuaries for this highly intelligent species.
Workers conduct hands‐on research on elephants’ social lives while providing them with delicious treats. If you’re interested, keep in mind that the Elephant Nature Park requires volunteers to commit at least two weeks of their time.
See Related: International Elephant Foundation
Volunteering with an elephant conservation group
Another wildlife conservation organization that offers volunteer opportunities is Elephant Watch . It works closely with local communities to protect Asian elephants within the context of an overall ecosystem approach.
See Related: Elephant Action League
Volunteering with children
Teaching English abroad to the children of impoverished communities is a very rewarding experience. There are tons of opportunities in Asia and Africa that can be as short as one week or last up to six months (or more). Examples include i-to-i and Projects Abroad .
Conservation Volunteer projects make up some of the best volunteer work around.
In fact, whether you want to spend a week or two working on a local wildlife reserve, help build homes with Habitat for Humanity, or go overseas to teach English to impoverished children in Nepal, there are countless opportunities for you to do amazing things and give back!
Organizations around the globe perform vital work to conserve endangered species with help from thousands of conservation volunteers.
Without this help the majority of the organizations would not be able to run. Our Endangered World feels these individual volunteers should receive more recognition and have an outlet from where they can promote their past and current projects.
See Related: Kiwis for Kiwi
Final Thoughts
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We’ll keep you informed with a monthly round-up of conservation news as well as new events that are coming up so that you can take part in these fantastic projects.
See Related: War and Effect on Wildlife
FAQ
What are conservation volunteer opportunities?
Conservation volunteer opportunities are areas of the world where you can give back to your surrounding community or your surroundings. You can travel for conservation volunteer opportunities that span from teaching English in impoverished communities to working with wildlife on a local level.
See Related: African Wild Dog Conservancy
Why is it important to spend time volunteering for conservation?
Conservation volunteer projects are important because the help is very much needed. Most organizations are not staffed with enough people to support the vision of their conservation efforts. There are countless opportunities for you to do amazing things and give back!
See Related: Jaguar Conservation Fund
How do I find the best conservation volunteer opportunity?
There are many volunteer opportunities out there. You can donate your time to work with the environment and wildlife here or in other countries. It’s hard to tell what you will do, but all projects are important because they are helping us take care of our Earth!
See Related: The Aspinall Foundation
What are some of the most popular countries to volunteer in for conservation projects?
There are many different countries all over the world that offer conservation volunteer opportunities, so it would be difficult to pinpoint which ones are the most popular.
However, there are some available in South America, Asia and North America such as restoring habitat in Costa Rica for endangered species, building trails and signage at Joshua Tree National Park, invasive species’ control in Australia’s Kakadu National Park and conducting wildlife surveys on Canada’s Prince Edward Island.
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