from 1,579€

Perfect 4.6rating (57)

Wolf Caretaker

location
6 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Help at Wolf and Wolfdog Sanctuary and get to better understand these majestic creatures!
  • Learn about the care and habits of wolves, wolf-dogs, coyotes, parrots, foxes, pigs and horses.
  • Live & volunteer for 6 - 12 weeks off the grid surrounded by nature.
  • Work alongside an amazing team of staff and volunteers from around the world
  • Make unforgettable memories!

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups
50+

About the program

Experience living off the grid while helping with the daily routines involved in caring, grooming and nurturing animals of a Center run by US Military Veterans!

Become a volunteer now and work at a Wolf and Wolfdog Sanctuary run by U.S. military veterans! This is an amazing opportunity to care for wolves and wolfdogs situated on 20 acres of land in the Los Padres National forest in Ventura County, California which is just an hour and a half away from the ...

About the program

Become a volunteer now and work at a Wolf and Wolfdog Sanctuary run by U.S. military veterans! This is an amazing opportunity to care for wolves and wolfdogs situated on 20 acres of land in the Los Padres National forest in Ventura County, California which is just an hour and a half away from the City of Los Angeles! Experience living off the grid while helping with the daily routines involved in a sanctuary that is home to a range of displaced, unwanted, and un-releasable captive-bred animals such as wolves, wolfdogs, coyotes, foxes, horses, parrots, pigs and dogs. This Sanctuary is also featured on Animal Planet!

Volunteers for this Sanctuary are needed all year round. Please note that the work with the animals at the Sanctuary is physically demanding and it is by no means an ‘easy holiday option’!

The minimum duration of stay is 6 weeks with a maximum duration of 12 weeks, this gives you the opportunity to learn the project’s routine and it also gives the animals a chance to get to know and trust you within the durations offered.  For the 6 weeks volunteer there is less of a chance of actually having physical contact with the wolves and wolfdogs as the staff there will assess safety first.


Typical day

The tasks usually include watering and feeding the wolves which gets complicated in the winter months because the water and raw meat freezes and has to be defrosted, you may also have to feed, nurture and groom the horses and birds as well.  For the Wolves, the meat needs to be cut up which also ...

Typical day

The tasks usually include watering and feeding the wolves which gets complicated in the winter months because the water and raw meat freezes and has to be defrosted, you may also have to feed, nurture and groom the horses and birds as well.  For the Wolves, the meat needs to be cut up which also takes some strength when the meat is frozen.  Poop pick up occurs daily. Your main tasks will mainly consist out of the following but are not limited to:
  • Animal care (this includes walking some of the more social animals, cleaning enclosures, changing waters, feeding, and socializing with those animals who enjoy human interaction).
  • Cage cleaning
  • Maintenance of Habitat/Enclosures.
  • Habitat Construction.
  • Food preparation (lots of meat preparation every day).
  • Diet and water changing, helping with events and Educating the Public. 
While some tasks will return on a daily basis (like feeding and cleaning other tasks are more project based like maintenance and habitat construction and depend on your dates.

Free-time activities

Volunteers may have the opportunity (all depending on the workload as volunteers need to work 7 days a week) to go hiking, sightseeing, shopping, visiting nature parks and so much more! However, any leisure time activity outside of the project will be at the volunteers own expense.

Free-time activities

Volunteers may have the opportunity (all depending on the workload as volunteers need to work 7 days a week) to go hiking, sightseeing, shopping, visiting nature parks and so much more! However, any leisure time activity outside of the project will be at the volunteers own expense.


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, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 - 16:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Fronteering Travel

The fees include:

  • Airport Pickup - We will either be waiting for you at the airport or ensure that you get a shuttle bus to a neighboring town and we will pick you up from there and transfer you to your accommodations on the Project site.
  • Accommodation - A well-equipped trailer with bathroom(s) and kitchen, internet available, cell phone service and a 50-inch flat screen TV with Direct TV (satellite TV with 700 stations).
  • Meals - Some meals are not included but groceries will be provided and volunteers would be able to prepare meals of their own in the kitchen. At least once or twice a week the project does a BBQ for the volunteers or They may take the volunteers out for dinner!
  • Ongoing service and 24/7 Emergency Contact

Airport Pickup at Los Angeles International Airport

We will either be waiting for you at the airport or ensure that you get a shuttle bus to a neighboring town and we will pick you up from there and transfer you to your accommodations on the Project site.

Accommodation

We have transportation available and the guys go into town for shopping at least once per week.  There is a trailer with a kitchen and the person is welcome to cook and keep food in the cupboards and fridge. The trailer also has/have bathroom(s), internet, cell phone service and a 50-inch flat screen TV with Direct TV (satellite TV with 700 stations). 

Food & Beverages

Groceries will be provided and volunteers would be able to prepare meals of their own in the kitchen. At least once or twice a week the project does a BBQ for the volunteers or They may take the volunteers out for dinner!

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles. We assist you to find cheap flights to United States. 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 United States provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

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

Details on arrival

There are no specific start/arrival dates for this project however, we recommend that you arrive on any Tuesday.

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

Program fees

6 weeks (min. stay) 1,579€
8 weeks 1,827€
10 weeks 2,074€
12 weeks (max. stay) 2,272€
Average fees 226€/week

Program fees

226€ per week 6 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

6 - 12 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

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Patrick

Spoken languages: English, German, 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

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 ...
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. ..
Hanna Somsky rating5

2023 at Exotic Wildlife Caretaker Assistant

Can get really good hands on experience with a very diverse group of animals. Ranch care takers are very knowledgeable about the animals and will gladly spend time sharing their stories and experiences with you. If you are looking for somewhere that can you know the place and people you're ...
Théo SMITH rating4.8

2023 at Scottish Husky Ranch Caretaker

I spent 6 weeks there, it was a great experience. The hosts are super friendly and very welcoming. The dogs are adorable and kind. The landscapes are magnificent and unique If you are looking for a new experience, go ...
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 ...
Jasmine McPherson rating5

2023 at Exotic & Domestic Animal Caretaker

This sanctuary is an absolute amazing place, I'm glad I stayed. They provided a good place to stay and I learnt a lot while with them. They let me experience different situations while with them. Definitely recommend for any volunteer. ..

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English, German, Dutch

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