Assistant in a Giant Tortoise Breeding Center

location
2 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Brilliant 4.7  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Work eye-to-eye with endangered Galapagos Tortoises by becoming a member of the research and zookeeping staff.
  • During nesting season, control of nesting areas and transfer of eggs to articial incubators.
  • Work directly with the public to educate tourists about giant tortoises.

Highlights

  • Work eye-to-eye with endangered Galapagos Tortoises by becoming a member of the research and zookeeping staff.
  • During nesting season, control of nesting areas and transfer of eggs to articial incubators.
  • Work directly with the public to educate tourists about giant tortoises.
  • Assist in necessary corrective and preventative maintenance to the facilities of the Breeding Center and surrounding areas.
  • Spend 2-12 weeks living and volunteering in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Work with national park staff in tortoise care, from new babies to adults. Work with public education of visitors to the Breeding Center.

    Role Overview

    Since the discovery of the Galapagos Islands, giant tortoises have been exploited by almost every group of people who have visited (whalers, pirates, and scientists), as well as the people who live there.  Between 100,000 to 200,000 giant tortoises were removed and killed in two ...

    About the program

    Role Overview

    Since the discovery of the Galapagos Islands, giant tortoises have been exploited by almost every group of people who have visited (whalers, pirates, and scientists), as well as the people who live there.  Between 100,000 to 200,000 giant tortoises were removed and killed in two centuries.  From hunting, to habitat alteration, to the current biggest threat - the introduction of animals now acting as predators and competitors, the giant tortoise population was almost wiped out on Isabela Island.  The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center was started in 1990 in attempts to recuperate the giant tortoise population through its program of breeding, care, and reintroduction to the wild, as well as through education programs for tourists and local people.  These reptiles, emblematic of the Galapagos, are imperative to the unique Galapagos ecosystem.  The Breeding Center depends on volunteers to work with caretakers, experts, and educators to repopulate this species.

    As the Galapagos Tortoise Center conservation volunteer, you will work with staff the Galapagos National Park at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center on Isabela Island. You will work primarily outdoors in the shaded tortoise enclosures.  This will include:

    • Feeding and caring for the tortoises, as well as maintaining their enclosure.
    • Assisting the zoo keepers.
    • Working directly with the public to educate tourists about giant tortoises and to also inform them of the rules and regulations designed to keep the tortoises safe and the habitats intact. 
    • Building New, and Improving Existing, Infrastructure: renovating a classroom for program use, maintaining, and painting the center.

    • Providing Education: local schools participate in field trips to the center, instilling stewardship for the environment in the nearly 600 K-12 children who attend school on the island; creating a junior park ranger program that promotes scientific learning while promoting a sense of ecological agency and care among young people.

    Requirements:

    • Basic to intermediate level of Spanish.
    • A genuine passion for animal conservation.
    • An ability to openly communicate rules and regulations to tourists as well as follow instructions. 
    • Ability to work independently as well as in a team.
    • Flexible schedule that accounts for the day to day needs of working with a local institution.
    • Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high sun, element, and temperature exposure.
    • All equipment is provided, but make sure to bring closed-toed shoes and clothes you can get dirty
    **Wasps are attracted to the plants that you will prep and feed to the giant tortoises. Those with a severe wasp allergy should reconsider this project.

    Accommodation 

    Accommodation is provided by one of our carefully selected host families or in our volunteer housing. In both types of housing, volunteers have their own room, a fan, bed, desk, dresser, and bathroom, as well as warm water and drinking water.  In our volunteer housing, breakfast is not included, but you have access to our fully equipped kitchen facilities to cover your needs. Lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town, which are usually open-air seating with local cuisine. You simply sign for your meal and we’ll pick up the bill at the end of the month. 

    Our host families have experience with outside culture and international living and provide an amazing immersion experience. All host family houses are nearby the IOI offices and the local schools in the beach town of Puerto Villamil. Homes are fairly simple, clean, and welcoming. You will have breakfast and dinner with your family. Lunch is at the above mentioned restaurants.  

    We at IOI pair you with your host family, and we are available at any time to help if any issues arrive with  the restaurants, your host family, the volunteer site, if you get sick and need to visit the doctor, etc.

    Participation Fee

    The program fee is necessary to cover your cost of living and logistics. Our overhead is covered by other means so 100% of any funds that exceed your direct cost will go towards the project you participated in.

    To book you need to pay a Reservation Deposit.
    That deposit WILL BE DEDUCTED from your program fee.

    What’s Included          

    Cost includes food, full room and board, permits, Transient visa, local coordination and training at respective facility, local transport, full access to our facilities, etc.—everything minus personal expenses, travel insurance, and your airfare to Galápagos.



    Typical day

    Schedule

    Schedules are based on a 25 hr/week commitment, and can voluntarily be extended to a regular 40hr/work week. Typically Monday-Friday 7:30AM-12:30PM.  May be subject to change depending on the tasks at hand.

    After breakfast with your homestay family or in our volunteer housing, you will start ...

    Typical day

    Schedule

    Schedules are based on a 25 hr/week commitment, and can voluntarily be extended to a regular 40hr/work week. Typically Monday-Friday 7:30AM-12:30PM.  May be subject to change depending on the tasks at hand.

    After breakfast with your homestay family or in our volunteer housing, you will start the morning at 7:30, cleaning the tortoise enclosures and feeding the many tortoises at the center.  Work directly with park staff to learn about tortoise care, help in the incubation and hatching center, and interface with visitors to the center.  

    You will finish work around 12:30 and may have lunch in one of the restaurants we partner with - you choose where you want to go, sign in, and at the end of the month, we pick up the tab.  Enjoy local cuisine and spend the afternoon exploring, adventuring or relaxing on the beach. There are always things to do in the afternoon and evening, from playing volleyball or soccer, to learning to cook local recipes with your host family (if you choose to stay with one), to watching the sunset from the beach.  



    Free-time activities

    In Galapagos you can live a Pacific Island life. This means you can choose between a lot of free time activities including surfing, soccer, beach volley, etc.

    Free-time activities

    In Galapagos you can live a Pacific Island life. This means you can choose between a lot of free time activities including surfing, soccer, beach volley, etc.


    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) or Spanish (basic level)

    Nationality Restrictions

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

    Other Skills

    Requirements: - Basic to intermediate level of Spanish. - A genuine passion for animal conservation. - An ability to openly communicate rules and regulations to tourists as well as follow instructions. - Ability to work independently as well as in a team. - Flexible schedule that accounts for the day to day needs of working with a local institution. Physical ability to work outdoors with potentially high sun, element, and temperature exposure.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 07:30 - 12:30

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by IOI - Empowering Galapagos

    Cost includes food, full room and board, permits, Transient visa, local coordination and training at respective facility, local transport, full access to our facilities, etc. — everything with the exception of personal expenses, travel insurance, the $20 USD Tourist Transit Card, and your airfare to the Galápagos.

    The program fee is necessary to cover your cost of living and logistics. Our overhead is covered by other means so 100% of any funds that exceed your direct cost will go towards the projects on the ground.

    Accommodation

    Accommodation is provided by one of our carefully selected host families or in our volunteer housing. All our rooms have a private Bathroom, warm water, a fan, a bed, and a desk/dresser. Many of the host family housing include A/C. 

    Food & Beverages

    In our volunteer housing, breakfast is not included, but you have access to our fully equipped kitchen facilities to cover your needs. Lunch and dinner is provided at your choice of various restaurants in town. You simply sign for your meal and we’ll pick up the bill at the end of the month. 

    Our host families have experience with outside culture and international living and provide an amazing immersion experience. You will have breakfast and dinner with your family. Lunch is at the above mentioned restaurants.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Airport Pickup at Baltra Airport

    An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Baltra Airport (GPS) in Galapagos Islands. We assist you to find cheap flights to Ecuador. 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 Ecuador provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

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

    Details on arrival

    Arrivals are on Mondays and departures are on Saturdays or Sundays. Project staff will pick you up and drop you off on these days. Please ensure this works with your travel plans.

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

    Program fees

    2 weeks (min. stay) 1,815€
    3 weeks 2,370€
    4 weeks 2,925€
    5 weeks 3,479€
    6 weeks 4,034€
    7 weeks 4,588€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 7,362€
    Average fees 760€/week

    Program fees

    760€ per week 2 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    2 - 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 IOI - Empowering Galapagos during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


    Meet your organization

    IOI - Empowering Galapagos

    Brilliant 4.7 rating (37 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2006

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Very high response rate

    Coordinated by

    Monique

    Spoken languages: English, Spanish

    About the project

    We empower isolated communities to grow in a sustainable way. To that end, we run projects in Conservation, Education, and Social Development.

    Meet your organization

    Who we are
    IOI is a non-profit organization that designs educational adventures to empower isolated communities to grow in a sustainable way. We strive to help establish ecological sustainability and social stability in our host communities. As such, our mission is to provide international education programs that support the education, conservation, and social development of isolated communities by assisting local institutions in sustainably handling the human-environmental intersection. 


    What we do

    • We develop and implement our outreach projects with local institutions to ensure their sustainable implementation. Our projects address pressing conservation, education, and social development needs. Our partners include the Galapagos National Park, the Biodiversity Protection Agency, the local school system, and the provincial government.
    • We provide volunteer opportunities in conservation, education, and social development, providing our participants with life changing experiences, and our local partners with funding, expertise, and (wo)man power on site.
    • We immersive study abroad programs in which students spend up to 3 months studying the local environment and learn the local culture. All our programs are based on cultural integration and service learning.

    Where we work
    We work in the community of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island in
    the Galapagos, Ecuador. Our 5k beach is right across the street and the Volcano Sierra Negra is basically in our backyard. From Marine to Mountain, snorkeling to camping, nature is at our doorstep!

    Our history
    Since embarking on our journey in 2006, IOI has evolved into a mature and recognized organization with an innovative design of merging educational travel with conservation and community development. We began in Galapagos and, after 10 years of experience, have expanded to Cuba and Costa Rica.

    Vision and Mission
    We Empower Isolated Communities to Grow in a Sustainable Way. It is our Vision to help establish ecological sustainability and social stability in our host communities.  Our mission is to provide international education programs that support the education, conservation, and social development of isolated communities by assisting local institutions in sustainably handling the human-environmental intersection.

    Who are we looking for
    We are looking for adventurous volunteers ready to travel to remote parts of the world to make an impact on conservation and education projects. Our volunteers should be flexible, understanding, and respectful of the local cultural context. Depending on the position, we ask that our volunteers are physically able to work outside, sometimes in extreme weather conditions (think the tropics!) and be able to work on a team and individually.

    Why choose us..

    • It's a unique opportunity to gain insight and firsthand experience in the the world of hands-on conservation and environmental management
    • All of our locations are unique and have exceptional beauty and biodiversity.
    • Our sites are slow lane kinds of places. If you need a break, this is your ideal escape.
    • You will learn Spanish and immerse yourself in the community--you'll finish your time volunteering feeling like a local!

    37 reviews · rating4.7

    I volunteered at the tortoise centre for 3 weeks in August and really enjoyed it. I stayed with a lovely local family who gave me an insight into life on Isabela island. The work at the tortoise centre was interesting but sometimes also exhausting like distributing the food in wheelbarrows or ...
    I'd never recommend IOI to anyone. The host family were wonderful. Unless your in the university of Miami it's quite obvious all IOI only care about taking your money -------------- organization's reply------------------------ Hi Dennis, We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay with ...
    I would recommend this volunteer experience because I found it to be extremely valuable to immerse myself and feel like I'm part of the town . Volunteering at the Center was very rewarding. Love to be able to give ...
    I stayed 3weeks on Isabella volunteering in the tortoise centre. Volunteering and visiting the Galapagos Islands were both on my bucket list so not only a lifetime achievement for me but I'm happy to say I loved every minute of it. Mornings are spent at the tortoise centre - learning and working ...
    Rosetta Justina Nardoianni rating5

    2023 at Assistant in a Giant Tortoise Breeding Center

    Very warm welcome from IOI Volunter. First day, city tour of Isabela Island where I was shown the different restaurants approved with IOI and where I could take my meals with a card with my name and photo. The meals were all delicious. First day of work described by the manager of the Breeding ...
    My 3 weeks of this volunteer project were amazing. All the people are very kind. My family was amazing, they took me as a new familymember and they did great activities with me. Also the other volunteers, the people from IOI and from the breeding centre were very nice. I made a lot of unforgettable ...

    Location

    Americas > South America > Ecuador > Galapagos

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    Contact Monique
      Very high response rate
    English, Spanish

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