from 3,658€

Perfect 4.6rating (57)

Island Wildlife Caretaker

location
8 - 8 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups

About the program

Venturel to the wild and beautiful Vancouver Island to rehabilitate and rescue wildlife!

Take a trip now to the beautiful and wild Vancouver Island and volunteer abroad with a wildlife rehabilitation project that rescues over 2,000 wild birds and mammals from throughout the Vancouver Island region. Over 85% of these orphaned and injured animals have been directly or indirectly impacted ...

About the program

Take a trip now to the beautiful and wild Vancouver Island and volunteer abroad with a wildlife rehabilitation project that rescues over 2,000 wild birds and mammals from throughout the Vancouver Island region. Over 85% of these orphaned and injured animals have been directly or indirectly impacted by humans.


Their mission is to provide humane care to injured, orphaned, sick, and distressed wildlife based on established rehabilitation standards and the animal's natural history. Each animal is treated individually and assessed for eventual release back into the wild. In an attempt to reduce our community’s impact on wildlife, they also aim to educate the public about wildlife, animal welfare, and co-existing with nature. Working with wildlife at the center is rewarding but physically demanding, and it is by no means an ’easy holiday option’! Animal care volunteers are needed most during the busiest summer months of April through September; however volunteering through the winter is possible. Volunteers are mainly involved in caring for smaller critters (like raccoons) and birds.


Typical day

This is a fast paced, intense, and physically demanding environment. Four-hour shifts pass quickly due to regular feedings that must be kept on schedule and endless cleaning duties. Volunteers help with bottle feeding young mammals and hand feeding young birds, preparing diets for ...

Typical day

This is a fast paced, intense, and physically demanding environment. Four-hour shifts pass quickly due to regular feedings that must be kept on schedule and endless cleaning duties. Volunteers help with bottle feeding young mammals and hand feeding young birds, preparing diets for self-feeding animals, cleaning and enriching animal cages, and general cleaning around the facility such as dishes, laundry, and wash pad. Volunteers that are handy with tools may also help fix or build cages and other structures. Volunteers work both individually and as a team to complete the required tasks. Depending on your experience and duration you may not be allowed to handle certain animal species. Some of the tasks that'll be designated to you are as follows:

  • Feed and care for different kind of animals including mammals and birds
  • Build and maintain animal enclosures
  • Assist with capture and release
  • Educate the public


Free-time activities

On time offs, volunteers have the opportunity to partake in leisure time activities such as; fishing, whale watching, surfing, hiking, skiing, sightseeing and so much more!

Free-time activities

On time offs, volunteers have the opportunity to partake in leisure time activities such as; fishing, whale watching, surfing, hiking, skiing, sightseeing and so much more!


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level)

Required Documents

CV, Resume, Letter of Motivation, Two pics and Signed Policies and Liability Form (provided during application process)

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:30 - 16:30

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Fronteering Travel

  • Airport Pickup
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Mail-holding service
  • Ongoing service
  • Tours
  • 24/7 Emergency contact

Airport Pickup at Victoria International Airport

You will arrive in Victoria the capital of the Canada’s British Columbia province. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your Homestay near the volunteer project.

Accommodation

Your Homestay accommodation will be arranged by FRONTEERING near the volunteer project. You will live with a Canadian family where you have your own bedroom, laundry facility in the house is at your disposal, wireless internet available, cable TV and 3 meals a day included. Of course you can also make use of the living room, kitchen and washroom. It’s a great way to get to know the real Greater Vancouver Area and improve your English.

Food & Beverages

You will be provided with 3 meals a day, specific catering available on request only.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Victoria International Airport (YYJ) in Victoria. We assist you to find cheap flights to Canada. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Canada provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Canada you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Canada. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

There are no specific dates fro this project however, try to book early in advance to be ensured a placement!


Please note that this program is NOT FULLY FUNDED

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

8 weeks 3,658€
Average fees 457€/week

Program fees

457€ per week 8 - 8 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

8 - 8 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Fronteering Travel during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Fronteering Travel

Perfect 4.6 rating (57 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2010

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Patrick

Spoken languages: German, English, Dutch

About the project

Fronteering arranges volunteering programs related to wildlife and indigenous people in less visited places of this world as well as more unique destinations.

Meet your organization

Fronteering arranges volunteering programs in some of the last frontiers of this world as well as more unique locations that other organizations ignore. From Field research programs in the Far north of Canada and Husky ranches in the Canadian Arctic to Amerindian community programs and wildlife conservation in the Amazon Rainforest and everything in between.

Most of our programs Focus on either wildlife rehabilitation and release, wildlife conservation & research or involve local indigenous communities.

Fronteering currently offers programs in Canada, Guyana, USA, Australia, Brazil, Borneo, South Africa, Madagascar and Panama.

True good causes: FRONTEERINGS volunteer abroad projects are either existing local projects or projects that are build from the group up by FRONTEERING. What these projects have in common is that you will be supporting a true good cause! You will have the opportunity to help where the need is the greatest. Our projects focus on helping the local communities, wildlife, indigenous people and the environment in cooperation with the local/indigenous communities. We focus on true volunteer projects where your effort really makes a difference. That’s why through Fronteering you will rehabilitate injured & orphaned wildlife with the goal to release the animal. That is the reason why will not send you to some far southern country to cuddle with tame lions & tigers with any real purpose. If you want to volunteer abroad with a real purpose, contact us!

Safety: At FRONTEERING we do our outmost best to provide the safety measures needed for our Volunteer Abroad projects and Adventure Travel Trips. However due to the fact that many of our projects and trips involve wild animals and/or are in remote locations there is a small element of risk involved. Not all of our projects and trips are for the faint at heart however we do cater to those of all walks of life. If you are not too sure about the suitability of a Volunteer Abroad project or an Adventure Travel trip then feel free to ask as we are always ready to answer any questions or discuss any doubts that come to mind. For more information please check our Safety & In-country Support section before you volunteer abroad.

A real adventure: We do not want our volunteers to end up trying to safe or clean up some small patch of rainforest which in some places they might call a wilderness. Instead you will volunteer in the immense jungle of the Amazon rainforest or venture in to the vast Canadian wilderness! Our volunteer abroad projects are situated in the remote areas of the world and we focus on countries and regions with the lowest population densities. We at FRONTEERING focus on what works; from sleeping in the jungle underneath the stars with nothing more than your own private hammock to back-to-basic cabins in the northern tundra with a cozy smothering fireplace and no electricity! When you volunteer abroad with FRONTEERING you can be sure it will be adventure.

Off the beaten path: With FRONTEERING volunteer abroad projects you will venture to places less visited. We focus on places that are fairly undiscovered where the nature, wildlife and indigenous cultures are still common. You will have the great opportunity to see these amazing places while they are still unspoiled and pure. It is these places where there is the most to lose but even more to gain through successful conservation work and sustainable tourism. 

Community involvement: Foremost when volunteering abroad the well being of the community should come first. For all of our trips we use local guides, local transportation and local communities so that through sustainable tourism we can help to protect the environment, wildlife and sustain the way of life of indigenous cultures & communities. More and more and governments choose the long term benefit of sustainable tourism over the short term gain of mining and logging. A good example is Gabon which in 2002 after recommendations from environmental researchers set up 13 new national parks. The government of Guyana is currently considering protecting its entire rainforest region which still covers 80% of the country. Hopefully through our combined effort this dream will one day become true.

Mission
FRONTEERING specializes in organizing volunteer abroad projects to preserve the environment, wildlife and indigenous people throughout the world while giving the volunteers a real and raw experience in some of the most beautiful and often remote places in the world to make a true difference.

Vision
FRONTEERING strives to provide real off the beaten path volunteer abroad experiences worldwide that satisfy the need for volunteer projects that truly makes a difference for the environment, wildlife and indigenous people.


57 reviews · rating4.6

Tabea Barnowsky rating4.6

2023 at Island Wildlife Caretaker

I'm really thankful for my experience here on Vancouver Island! We had many different animals at Wild Arc and we could join some of the releases which was always awesome to experience. The volunteers are allowed to take care of birds, squirrels and raccoons but we also have a lot of other tasks ...
Ansgar rating5

2018 at Island Wildlife Caretaker

I traveled as a volunteer from Denmark to Vancouver to learn about Wildlife Rehabilitation as part of my study back home. I chose this program as I wanted to care for wildlife but also because I wanted to be in a city and not too isolated. Vancouver is of course the perfect choice for that as it ...
Franziska rating5

2018 at Island Wildlife Caretaker

I volunteered for 8 weeks at a wildlife rehab in Vancouver. What a great time it was living in the greatest city in the world! Vancouver! The project and the animals were great, the people were so friendly and helpful! Thanks Fronteering! The city has literally everything. Within 20 minutes you are ...
Deirdre Conroy rating4.2

2024 at Pantanal Wildlife Research

My experience on this volunteer program was excellent due to the hard work and planning by my host Alexine. She is a fund of knowledge and is dedicated to her project (Peccary Project, see also on Instagram, peccary_queixada_project). I also worked with an amazing team working with the giant ant ...
Cindy Lamaha rating5

2023 at Exotic Wildlife Caretaker Assistant

Dear future volunteer, The Hawaii sanctuary is not just a project where you will be taught about all the different kinds of animals and their behaviors, you will also learn a lot about humans, about yourself and you will learn how to feel home at a place that is not your own. If you thinking about ...
Liliane Zistl rating5

2023 at Exotic & Domestic Animal Caretaker

I really enjoyed my stay at this program. I had the chance to work with different animals that I woudn't have gotten otherwise. The people there are very kinde and courteouse. Because the work is not always the simplest, they give you the weekend of with the possability to go to Saint Pete or Tampa. ..

Location

Americas > North America > Canada > Vancouver

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Contact Patrick
  Very high response rate
German, English, Dutch

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