Biological Park Conservation

Want to help in the conservation of a Biological Park that houses birds of prey, brown bears, lynxes, iberian wolves, foxes, wild boars, deers and many other native species as a Biological Park Conservation volunteer in rural Portugal? The Biological Park Conservation project is a unique and exciting opportunity for volunteers to directly contribute to wild animal conservation in the countryside of Portugal. You’ll also be supporting a centre that has a positive environmental impact and a strong social inclusion mission.

What to expect and how you’ll make an impact

 

By joining the Biological Park Conservation project in Portugal, you’ll have the chance to volunteer at a centre surrounded by nature with a large range of enclosed wild animals in Portugal. The association aims to preserve the existing biodiversity in the country so you will learn about the factors that threaten their survival and help in promoting biophilia and raising awareness to its visitors.

 

Alongside the local staff, you will assist with daily tasks, such as:

  • Maintenance of the centre: Checking and repairing enclosure’s walls and fences; Painting, cleaning and improving pathways; Organising the space;
  • Assisting in feeding the animals and checking their water supplies;
  • Helping in the Pedagogical Farm and in the Riding School;
  • General nature preservation (cutting trees, building fences etc.)

There is so much to learn here, and many initiatives to get involved in, you just need to ask!

When joining the program in winter, you should be prepared to experience lower temperatures of between 40-60°F (5-15°C), and come equipped with warm clothing. If you are planning to volunteer during summer, when temperatures range between 77-100ºF (25-38ºC), comfortable and light clothing is recommended.

Want to volunteer solely with wolves? Check out our Wolf Conservation volunteer project in Mafra, Portugal.

LOCATION

The Biological Park Conservation project is based at an ecological park in the town of Miranda do Corvo.

 

Miranda do Corvo is a beautiful historic town and municipality in the old district of Coimbra, in the central part of Portugal. It is around 4 hours from Lisbon by public transport, or a 2.5 hour drive by car. Coimbra, the first capital of Portugal and the third biggest city in the country, is 45 minutes away. The area surrounding Miranda do Corvo is dotted with traditional Portuguese slate villages, hiking trails, medieval castles, and riverside beaches to relax on. It’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature in a remote location.

 

Price

2 weeks 1600€
following weeks 525€

Included

On Sunday, the ImpacTrip team will be at the airport of Lisbon waiting for you with a big sign and a smile on their face! 🙂

If you arrive prior to Sunday, you will still be able to receive an airport pickup and our team can transport you to the accommodation, but you will need to pay an extra fee for this service.
We will reach out to you by WhatsApp a few days before your start date to connect 🙂
 
Accommodation in our Climate Action hostel on a female or mixed dormitory for the first two nights (Sunday & Monday)

 

From Tuesday on, and during your volunteering period,  you will stay at a shared apartment in Miranda do Corvo which is around a 10 minute walk from the park. You can expect to share a room with one other volunteer of the same gender. Bathrooms are shared and the apartment has a shared living room. There is no WiFi.

Three meals a day everyday: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – Portuguese traditional style.

Vegetarian, gluten-free and lactose-intolerant meals are also available upon request;

 

Orientation event on Monday including an introduction to Portugal and it´s culture, volunteer experience, overview of programs, practical information, safety guidelines

Transportation to the project site on Tuesday
SIM card
Guided city tour
The best tips to discover the city!
Allocation and coordination of a work placement in an impactful non-profit project
Ongoing support throughout the stay
24h/7 emergency support
Limited coverage civil liability insurance.

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Pick-up at the airport on other dates
  • Drop-off at the airport
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal insurance (health or accidents)
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More about this program

How is a typical day in this volunteer program?

Volunteer schedule example

Weekdays

 

Volunteers on the Biological Park Conservation Project will start volunteering on the Wednesday following their orientation. Start times and daily workload will vary but you will generally volunteer for up to 8 hours per day.

 

A typical schedule:

 

8:00 AM Walk to the park for an initial briefing of your tasks and start working

10:00 AM Morning break

1:00 PM Have lunch at the project with the local staff and other volunteers

2:00 PM Continue volunteer activities in the afternoon

8:00 PM Dinner at the accommodation

 

Please note that the actual schedule can change according to the current needs of the project, seasonality and weather. Usually, shifts are in the morning but can also change to the afternoon or last longer.

 

Weekends

 

Volunteers will have the weekends off and will be able to explore and enjoy the surrounding area or relax at the accommodation. It is also possible to take buses to Coimbra, Porto or Lisbon.

 

Shall I bring any own equipment and tools for this program?

No, you will be provided with all the tools and materials you'll need for this program at the location! 

Am I provided with insurance during my stay?

Your program fee includes civil liability insurance with limited coverage, that only covers accidents that may happen during your volunteering shift.

We highly recommend you to get full health, travel and accidents insurance in your home country!

Are the meals included in my volunteer program fee?

In all our destinations, the volunteer program fees include three (breakfast, lunch and dinner) home-made and delicious meals a day!

In Mafra (where the Wolf Conservation program is located), the volunteer program fees do not include meals, but you will have access to a fully-equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals at either location!

Find more detailed program and location-specific information in our program description and pricing details! And if you have any more specific questions or want to make any special requests, feel free to get in touch with us!

Can I change the dates of my volunteer placement with ImpacTrip?

Yes, that is generally possible! In most cases, we are quite flexible with making changes to your original booking period as per your wish, as we know how challenging it can be to plan such a big trip far in advance. However, please keep in mind that all of our programs are subject to availability, and therefore, we might not be able to accommodate last-minute changes anymore. Therefore, we recommend that you early on try to organize your plans concretely and get in touch with us as quickly as possible if alterations become necessary so that we are left with a higher chance of managing to change your reservation to cater your new situation!

Can I volunteer along with a friend of family member of mine?

Yes, of course you can! We regularly receive little groups of friends or family that come to participate in our programs together. 

Do I have to pay money for volunteering?

You are not paying for your volunteer work itself but for your stay with us overall! The costs for your program further include various elements that are part of your stay here! Respective to your program, those elements can, for example, include your accommodation, food, transportation from and to the airport, insurance, guided tours, professional guides, supervisors or instructors, placement coordination and 24/7 support!

Please have a look at the pricing details of your program to find an accurate overview of all aspects included in each program and location. 

Do I need to book my stay well in advance?

No, not necessarily! Depending on the current availability of the program of your choice, we may even be able to accommodate your stay and participation for the upcoming week! However, both in our responsible travel experiences and our volunteer programs as well as regarding our available beds in the hostel, we do sometimes reach our full capacity and therefore recommend booking your stay with us as early as possible to secure your spot!  

Do I need to speak the local language?

No, you don't need to have any previous skills in the local language! All of our programs are run entirely in English and our guides and staff are all comfortable speaking English as well! But we always encourage our participants to get acquainted with some of the most basic terms and expressions, as even just a simple "Good morning!" in the local language can be a great icebreaker to start interacting with the locals! 

There are also language lessons available for volunteers. The language lessons can be booked before or on the arrival. Lessons are taught by a professional teacher and tailored to each volunteer’s current language level.

 

How and when do I need to pay for my volunteer program with ImpacTrip?

You can pay us through Paypal or bank transfer. We will kindly ask you to pay 50% of your bill at the time of your booking to secure your spot! The other 50% will be due at least one month before your arrival! 

Shall I bring special clothes to participate in this volunteer program?

There is no mandatory dress code for taking part in this program, so we just recommend you to bring comfortable clothes adjusted to the time of the year!

What do I need to pack for my trip?

Are you already excited about your stay with us? We prepared a little list of essentials which can assist you with your packing:

  • Basics (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner…)
  • Medication contact lenses, glasses
  • Clothes according to the local weather and the project you applied for
  • Plug adapters and power converters
  • Unlocked mobile phone – we will give you a Portuguese SIM card that you can charge according to your needs
  • Laptop, tablet or smartphone so you have access to Wi-Fi almost everywhere
  • Camera (if you want to capture all the unforgettable moments.)

What is ImpacTrip's Cancellation and Refund Policy?

Impactrip deposit fees are designed to be as affordable as possible to allow everyone to join our programs. Therefore, considering its limited capacity and the expectations of everyone involved, ImpacTrip is unable to provide a total refund policy.

Deposit Fee

The payment of the deposit fees confirms a volunteer’s acceptance onto one of ImpacTrip's volunteer programs. Deposit fees are not transferable to other people but may be transferable to another program.

The deposit fee is refundable until sixty days before the start date of the volunteer’s chosen program. Requests for deposit fee refunds must be made via an email to your ImpacTrip Booking Manager, clearly detailing the reasons for cancellation.

Cancellations are subject to the following policies:

  • The notice period is based on the earliest start date the volunteer has ever been registered for.
  • If a volunteer cancels sixty days or more before their earliest program start date, they can request a refund of the deposit fee, which will be provided minus the transaction costs of the refund. Alternatively, they may ask for a deposit fee credit to be held in their name for future use on any ImpacTrip program, subject to availability, for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date. This credit may be issued minus the value of any change fees the volunteer has incurred.
  • If a volunteer cancels between fifty-nine and thirty days before their program’s start date, no refund of the deposit fee is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date, for future use on another ImpacTrip program, subject to program availability and at the discretion of the Impactrip Booking Manager.
  • If a volunteer cancels less than thirty days before their programs start date, no refund of any fees is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for twelve months from their earliest registered start date, subject to availability, provided deposit fees have been paid in full by their due date.

Where a group of ten or more people is volunteering with ImpacTrip, the group leader must register ahead of other group members in order to secure the group’s dates and plans. Group members must then register no less than sixty days before the program starts. Group members who register less than sixty days before the program start date may be excluded from the program unless approved by ImpacTrip.

ImpacTrip reserves the right to revise its program fees at any time. All program fees revisions will be made via the ImpacTrip website. Program fee revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their payment before the revisions are due to take effect. A volunteer’s placement on a program is not confirmed until the deposit fee has been paid in full and the availability has been confirmed by their ImpacTrip Booking Manager.

When can I start my volunteer period?

We welcome new volunteers twice a month every month of the year. Your arrival date should be the Sunday before an Introduction Day!

  • We have Introduction Days on the first and third Monday of the month in Portugal and Croatia.
  • We have Introduction Days on the second and forth Monday of the month in Spain.

 

Please be aware that:

  • the Marine Conservation program in every destination is only available between March and October every year.
  • the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra, Portugal is only available between February and November every year and have specific arrival dates.

 

Take a look at the experience description of the program of your choice to find some more detailed information. Also, please keep in mind that all of our programs are always subject to availability as the number of spots is limited! 

When should I go ahead and book my flights?

We highly recommend you to wait and do not book your flights until you have received our official booking email confirming your stay with us! Once your booking is confirmed, it is in most cases advisable to get your tickets early to catch the cheapest fares! 

Will I be able to enjoy the experience even though I do not speak a word in the local language?

Yes, of course! All of our programs are held entirely in English! 

And... you can book language classes with us before or on arrival.

Will I have time for some sight-seeing as well?

Of course! We want you to really get to know your natural and cultural surroundings and will provide you with useful tips and tricks that will help you discover the location of your stay like a local!

Your shifts will generally last between 3 and 5 hours per day and will take place either in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening, which will leave you with plenty of free time to go explore, take a stroll around your surroundings, catch the most important sites, interact with the locals or simply go and relax! And of course, you will have your weekends off as well!

Does this program require a high level of physical fitness?

No! All activities within this program only require a medium or low level of physical fitness! 

When are the Introduction Days of Impactrip's volunteer programs? 

We welcome new volunteers twice a month every month of the year. Your arrival date should be the Sunday before an Introduction Day!

  • We have Introduction Days on the first and third Monday of the month in Portugal, Croatia and Italy.
  • We have Introduction Days on the second and fourth Monday of the month in Spain.

 

Please be aware that:

  • the Marine Conservation program in Portugal is only available between March and October and in Split between May and November every year.
  • the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra, Portugal is only available between February and November every year and has specific arrival dates.

 

Take a look at the experience description of the program of your choice to find some more detailed information. Also, please keep in mind that all of our programs are always subject to availability as the number of spots is limited!