the locations happen to look like a slice of
paradise.
status: non-profit organisation.
timing & length of placements: most CCC
projects run continuously throughout the
year and volunteers can choose to join an
expedition ranging from two weeks upwards.
ongoing projects have 13 start dates a year.
destinations: Current projects run in
Cambodia, the philippines and tobago, with
the option of combining Cambodia & the
philippines in one expedition.
Costs: Costs start from £750, though CCC
pricing is defined by project costs and
location. the minimum commitment for
volunteers is two weeks for both marine
and forest expeditions, which includes uK
briefing sessions, field accommodation, food,
buoyancy control devices, dive training, tanks,
air, weight belts, expedition and research
training and field staff supervision. fees do not
include international flights, manuals and dive
certification, insurance, airport departure taxes
or your personal diving or trekking equipment.
eligibility: there is no upper age limit, but
volunteers must be 16 or over. the ability
to speak and read english is important, as
all expedition training is given in english.
no previous experience is required since
professional CCC expedition staff will provide
all necessary training on-site, including scuba
training.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers are never on
their own. typically, you’ll work in expeditions of
between five and 40 people. If there is space
available on the desired expedition, volunteers
can be placed together. groups of six people or
more will also secure a 10% fee reduction and
a free place for the organiser.
annual no. of Volunteers: 300
annual projects: 3
partner programmes: 20
selection & Interview process: for volunteers
there is no selection process. for staff that are
office-based, interviews are conducted at the
CCC head office in london.
In-country support: all expedition sites have a
full-time staff team comprising an expedition
leader, project scientist, medical officer,
educational officer and scuba instructor, plus
local staff. all sites have a comprehensive
medical inventory, an up-to date evacuation
plan and a CCC crisis management plan for
major emergencies.
operation wallacea
wallace house, old bolingbroke, spilsby,
lincolnshire pe 23 4ex, uK
%+44 (0)17 9076 3194
fax +44 (0)17 9076 3825
[email protected]
http://www.opwall.com
operation wallacea is a series of biological
and social science expedition projects that
operate in remote locations across the world.
these expeditions are designed with specific
wildlife conservation aims in mind – from
identifying areas needing protection, through
to implementing and assessing conservation-
management programmes.
status: limited company and charitable trust.
timing & length of placements: expeditions
run from late june until early september.
Volunteers can stay from two to 10 weeks.
destinations: Cuba, egypt, honduras,
Indonesia, peru and south africa.
Costs: ranging from £950 (us$1750) for two
weeks to £2800 (us$5150) for eight weeks. all
food, accommodation, transfers and training
courses are included in the price. airfares and
insurance are not included.
eligibility: general surveyors must be 16 years
and over and have an interest in conservation
and biodiversity and a good fitness level.
people with disabilities can apply.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers work in
teams according to the area of interest.
minimum and maximum numbers also
depend on the scientific component (for
example, volunteers interested in the howler
monkeys in honduras work in teams with a
maximum of five members). Individuals who
wish to volunteer with friends or partners are
welcome.
annual no. of Volunteers: over 1000.
annual projects: there are hundreds of
different projects in six countries.
partner programmes: more than 10.
selection & Interview process: most applicants
come via universities and are undertaking
a biology or geography degree, however,
any volunteer who shows an interest in
conservation and biodiversity is welcome.
In-country support: all volunteers are
accompanied by staff members both at all
the sites and whilst out in the field. all sites
are staffed by qualified scientists and have
a medical officer. there are well-rehearsed
evacuation procedures.rainforest Concern
8 Clanricarde gardens, london w2 4na, uK
%+44 (0)20 7229 2093
fax +44 (0)20 7221 4094
[email protected]
http://www.rainforestconcern.org
rainforest Concern’s objective is to conserve
threatened rainforests and the biodiversity
they contain. In ecuador, volunteers
might assist with scientific research,
species auditing, surveying to compile
flora and fauna lists, trail maintenance,
reforestation, socio-economic work with
local communities, teaching english and
conservation issues to schools. Volunteers
who work for shorter periods are typically
placed in Costa rica and panama at coastal
reserves for the protection of the leatherback
turtle.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of placements: Volunteers
are sent to the ecuador project year-round
and length of stay depends on availability
of places. In Costa rica and panama the
minimum stay is two weeks and volunteers
are accepted from mid-march to early june.
destinations: ecuador, Costa rica and
panama.
Costs: see cost and availability details for
individual projects on the website. two-
week programmes start at about £850, with
additional weeks at about £125.
eligibility: an interest in conservation is a
must. as some programmes require hiking
to work sites, a degree of physical fitness
may also be required, depending on the
placement.
groups or individuals: Volunteers work in
teams according to the project and the area
of interest. Individuals who want to volunteer
with friends or partners are welcome.
annual no. of Volunteers: 75-100
annual projects: 19
partner programmes: gVI, aV, aqua-firma,
steppes discovery.
selection & Interview process: some
placements with rainforest Concern are
made in partnership with gVI, aV, aqua-
firma; other projects can be applied for on
the website.
In-country support: Volunteers work with
trained staff who often live and work with
volunteers.scientific exploration society
expedition base, motcombe,
shaftesbury, dorset sp7 9pb, uK
%+44 (0)1747 853353
fax +44 (0)1747 851351
http://www.ses-explore.org
ses shares the same ethos as raleigh: to
take up a challenge and build teamwork
skills. expeditions have a scientific purpose:
for example, mapping reefs or conducting an
archaeological survey. often ses is invited by
host governments and local communities to
achieve a specific goal.
status: registered charity.
timing & length of placements: expeditions
leave throughout the year and generally last
three weeks. applications need to be in at
least two to three months before departure
so volunteers can attend a briefing day six
weeks before departure.
destinations: bolivia, India, mongolia,
philippines, ecuador and many more.
Costs: a three-week expedition costs
approximately £2500 to £3000, depending
on the location, and includes everything, bar
international flights.
eligibility: no skills required. applications
welcome from anyone aged 18 and over. best
suited to fit, healthy individuals who are happy
working in a team and learning new skills.
groups or Individuals: Volunteers work in
teams of about eight to 14 people.
annual no. of Volunteers: 60-80
annual projects: 6
partner programmes: In-country scientific
organisations and the british charity just a
drop.
selection & Interview process: application
form, interview by phone or in person,
briefing day.
In-country support: all teams have an expert
related to the project, and an expedition
team doctor and dentist (to assist the local
community).Australasian Organisations
Cape tribulation tropical
research station
pmb 5 Cape tribulation, Qld. 4873, australia
%+61 (0)7 4098 0063
fax +61 (0)7 301 1853
[email protected]
http://www.austrop.org.au05: Organised Volunteer Programmes:Conservation & Wildlife Placements