Many environmental charities seek to fundraise, and raise awareness of issues affecting our planet, but there’s one charity that takes things one stage further. Although inspiring and educating people is at the core of what Earthwatch does, this international organisation is also well respected for leading, or taking part in scientific field research.
Earthwatch was founded in 1971, and since then has grown to be a truly international environmental charity, with offices in the UK, USA, Australia, and Japan. The Earthwatch Institute has several functions: it serves to help conservation organisations, who have a limited capacity to practice conservation, it works with a variety of corporate partners on environmental initiatives and volunteer programs, and it also serves to educate people about a sustainable environment. At the core of Earthwatch though, is a long standing commitment to field research programs, and this is a well respected charity that gets results.
Since it formed in 1971, the Earthwatch team has led or been involved in all kinds of research projects, from examining the flora and fauna surrounding a volcano in Costa Rica, to aiding dolphin conservation in Spain, and joining the communities and wildlife project in Samburu, Kenya. This is where the volunteers come in, who are sent out to the field to assist the trained scientists in their work.
If you’re a teen between 15 to 18 years of age, you could have the experience of a lifetime protecting the habitats of the Fosa in Madagascar, tracking endangered Grevy Zebras in Kenya, or creating coffee farms in Costa Rica. There are also expeditions available to a Roman Villa in Italy, The Bahamas, and the rainforests in Ecudaor. These unrivalled experiences also extend to families as well, who have a choice of trips that include tracking whales and otters in British Columbia. There are also adult research programs you can join, in areas such as climate change, archaeology, mammals, oceans, and endangered habitats.
Each expedition will come at a cost to the volunteer, which varies depending on the time of year, duration of the expedition, and the costs of accommodation, travel, and supplies. Although expedition costs and travel might amount to a fairly substantial sum, Earthwatch offers help and support to aid volunteers in their fundraising. If you’re interested in environmental volunteering, this company certainly offers a diverse and rewarding range of experiences, which in some cases have been described as life-changing by volunteers. Why not look up their expedition briefings, and find out more about Earthwatch and the opportunities they offer.
