Good Work - Goodtrippers

Escape the daily grind on a National Trust working holiday

No laptops or business calls from a hotel room – guest blogger Erin Moncur discovers how a working holiday can be a very good thing when the National Trust are involved…

Are you team spirited? Do you enjoy the great outdoors? If you answered ‘yes’ to both of those questions and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then a National Trust Working Holiday might be the thing for you.

The National Trust runs over 400 volunteering projects a year, giving people the chance to help the environment while escaping the daily grind. The holidays range from two to seven days and with so many options to choose from, there is something for everyone.

work and stay in Dovedale, Peak District (photo by Erin Moncur)

For families or solo holiday-makers

The National Trust highlight six main categories to choose from, including youth discovery – a chance for teenagers to carry out conservation work while enjoying social activities with others the same age; independent; and family. Most include youth hostel style accommodation, with prices starting at £85 for a short break.

The family option starts at £125 and is aimed at children aged between 6 and 16 and their parents. Fun activities such as pond dipping, survival skills and scavenger hunts make this a great family holiday option. (Find out more about the types of holidays on their website.)

Holiday Activities

There are so many activities to chose from, whether you’re a budding archeologist, sports fan, a lover of outdoor activities or a keen gardener, they have got you covered. You can get involved in an existing archaeological project, mix the conservation work with wild swimming and help create a garden masterpiece.

History lovers have a chance to take on a character and walk around a historic building at one of their popular events, or to handle and archive some wonderful, historic collections. Regardless of your interests, you are spoilt for choice.

sheep at National Trust property Felbrigg Hall (photo by Erin Moncur)

Help Overseas

The National Trust have an expanded selection of holidays abroad. For the last four years they have teamed up with the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) to send keen volunteers overseas to countries such as Spain and Slovakia. If you fancy helping to restore a historic fountain in the heart of the Czech Republic, or an ancient staircase in a castle in France, look no further.

So, if you are looking for a break with a difference, want to help the environment, like the idea of waking up in a beautiful location and would love the chance to enjoy some exciting conservation activities with great new friends, then a National Trust Working Holiday could be what you’ve been looking for!

For more information, visit the National Trust website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/working-holidays

Email: working.holidays@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 0344 800 3099

How to help rescued wallabies in Australia

Fancy a trip of a lifetime to sun-soaked Queensland, Australia to work with cuddly wallabies and wombats all day? These Aussie superstars need your help – guest blogger Claire Herbaux, of NGO Frontier, tells us how you could be enjoying a wild life in the sunshine state…

Kangeroos and wallabies, an iconic site for visitors to Australia, are often a nuisance – a pest even – to locals. The law may protect them but many marsupials get injured or killed as it’s easy to obtain a permit to shoot those that damage land.

Between bad shots and road accidents, many wallabies end up in rescue centres including young joeys left in their mother’s pouch after she dies. Frontier runs the Australia Wallaby Rescue project at an animal sanctuary in Gladstone, Queensland, that takes care of injured animals. The sanctuary helps hand-rear joeys that have lost their mothers, as well as running wombat breeding programme. Koalas and other wildlife are also cared for.

Life as a volunteer on the project

On the project, everything depends on the season and every day is different. You may be working with rescued joeys, helping the wombat breeding programme, getting animals ready to be released back into the wild, or preparing the sanctuary for school visits. General activities include maintaining the animals’ living quarters, food prep and feeding, and building new facilities.

In the hot Queensland weather, the day starts early to avoid the heat and lunch time is spent relaxing and taking in outback life.

Bridled Nailtail Wallaby, picture Phil Cole, Scotia National Park

Accommodation

The rescue centre has volunteer accommodation on site which includes laundry and cooking facilities. It is a home environment and rooms are usually shared with another volunteer. The next city is a little way away but food is provided. Volunteers prepare their own breakfast and lunch, with everyone eating together in the evening with a meal prepared by the host.

Recommended for… Anyone wanting to experience life in the Australian outback and get up close to native animals.

Be aware that… The sanctuary is not in the vicinity of any towns – you won’t be going out to the pub, but will spend relaxing time with the host family and other volunteers.

Prices start at £799 for two weeks (excluding flights) with extra weeks available. For more information, including a full programme, departure dates and bookings, visit www.frontier.ac.uk

About the author: Claire Herbaux is an Online Journalism Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO. Check out Frontier’s blog Into the Wild for more gap year ideas to help make your time out meaningful. For more information about travel and volunteering opportunities available please visit www.frontier.ac.uk.

Help save sea turtles in Bali, Indonesia

Guest blogger Rebecca MacDonald-Taylor, of NGO Frontier, tells us how you can help threatened sea turtles in the Indian Ocean…

Picture this: Dark ashy shades created from the towering volcanic mountains contrast with a rainbow pallet of coral reefs shimmering through the clear blue waters. The Indonesian island of Bali really is stunning!

Working with turtles

Bali is under huge pressure from Indonesia’s growing tourism industry. It’s understandable – Bali is gorgeous and everybody wants to see it for themselves, but the more people visit, the more the fragile environment and its wildlife is damaged.

Frontier helps provide a solution by operating the Sea Turtle Conservation project which provides a hands-on approach in the conservation of these majestic and enchanting creatures. It’s a unique experience, and one that you can join.

Life as a volunteer on the project

Litter left on the beaches can be a big choking problem, especially for the young, and so volunteers monitor the weaker turtles in a natural enclosure for support and rehabilitation until they are ready for release. The project also needs people to collect vital baseline data on turtle populations.

During the day, volunteers also have the opportunity to teach English at one of the local schools which is a fantastic chance to immerse yourself in the Bali culture. Support, particularly in English language fluency, has a lasting impact on the community.

Food

Volunteers enjoy three meals a day of traditional Balinese cuisine, an exciting fusion of Indonesian and Chinese styles. Some of the most popular dishes are Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice with a fried egg on top) and Mie Goreng (fried noodles with egg).

Accommodation

One of the added bonuses of volunteering on this project is that you get to live right next to the beach! You can stay at a volunteer house with all the basic facilities that you’ll need.

There is a mix of both Western and Asian-style toilets and I would definitely suggest making use of the outdoor showers. There are indoor ones, but you may as well take advantage of welcoming a cold rinse in the tropical temperatures. You would never be able to do that in the UK! (‘We agree’ – Editor)

Recommended for… Anyone who is desperate to escape to a tropical dreamland and immerse themselves in a diverse culture, helping the local community. A love of turtles wouldn’t go amiss either!

Be aware that… Some activities are seasonal. Turtles lay their eggs throughout the year, but the opportunity to collect eggs and monitor nests is often highest between July and October when the sea is calmer.

For more information, including a full programme, prices, departure dates and booking, visit the Sea Turtle Conservation project page on the Frontier website.

About the author: Rebecca MacDonald-Taylor is an Online Journalism Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO. Check out Frontier’s blog ‘Into the Wild’ for more gap year ideas to help make your time out meaningful. For more information about travel and volunteering opportunities available please visit www.frontier.ac.uk.

Go wild for volunteering in Madagascar

Guest blogger Caroline Edwards, of NGO Frontier, profiles an exhilerating volunteering holiday in exotic Madagascar…

Madagascar – the fourth largest island in the world and home to plants and species found nowhere else on the planet. The country has been isolated for over 165 million years which makes it a magical place for those wishing to experience a unique culture in stunning natural settings.

Frontier’s Madagascar Teaching, Wildlife and Diving project gives volunteers the chance to help out the local community as well as working towards protecting and conserving the island’s pristine wildlife and marine life.

Life as a volunteer on the project

The project offers a varied experience for travellers keen on experiencing life in Madagascar from a more local perspective. Upon arrival in Nosy Be Airport (I almost read that as ‘Be Nosy Airport’! – Ed) you will be welcomed by Frontier’s staff who will take you to the project site followed by a two day orientation.

Most volunteers start off on the Frontier beach camp where they take part in the marine project, learn to dive in the clear Indian Ocean and see various marine species as they work on surveys with the team. After exploring the sea, volunteers move on to forest surveys and wildlife conservation. Here you get the chance to spot rare species whilst trekking through a remote environment.

After life in the forest volunteers move on to the town of Hellville to help teach English to local people. As a teaching assistant your help is highly valued as the schools generally suffer from a lack of foreign language teachers in the rural communities.

Accommodation

The best bit about volunteering on the Madagascar Teaching, Wildlife & Diving project is the fact that you get to explore living in beautiful natural settings as well as in a vibrant town like Hellville. During your marine and wildlife conservation projects you will be living with other volunteers on a cosy camp near sea and forest and later on you get to experience the volunteer house in town.

Food

Volunteers are provided with three meals a day throughout the programme. Like many other developing countries, Madagascan cuisine is nicely flavoured but basic with a lot of rice and beans to fill you up!

Recommended for… Anyone who is keen on immersing themselves in a different culture and help out local communities as well as wildlife.

Beware that… It’s important that volunteers are ready to live under basic conditions, as well as being ready to contribute with a positive attitude throughout their stay. If you wish to take the PADI open water qualification and additional fee of £250 is needed.

For more information, including a full programme, prices, departure dates and booking, visit www.frontier.ac.uk

About the author: Caroline Edwards is an Online Media Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO. Check out Frontier’s blog ‘Into the Wild’ for more gap year ideas to help make your time out meaningful. For more information about travel and volunteering opportunities available please visit www.frontier.ac.uk.

Help preserve Thailand’s elephant population

Marion Thibaudeau of NGO Frontier, tells us more about how you can help Thailand’s retired domestic elephants on this volunteering holiday

Thailand is well known for its culture and history, for its white sand and crystal clear blue waters, and for its rich wildlife. Many impressive animals can be found in the deep Thai jungles, including bears, tigers, and elephants.

Well over two thousand elephants are domesticated throughout the country and sadly, its wild elephant population (of two to three thousand) is declining due to a caustic mix of problems: The ivory trade has put this majestic species at severe risk of poaching, and Thailand still suffers from illegal elephant trade and abuse, notably for tourism purposes, despite recent efforts by lawmakers to cut down on these activities.

Frontier operates the Thailand Elephant Sanctuary project, which gives volunteers a unique chance to spend time with a number of retired elephants. Take the ethical route to experiencing elephants in Thailand, and give these animals the care and attention they deserve.

Life as a volunteer on the project

Upon arrival in Bangkok, you will be spending a week in Singburi, immersing yourself in Thai culture, learning more about its history and language, and visiting temples and museums. You will then be taken to the elephant sanctuary to the north of the country. During your time there, you will be helping wash, feed and exercise the elephants during the week, with free time on weekends, leaving you opportunities to explore the surrounding area or participate in other events, such as water rafting. As the days go by, you will come to know the elephants and notice their individual personality quirks as you grow closer.

Accommodation

Accommodation at the sanctuary consists of thatched huts in the jungle, with all the basic amenities. In Singburi, volunteers stay in a shared volunteer house.

Food

Traditional Thai food will be provided throughout the project. With influences from China, India and Indonesia, Thailand boasts an exciting cuisine with flavoursome mixes of sweet, sour, salty and hot, generally on a basis of rice or noodles.

Recommended for… This project is recommended for anyone wishing to interact with elephants in an ethical and controlled manner. While it is easy to see elephants in Thailand, many elephants presented to tourists are often raised and kept in poor conditions. This sanctuary ensures that its elephants are taken care of, and the volunteers visiting it can attest to that!

Be aware that… The cultural orientation week in Singburi is only available to those spending more than one week on the project.

For more information, including a full programme, prices, departure dates and booking, visit www.frontier.ac.uk

About the author: Marion Thibaudeau is an Online Journalism Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO. Check out Frontier’s blog ‘Into the Wild’ for more gap year ideas to help make your time out meaningful. For more information about travel and volunteering opportunities available please visit www.frontier.ac.uk.

Experience big cat conservation in Namibia

Guest blogger Jack Plumb, of NGO Frontier, profiles a wildlife project where two African deserts collide in Namibia…

On the south west coast of Africa where the Namib and Kalahari deserts collide sits Namibia. As one of the newest and most sparsely populated countries in Africa, Namibia is a wildlife lover’s dream. Endless desert skies, sweeping sand dunes and densely wooded bushveld set a pristine backdrop to nature’s finest displays.

[gdl_gallery title=”Nam” width=”120″ height=”110″ ]

Despite its apparent harsh climate, Namibia is home to two of the world’s most expansive national parks: Etosha National Park and Namib-Naukluft Park. Living amongst its endless beauty is a rich melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Frontier operates the Namibia Carnivore Conservation project which gives you the chance to work alongside biologists tracking and monitoring cheetahs and other big cats in the wild. Track and capture the world’s fastest land mammal in a truly wild and breathtakingly beautiful country.

Life as a volunteer on the project

You will spend the majority of your time assisting biologists and conservation workers in tracking and monitoring cheetahs and leopards. When based at the main reserve your tasks may include: game counts, box trap checking, carnivore capture and immobilization, camp maintenance and data analysis. When spending time at the remote field site your tasks may include: GPS tracking, night observations, birds of prey monitoring and data entry. Additionally you will occasionally be caring for animals at the rescue and release centre, giving you hands on experience of wildlife and animal rehabilitation.

When you’re not assisting in essential conservation work, Namibia is a stunning country to explore. For any budding photography or wildlife lover, you’re in for a treat!

Accommodation

You will be staying in a large volunteer house with shared bedrooms in the wilds of Namibia, close to Windhoek. There may be limited running water, and during storms there is the possibility of power outages. Phone signal and internet access is limited, but available in certain areas of the camp.

Food

Three basic meals are provided from the camp stores, comprising meats, vegetables and staples such as rice and pasta. Dinner is typically a hot meal and occasionally a braai (barbeque), and vegetarian options can be provided.

Recommended for… Adventurous conservation inclined travellers interested in contributing to important scientific research. This project would be especially enjoyable for anyone looking for a truly wild and natural experience of Africa and a desert climate.

Be aware that… The placement lasts for three weeks with the option to extend by one week, and departures take place monthly from March to October.

About the author: Jack Plumb is an Online Journalism Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO. Check out Frontier’s blog Into the Wild for more gap year ideas to help make your time out meaningful. For more information about travel and volunteering opportunities available please visit www.frontier.ac.uk.

New teaching summer camp launched in India

If you’ve always wanted to take a career break or add another experience to your gap year, it’s time to plan ahead for summer 2015 and two potentially life-changing weeks…

Volunteering organisation PoD has just announced details of a new summer camp working with children in India. The two-week placement is a great opportunity for first-time volunteers to join a supported and structured programme running activity sessions for local children in the city of Udaipur in the north of the country.

The aim of the project is to provide additional support to local staff and to improve the level of education of the local children in order to help them break the cycle of poverty. Udaipur is one of the most underdeveloped states with below average income and literacy rates in comparison to the rest of India, with less than 50% of females being able to read and write.

The work and what to expect

The volunteer team will run educational activities and games in schools and children’s homes. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to experience Indian culture through Hindi lessons, cooking sessions, optional yoga classes and henna workshops. The placement includes trips to famous Indian landmarks including the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, temples and palaces.

Accommodation

Volunteers will live in an apartment with each room having its own bathroom. The accommodation is simple but clean and has a TV room, dining room, kitchen, resources and lesson planning area and has Wi-Fi.

Recommended for… Those who enjoy working with children and experiencing the local culture in India

Be aware that… You should be realistic about how much you can achieve in two weeks, but your contribution is an essential part of the on-going project and support for the local community.

The two week placement starts on 12 July 2015 and costs £895. For full details including booking visit the project profile on www.podvolunteer.org

PoD is a specialist non-profit volunteering organisation with over 10 years’ experience arranging volunteer placements overseas who are committed to a responsible volunteering approach which they have carefully defined to guide us in the way they work. See more about their responsible volunteer policy here.

Experience indigenous culture in British Columbia, Canada

Guest blogger Caroline Edwards, of non-profit volunteering organsation Frontier, tells us how you can experience the daily life of indigenous tribes in Canada

British Columbia in Canada is home to stunning nature and exciting cities, a place where you get the chance to speak both English and French. However, it’s also a place that was once home to the people of the Secwepemc Nation, a tribe with ancient traditions and a unique language, hugely affected by the arrival of the colonists in North America. With Frontier you can help amend the past and work towards a better future.

Despite having lived on the land for more than 10,000 years, indigenous tribes were gravely affected by western colonialisation and the effort to convert them to a modern way of life. In recent years their living conditions has been put in the spotlight after a UN Human Rights Envoy report in May 2014 stated that Canada need to do much more for their ingenious communities. More work has now gone into making sure that indigenous tribes have a future – but there is still much more to be done.

Frontier runs the Canada Indigenous Indian Reserve Experience. The project offers people the opportunity to be a part of an amazing project by volunteering at a reserve in British Columbia where you can get the chance to learn a unique language and become a part of a culture that has faced many challenges throughout modern history.

Life as a volunteer on the project

Volunteers are expected to work five days per week and will get involved in various tasks in the reserve. Your tasks can be matched to your own personal skills and experience, or you can choose to take part in several areas of the community. It can be anything from helping out in a communal kitchen to assisting in the health care centre – it all depends on your preferences and skills.

But it’s not all work. Being in Canada gives you endless opportunities to do things such as kayaking, hiking and exploring beautiful nature as the reserve is near lakes, forest and even deserts.

Accommodation

You can’t be too fussy and a flexible approach is needed. Accommodation varies depending on your placement location, so it can be anything from a shared flat to a trailer. Sometimes it will be homestays and other times the volunteers live together. Internet access will depend on where you live.

Food

Food is not included in the program, but as a volunteer you will have access to a kitchen, so you can prepare your own meals. You can travel to the nearest town to buy groceries, or eat out if you feel like experiencing something new.

Recommended for… Anyone with a desire to improve living conditions for the world’s indigenous tribes and communities. You need to be curious about their traditions and way of life and ready to take on various kinds of tasks.

Be aware that… Applications should be made six months in advance. The volunteer program lasts for four weeks and volunteers are welcomed all year round.

For more information including a full itinerary, latest prices and booking visit the project profile here

About the author: Author Caroline Edwards is an Online Journalism Intern at Frontier, an international non-profit volunteering NGO that runs over 300 conservation, community, and adventure projects worldwide. She can be found blogging on Frontier’s Gap Year Blog or posting on the Frontier Official Facebook page. If you’d like to find out more about all of Frontier’s volunteer opportunities you can view all our projects by going to www.frontier.ac.uk

Keep updated with project news, photos, videos, and competitions by joining the Frontier community online with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Flickr.

Win a 2 week conservation trip to Fiji

To celebrate their 25th birthday, our friends over at volunteering NGO Frontier are offering you the chance to win a fabulous holiday…

Do you dream of snorkeling through crystal clear waters, experiencing South Pacific charm, and encountering some beautiful wildlife? Well you could be doing just that if you enter Frontier’s competition to win this two-week conservation holiday in Fiji.

The azure waters surrounding the islands of Fiji are home to around 1,200 species of fish, 12 species of whale, and many corals and other marine plants. On the Fiji Beach Conservation project, you’ll be working with the University of the South Pacific to collect essential data that helps a number of organisations protect the marine habitat. Whilst snorkelling , you’ll see an extraordinary array of animals from turtles to manta rays, sea cucumbers to feathery starfish, spiny urchins to octopus and jellyfish. When you visit distant dive sites you may even encounter gigantic manta rays, sharks, humpback whales or flying fish. By the end of your project you will be expert at identifying vast numbers of colourful and patterned reef fish as well as being an experienced and competent diver.

Up for the experience? To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is ‘Like’ Frontier on their Facebook page, then fill in the questionnaire online.

Good luck!

‘As seen on TV’ – the Amazon rainforest project you can join

Guest blogger Gemma, placement manager at volunteering organisation PoD, reveals more about their Amazon Conservation project recently featured on the BBC, and how you can join them…

The PoD team have loved watching the BBC 2 TV series ‘I Bought a Rainforest’ – not only is a great series to investigate the complexities surrounding rainforest conservation, but it also features our Amazon Conservation project location in Peru!

Wildlife photographer Charlie Hamilton James bought 100 acres of tropical rainforest on the edge of Manu National Park in south east Peru with the aim to conserve the area. The BBC documentary follows his journey into the forest and the difficult decisions he has to make when conserving his area of jungle. He learns that the conservation of the rainforest is not a simple issue to solve. To help understand the importance of regenerating previously logged or farmed rainforest and find out about the forest ecosystem Charlie and the film crew visited our PoD Amazon Conservation project location.

In the first episode Andy Whitworth, the scientific coordinator who works closely with PoD volunteers at our Amazon Conservation project in Peru, demonstrated the different research techniques which help the research centre to have a greater understanding of the importance and biodiversity area of rainforest. The team documented all the species found on a mahogany tree using a ‘bio-blast’ which was due to be cut down by a local logger. It was incredible to see that there were so many species of beetle, ant, butterfly, bird and frog on one single tree. Unfortunately illegal logging is a big issue in the reserve and during the second episode Charlie follows individual loggers and gold miners.

Although it can be easy from an outsider’s point of view to blame the illegal loggers or illegal gold miners for the deforestation and the negative environmental impacts, the documentary follows individual loggers and miners which illuminates the complex issues. The illegal loggers and gold miners are desperate to make an income to support their families and there are often limited other options for them to pursue. It is incredible to see the juxtaposition of Beto, the illegal logger, who has strong love for nature and the rainforest, yet he cuts down 150 year old trees to pay for his daughter’s education.

How volunteers help the project

The PoD project in Peru has a real passion for helping to conserve the rainforest by working alongside the local communities. Volunteers at the Amazon Conservation project work alongside local communities to develop bio-gardens and agroforestry plots. Volunteers help develop food gardens with local mothers on wasteland which provides nutritious food for the families and even produces enough for the families to gain additional income by selling the vegetables at the local market. The biogardens provide healthy meals for 360 children at the local school, and since 2009 has increased local families’ income by 35%. This reduces the pressure for the local community to log illegally and helps to preserve the forest.

The impact of the project

The agroforestry project works with local farmers to harvest sustainable woods and bananas. This is an environmentally sustainable alternative that protects the surrounding forest from illegal logging activity, encourages species diversity, increases soil nutrition, and creates carbon credits that can be sold to further support the project. Volunteers have helped turn 17 hectares of abandoned and degraded land into agroforestry plots, which have subsequently seen increased biodiversity, help plant over 10,000 plantains and 3,000 trees, and created the first program in Peru to ever commercialize carbon credits on behalf of a local community.

It is fantastic to follow the BBC series in the jungle – you get a real flavour for the rainforest and project location. We hope that this will encourage more volunteers to join the project and do their bit to help conserve the Amazon rainforest.

If you would like to find out more about the project or find out how you can apply simply visit: www.podvolunteer.org/Conservation/amazon-conservation.html