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Teaching & learning at a wildlife rescue center

4.5
(26 reviews)26

The experience

We are a rescue center, we take in wild animals who were victims of trafficking, rehabilitate them, and reintroduce them back into their natural habitats.
We work to ensure that the Ecuadorian Amazon and its inhabitants (both human and non-human) thrive in harmony.
We're looking for volunteers to teach and learn about nature with the children of staff members. An incredibly rewarding experience, in an amazing place.

What you offer

32 hours of help per week

Child Care: Caring for, playing with, and spending time with children.

What you get

2 days off per week

Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Discounts on Drinks: Get discounts for drinks and beverages from our bar.

Discounts on Tours: Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Certificate: Get a certificate of completion after you finish your experience.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Intermediate Spanish

Between 18 and 60 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

We aim to provide support and education based on critical thinking, curiosity for the natural world, and opennes to all diversity. This way we aim to provide the kids with the ability to maintain strong, healthy communities into the future. Volunteer tutors allow for kids to learn in a safe loving environment. Volunteers may assist in overseeing learning of subjects and activities ranging from arts and crafts to mathematics and language courses. Two kids kids are permanent residents at our rescue center and other kids might join for afternoon support with homework. The group maximum size is 5 kids, the ages vary from 3-15 years old.

Activities & Shift

Typical day as a tutor in the Jungle!

7:00 Start preparing for class!

9:00: Breakfast

9:20: Welcome the kids in the classroom

11:30: Time to play sports, go on a hike or other outdoor activities

13:00: Lunch break

14:00: Tutoring resumes. Help older kids with homework, younger kids work on crafts or painting

16:00: Once or twice a week (depending on volunteer numbers) you will be assigned to help with cleanning and organizing volunteer house

18:00-20:00: Dinner is served in the volunteer house. Once or twice a week (depending on volunteer numbers), you and one other volunteer will be responsible for preparing the dinner for the group

Two days per week are completely free. During this day, you can explore the various activities in the area or travel to the nearby city of Tena.

Rules

Formal teaching experience and training is not mandatory, but patience and a love for children is a must. Fluency in English OR Spanish is required. Volunteer tutors are expected to be open minded and respectful of cultural differences and act with kindness and respect towards the natural environment and wildlife in the protected area. Tutoring volunteers must share dinner cooking duties with volunteers (each volunteer is usually responsible for cooking dinner once or twice a week). All volunteers help maintaining the cleanliness of the volunteer house, including sleeping quarters, common areas, bathrooms, and the kitchen.