Raptors & Owls Caretaker

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Perfect 4.6  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Help, rescue and rehabilitate Raptors and Owls in the great Vancouver Area
  • Live in a homestay with a Canadian family in one of the greatest cities of the world while rehabilitating wildlife!
  • Find out why Vancouver was chosen as the world’s best livable city located between the mountains and the Ocean.

Highlights

  • Help, rescue and rehabilitate Raptors and Owls in the great Vancouver Area
  • Live in a homestay with a Canadian family in one of the greatest cities of the world while rehabilitating wildlife!
  • Find out why Vancouver was chosen as the world’s best livable city located between the mountains and the Ocean.
  • Several Ski areas located in the area!


  • Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Help, rescue and rehabilitate Eagles and owls with the ultimate reward of release and see these graceful creatures fly and be free again!

    Always been in awe about the sight of a soaring Eagle or Owl? Then this is the Volunteer Abroad project for you!  Help, rescue and rehabilitate Eagles and owls with the ultimate reward of release and see these graceful creatures fly and be free again!

    Situated in the rural areas of Greater Vancouver ...

    About the program

    Always been in awe about the sight of a soaring Eagle or Owl? Then this is the Volunteer Abroad project for you!  Help, rescue and rehabilitate Eagles and owls with the ultimate reward of release and see these graceful creatures fly and be free again!

    Situated in the rural areas of Greater Vancouver this project gives the ultimate experience for those who love birds of prey! This project rescues many Eagles and Owls every year. Most of the raptors and owls are fully rehabilitated and released back in to the world. Your mission is to provide humane care to injured, orphaned, sick, and distressed wildlife. 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 mostly during the busiest summer months of April through September, however volunteering through the winter is possible. Experience the best of both worlds of living within the suburbs near the beach in Greater Vancouver while taking care of these magnificent birds of prey!

    This is Why:
    • Help, rescue and rehabilitate Raptors and Owls in the great Vancouver Area
    • Live in a homestay with a Canadian family in one of the greatest cities of the world while rehabilitating wildlife!
    • Find out why Vancouver was chosen as the world’s best livable city located between the mountains and the Ocean.
    • Several Ski areas located in the area!
    Animal rescue and rehabilitation is fundamental to the continued conservation and protection of Canada’s diverse birds of prey species which all need your help. This program offers volunteers ages 19-30 to help in many areas of wildlife rehabilitation. Projects are diverse and include activities such as feeding injured animals, administering medical treatments, cleaning and fixing cages, maintaining observation records, equipment maintenance, office work, answering telephones, and of course leaning about what it takes to care for animals!

    Requirements:
    • Required to commit to a minimum of 8 weeks.
    • Must complete 2-4 days of training and shadow a senior volunteer before starting independent shifts
    • NO SMOKING is allowed on the property.
    • Strong work ethics are required: reliable, responsible, honest, good sense of humour, dependable, physically and mentally fit.
    • Age: 18+
    • No animal allergies
    • The care of animals must be secured around the clock and work may include night shifts
    • Extreme Weather (heat & cold), dirt and living in a remote area must be something you can handle.
    • A love for animals and some general experience of caring for an animal is a must!
    • Must read and agree to abide by guidelines and ethics
    • Proof of current tetanus shot & medical insurance; Good physical stamina and health
    • Good communication skills and the ability to work alone
    • Fluent knowledge of the English
    • Patient and comfortable around mammals and birds
    • A valid driver’s license would be an asset, but is not required


    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  hand feeding young birds, preparing diets for self feeding animals, cleaning and enriching ...

    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  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. Animals that volunteers work with regularly include: Owls, Eagles, hawks, Falcons and other birds.
    • Feed and care for Birds of Prey
    • Build and maintain animal enclosures
    • Assist with capture and release
    • Educate the public
    For more information regarding the typical day please contact us.

    Free-time activities

    The volunteer project is located in one of the suburbs in the greater Vancouver Area where there is something to do for everyone. Volunteers can enjoy various leisure activities such as sightseeing,  exploring the nature and wildlife, hiking, skiing or snowboarding, or go shopping downtown in ...

    Free-time activities

    The volunteer project is located in one of the suburbs in the greater Vancouver Area where there is something to do for everyone. Volunteers can enjoy various leisure activities such as sightseeing,  exploring the nature and wildlife, hiking, skiing or snowboarding, or go shopping downtown in Vancouver and many 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 09:00 - 17:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    Services by Fronteering Travel

    The fees include:

    • Airport Pickup :We will be waiting for you at the airport and transfer you to your Homestay accommodation nearby the project.
    • Accommodation :A Private room in a Canadian homestay nearby the volunteer project
    • Meals :3 meals a day included (possible catering available for vegetarians)
    • Mail-holding service :You can use FRONTEERINGS office as a reliable address to have your mail delivered
    • Ongoing service and 24/7 Emergency Contact

    Airport Pickup at Vancouver International Airport

    We will be waiting for you at the airport and transfer you to your Homestay accommodation nearby the project.

    Accommodation

    Your Homestay accommodation will be arranged by FRONTEERING near the volunteer project.
    Homestay: live with a Canadian family and includes your own bedroom, laundry facility in the house, wireless internet, cable TV and 3 meals a day. 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 Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Vancouver. 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 start/arrival dates for this project, however, we recommend that you arrive on a Monday.

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

    Program fees

    4 weeks (min. stay) 2,415€
    8 weeks 3,525€
    10 weeks 4,331€
    12 weeks (max. stay) 5,037€
    Average fees 511€/week

    Program fees

    511€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES


    Duration

    4 - 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 (87 reviews)

    Non-profit - founded in 2010

    Verified by Volunteer World

      Excellent response rate

    Coordinated by

    Patrick

    Spoken languages: English, Dutch, German

    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.


    87 reviews · rating4.6

    Carol Breen rating5

    2024 at Raptors & Owls Caretaker

    I spent 8 weeks, 5 days a week, 7 hours a day volunteering with this organization. It was so worthwhile! They not only rescue injured raptor, but they rehabilitate as many as possible and get them back to where they were rescued in order to release them in the same place. They have a network of ...
    Having found an awesome opportunity to partake in a husky care taker placement in Canada, I was assisted in organizing the placement by the helpful and (patient!) team at Fronteering. The organization was dedicated to helping me contact and communicate with my host organization. I always felt I ...
    Nadia Riad rating5

    2024 at Scottish Husky Ranch Caretaker

    I volunteered here earlier this year and I had a great time. Unfortunately I could not go in winter due to some other obligations I had so I knew I was going to miss out on the dogsledding season. Luckily because it was still quite cold in April and May we were still able to do some dry training and ...
    泽宇 张 rating5

    2024 at Wild Takhi Research & Conservation

    The national park is spectacular! We went for an outing every morning for wild Takhi observation every morning. Having a moment in your lifetime in the wild with all the nature surrounding you is probably the most wonderful experience. The accommodation managers and staffs are super helpful and ...
    Chris H rating5

    2024 at Critter Caretaker

    I volunteered at the critter care taker program in Canada in May just 1 month after I turned 18. I was quite nervous and my parents also and so I decided to book through Fronteering instead of trying to arrange it myself. This made it very easy and I felt a lot better. I did travel to Vancouver a ...
    I had a great time volunteering in Iceland through Fronteering! The people of the program were very kind and helpful. I was worried about the weather at first but it was actually great! The accommodations were nice but you have to be okay with group living of course. Iceland is just such a beautiful ...

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