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Environmental Volunteer Programs Abroad

The world is full of natural beauty, from the exotic plants of the rainforest to the colorful coral reefs of the ocean. Many factors, including global climate change, deforestation, pollution, loss of biodiversity, rising sea levels, overpopulation in humans, and more, are threatening this natural beauty. As an environmental volunteer abroad, you will help preserve and protect vulnerable resources by working in some of the world's most endangered areas.
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639 Environmental Volunteer Programs

Maximo Nivel volunteers

Featured Provider of the Month

African Impact logo

African Impact

9.21

73

Waste Reduction & Ecobricking Volunteering in Zambia

Plastic waste is a growing global problem, and Zambia is no exception. In this hands-on environmental sustainability project based in Livingstone, volunteers play a vital role in cleaning up communities and transforming waste into functional building materials called Ecobricks. This project is perfect for eco-conscious individuals who want to take real action and contribute to long-term change. The minimum stay is just 10 days, with flexible options for longer impact. Volunteers help reduce plastic pollution, raise awareness through community education, and build practical structures from recycled materials. You’ll work alongside local students, educators, and environmental teams to support daily cleanups, creative recycling, and waste education. Whether it’s teaching kids about pollution, collecting plastic, or helping build eco-benches, this is a unique way to protect the planet and empower others to do the same.

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diver

GoEco - Top Volunteer Organization

9.77

26

Top Biological Research Volunteer Opportunities Abroad

From conducting wildlife and marine research and conservation to ...

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Intercultural Outreach Initiative (IOI)

9.79

70

Giant Tortoise Breeding Center Volunteer in Galapagos

Volunteer at the Galápagos National Park and get the chance to assist at the tortoise breeding center. You will be a member of the research and zookeeping staff. Take responsibility for taking care of and measuring the shells of tortoises for their growth charts, as well as informing tourists of rules and regulations and other necessary tasks at the center, depending on individual skillset. Requirements for this program are: - Basic to intermediate level of Spanish - A genuine passion for animal conservation - An ability to openly communicate rules and regulations to tourists and follow instructions - Ability to work independently as well as in a team - Physical ability to work outdoors with a potentially high allergen, sun, and temperature exposure IOI encourages all volunteers to stay as long as possible to maximize local and personal benefits. We encourage longer commitments by heavily discounting each additional week. The minimum stay is two weeks, with a maximum stay of three months. All volunteers must arrive in Isabela on Mondays.

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volunteer with a monkey in Ecuador
Kaya Responsible Travel logo

Kaya Responsible Travel

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0

Environmental Conservation in the Peruvian Rainforest

Contribute to an amazing conservation research programme in Peru ...

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Raleigh International
Raleigh International logo

Raleigh International

9

1

Volunteer in South Africa - Expeditions With Purpose

A Raleigh South Africa Expedition is your chance for Adventure. I...

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MAXIMO NIVEL logo

MAXIMO NIVEL

9.5

487

Top-Rated Volunteer Abroad Programs in Latin America

Maximo Nivel is a locally based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Volunteer abroad—get involved, make an impact, and learn to serve by working on local projects: - Working with Kids - Teaching English - Conservation - Construction - Animal Care - Eco-Agriculture - Medical and Healthcare To qualify: - Volunteers must be 18+ years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. - We require background checks from our volunteers. - Come with a great attitude and a willingness to pitch in. Since 2003, Maximo Nivel has been a leader in educational travel and study abroad. Our work-study-travel programs host more than 4,000 people per year. We are a professional, ethical, and hard-working organization that is completely dedicated to providing a great experience to every participant, student, traveler, and client! Every day, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best volunteer, education, and cultural experiences in Latin America, along with top-notch client service and great home-based facilities. Live it!

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Adelante Abroad

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Volunteer in Oaxaca, Mexico - Adelante Abroad

Make a positive impact in Mexico! Adelante Abroad offers affordable volunteer programs in a wide variety of fields and sectors in Oaxaca, Mexico. Put your time towards helping those in need. Volunteer in sectors such as ecology, social work, arts, or NGO, just to name a few. Oaxaca is one of the most biodiverse areas in Mexico, known for the craftwork of local artisans. It is also home to warm-spirited people, and there are plenty of opportunities to give to the community. If you're looking to make a difference, volunteering in Oaxaca, Mexico, with Adelante is the perfect opportunity! Volunteers can choose to go abroad for 1 to 6 months. Programs are offered year-round with customization options. You'll be paired with organizations in need of specific skills while allowing you to reach your volunteer goals. Eligibility for this program is: * 18 years of age or older and possess a desire to learn about and live in another culture * Some Spanish is helpful, although we can place beginner Spanish speakers * Applicants can be Gap Year students, enrolled in a university, or college graduates. Visit our website for more information.

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The Intern Group

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58

Internships & Volunteer Programs in London

The Intern Group provides you with top internships in London! Partnering with a range of great companies and NGOs, our London internship program will fulfill your career potential. We are regularly featured in mainstream international media like CNN International. Apply now to intern in the greatest city in the world and propel your career development! Visit The Intern Group's website to get all the details!

Impact Gap Year

10

3

Cultural Explorer Gap Year

Take on an 8-month trip of adventure, community service, and community development across the globe. Join a gap year program that will take you to enchanting destinations filled with cultural immersions, impactful volunteering, and an unforgettable summer experience. Your journey will begin in Costa Rica, where you will work with local communities in addressing social and economic challenges. You will then travel to South Africa to help lead sports development, followed by a summer of learning and practicing the Spanish language in Spain. Finally, you will volunteer in teaching and community building and development in Thailand and Cambodia while enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. Eligibility requirements: - Must be in good physical and mental health - At least 18 years old during travel - Have a fluent understanding of English - Have a clean background check if working with minors Don't miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the communities you will serve. Visit our website or inquire today for complete details about this program.

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International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]

9.55

794

Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!

At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally—from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

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The Real Uganda

9.81

16

Holistic Community Outreach in Uganda

The Real Uganda's volunteers assist our partners with a variety of empowering community-based activities. Volunteers split their time between these locally requested interventions: Public health and clinical work: Volunteers work in rural clinics providing testing, treatment, counseling services, and prevention education. Nutrition, vegetable gardening, and community sanitation programs are also ongoing. We aim to support rural public health in Uganda. Teaching and childcare: Volunteers work in rural classrooms, choosing what ages and topics to teach. Art and sport are the most popular. Traditional teaching in Uganda is rote learning and memorization. We aim to encourage teamwork, fun, creativity, literacy, and general knowledge in primary schools. Organic farming: Volunteers work alongside women and community members to maintain gardens. Depending on the season, volunteers prepare the soil, plant seeds, spread mulch, weed, harvest, and chase birds and other pests. Learn from Ugandan farmers, and share your ideas as well. We aim to teach efficient land use, organic pest control, and nutrition.

Instituto Hemingway

9.81

32

Volunteer Programs in Spain

The volunteer program at Instituto Hemingway is a unique opportunity to live and work in Spain from the perspective of locals. At the same time, you will build a cultural bridge between Spain and your country of origin while giving back to a community. Beach Cleanup Support this project by setting a good example and encouraging people to get involved in protecting the local environment through simple actions, such as collecting their rubbish after a day on the beach. Work together to keep the waters healthy and nature green! Animal Shelter Contribute in a number of ways to stop the abuse and neglect of animals. At the same time, provide hands-on care to animals in need. The need for adequate care and education among the public in and around the area is huge. Social Entrepreneurship This project offers volunteers hands-on experience as well as the opportunity to help behind the scenes with administrative tasks including social media, fundraising and promotional efforts, sourcing new alliances, and drafting maps. Teaching English to Disadvantaged Children You can contribute to the education of growing children. Make a significant impact in their lives.

Gapforce

9.05

21

Australia Adventure with Gapforce

This Gapforce program is an action-packed, six-week tour combining travel and adventure with volunteering on Australia's famed East Coast. Your journey begins in the awesome city of Sydney before heading north to Brisbane via the legendary Byron Bay. You will spend two weeks volunteering on an environmental conservation project, a great way to give back to this amazing country, before continuing north into Queensland. Sailing on the Whitsunday islands, 4x4 jeep rides on Fraser Island, and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef are just some of the highlights. Your epic adventure ends with a week in Cape Tribulation, a stunning paradise where the reef meets the rainforest.

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Roots Interns

9.27

26

Remote Internships with Grassroots Organizations

Join us for an inspiring online internship! At Roots, we offer academic internships with do-good organizations around the world. You could join a nonprofit, NGO, social enterprise, or innovative start-up making a positive impact. These internships are brilliant resumé boosters & chances to gain practical work experience while contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals at a grassroots level. For those looking to do their internship from home, we're excited to offer a range of remote internships. With a variety of academic focus areas along with flexible start dates, durations, working hours, and requirements - there is something for everyone! As a remote intern, you'll have a unique work experience that will inspire you, enhance your career, and allow you to gain insight into grassroots development work - with the flexibility that online work provides. Applications are now open for 2025 and 2026! What we'll offer you: - Careful matchmaking - Personal and professional development workshops - Webinars focused on the nonprofit sector - An orientation pack with useful resources - Regular check-ins and troubleshooting Get in touch for a free internship consultation!

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Encounter My Way

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Turtle Conservation in Osa

Join us in Osa, Costa Rica, for an unforgettable volunteer experience where you’ll play a vital role in protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Nestled on the stunning Osa Peninsula, home to 2.5% of the world’s biodiversity, you’ll patrol pristine beaches, safeguard turtle nests, and release hatchlings into the wild. Beyond conservation, you’ll engage with the local community, help with environmental education, and explore breathtaking rainforests, waterfalls, and vibrant wildlife. Live at the heart of nature in our rustic jungle camp and make a tangible impact while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

African Conservation Experience

9.76

17

Volunteer at a Rhino Orphanage in UNESCO World Heritage Site

Help save orphaned and injured rhinos and protect a UNESCO World Heritage Site by monitoring the rhinos released into the wild. You will not just be supporting conservationists by protecting wildlife populations but an iconic location’s legacy as well. You will learn first-hand about the threats and protection of rhinos from an expert team of zoologists, conservationists, and researchers as well as the role a rehabilitation center (and you!) plays. Discover the ecological factors affecting rhinos, how they are "umbrella species" of the ecosystem, their communication styles, and social structure. With this information, you can directly support the rhino orphanage and assist with daily feeds for the baby rhinos and the monitoring of adult rhinos that have already been released. Surrounded by passionate professionals, you will learn that everything—from mucking out enclosures to sawing off branches with fresh leaves for the black rhinos—is important. If you're willing to put in physical work, you can enjoy an incredible and rewarding experience, with one-to-one supervision in all rehabilitation aspects.

Penda Photo Tours

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6

Wildlife Photography and Conservation Volunteer Project

Do you have a passion for wildlife photography and a strong aspiration to make a meaningful difference? This volunteer opportunity is a perfect fit for you! This project in South Africa is an opportunity for you to elevate your photography to the next level while also actively participating in wildlife conservation efforts through various activities. You will have the chance to visit the Greater Kruger, where you will be surrounded by a multitude of wildlife waiting to be captured with your camera. This volunteer program provides valuable education in both ethical and practical photography techniques while also recognizing the importance of wildlife research. Not only will you make great memories with our volunteer project, but you’ll also gain skills that will last you a lifetime.

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Top Rated Program Volunteer Abroad in Indonesia 2025

Gili Shark Conservation

9.48

71

Gili Shark Conservation Project in Indonesia

Hello! Nice to meet you! Are you ready to make a real difference? We are always looking for enthusiastic people who want to join our research team in Indonesia. You don’t need to be a shark expert or diver to join our project; we are simply looking for volunteers with a passion and commitment to marine and shark conservation. We appreciate all the unique skills that you can bring to our project and welcome people from every corner of the world. During your stay with us, you will learn how to dive or improve your dive skills and become a PADI Scientific Diver and Shark and Turtle Specialist. We teach everything you need to know about underwater roving video surveillance, coral health index surveys, coral restoration, photographic identification, roving survey dives, land & marine-based time-lapse projects, how to analyze and input data, and much more! We are an award-winning marine life conservation organization called Gili Shark Conservation. Our headquarters is based on the beautiful paradise island of Gili Air, Indonesia. Our dedicated research team, together with our amazing Shark Warriors, work all year round to promote conservation efforts through education and research.

Buffelsdrift Game Lodge

9.44

27

#1Buffelsdrift Eco Ambassador Program | South Africa

We believe that everyone can contribute to conservation efforts, and therefore, our vision is to empower ordinary people to protect nature. The key is not "to do" but to "live it" actively. By creating this kind of lifestyle, we fulfill our purpose of helping humans and nature to live together in harmony. The foundation is a starting point; we empower you to live a conservation lifestyle for a better tomorrow. If you're looking to actively participate in African wildlife conservation in a fun, safe, stable, and stunning environment, Buffelsdrift Game Lodge is the perfect place. Although this may sound similar to many other proudly South African volunteering projects, our dream for every person we encounter is to have a lifestyle change toward thinking and living conservation. We want your time at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge to be the experience of a lifetime, one that changes your life! We aim to empower ordinary people (people like you!) to protect nature by creating a conservation lifestyle upon your return home.

Volunteering With India

9.52

21

Elephant Volunteer Work & Animal Conservation in India

Join VWI as a volunteer and help care for elephants in Heritage City—Jaipur, India. Support the local community in taking care of these elephants and their mahouts. Volunteers will help mahouts to feeding the elephants, bathing them, cleaning the area, bringing water, oil massaging the elephants head, trimming their nails, taking elephants for walk, make bundles of hay and chapati(Indian Roti) for elephants in a mud stove to eat. You will work around 3-4 hours per day everyday in morning and in the afternoon twice a week to make chapati's for Elephants to eat. Elephant mahouts are living with their families at the project site and are responsible to give right care, fed properly & keep them healthy and fit. The program is located in the village near Amber Fort which is also known as Elephant Village. where elephants get care by their mahouts everyday. It is also one of Elephant Sanctuary in India. Elephant Village Jaipur is India’s first and the world’s third elephant village also known as “Haathi Gaon“. The area is spread in 30 hectares of land; it has stable blocks for each elephants with attached housing; it also a big man-made lake for elephants to swim and washed down.

A Guide to Environmental Volunteering Abroad

Prepare to Volunteer Abroad

Understand the Benefits

Volunteering in environmental conservation offers a range of rewarding experiences and professional advantages:

  • Diverse projects: From reforestation to marine conservation, volunteers can engage in various impactful activities, such as planting trees, conducting surveys, and educating local communities.
  • Career skills: Gain hands-on skills in environmental monitoring, data collection, and sustainable practices, which are useful if you're pursuing a career in environmental science or conservation.
  • Humanitarian impact: Your work supports ecosystems and also the local communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.

Things to Know

Here are a few key considerations to prepare for your volunteer experience abroad:

  • Program intensity - Some programs are physically and mentally demanding; adaptability is essential.
  • Safety protocols - Natural environments can be unpredictable, so always follow safety guidelines and respect wildlife.
  • Visa requirements - Check with your host country’s embassy to ensure you meet all visa and entry requirements.
  • Cultural sensitivity - Knowing basic phrases in the local language and respecting local customs helps create connections and shows respect.

Popular Providers

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common environmental causes include marine protection, reforestation, and education. You may work with NGOs or look for organizations that offer environmental volunteering programs.

Environmental volunteering entails conservation efforts in some of the world's endangered areas, threatened by factors like climate change, deforestation, pollution, biodiversity loss, overpopulation, and more.

South African countries, Ecuador, and Costa Rica are some of the best destinations for environmental volunteering, as these countries have been adversely affected by deforestation, animal extinction, and other comparable factors.

Latest Program Reviews

A life changing experience

December 13, 2025by: Irene Neal - CanadaProgram: Worlds #1 Volunteer Programs. 40+ Countries from $20/day!
9

I was looking for an escape from my comfortable lifestyle at home in Canada. I wanted to share my passion helping others less fortunate than myself. I searched international volunteering programs, have volunteered in four countries in 2025, and can truly say these experiences have changed my life. How do you feel when an elderly person in a old people's home in Zambia begs you to stay with them and share stories and smiles? What happens to you when the school children in Ghana hug you so tight you lose your breath? What overtakes your mind when you introduce positive ideas to women in an impoverished village in Sri Lanka, and see them take possession of new personal empowerment? Let me tell you. It grabs you by the heart and nourishes your soul. It makes you want to come back again and again. Which is exactly what I plan to do in 2026.

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