Spain – Conservation Projects in the Valencia Region

Please note: This volunteer program is on hold. In the following links you can check out our open Volunteer Programs in Spain:

  1. Barcelona Volunteer Program: Work with an NGO in a multicultural migrant neighborhood in Barcelona to combat food waste, tackle hunger, and help build a sustainable community.
  2. Marine Conservation in the Spanish Mediterranean: Dive into the Mediterranean waters to help clean up pollutants and protect local marine life, while experiencing the unique culture of Barcelona.

 

 

 

 

 

Travel to Valencia, Spain to contribute to the conservation of various ecosystems! This project is ideal for volunteers who want to learn more about another culture as well as help in the maintenance of the environment.

 

Program Highlights:

  • Contribute to the conservation efforts to keep Valencia’s parks beautiful
  • Enjoy Valencia’s historic sights as well as rich nightlife
  • Live only 3.5 hours away from major cities such as Madrid, Barcelona and Ibiza
  • Stay with a local host family for a culturally immersive experience
  • Explore the surrounding area on your weekends

 

Family Option: This program accepts families with children aged 8 and above. Apartments or host family accommodations can be arranged.

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment):

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Valencia Airport (VLC). You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your new home in Valencia. Take the time to settle in and get to know your host family or other volunteers that you will be staying with.

Day 1, Monday: Your first day will begin with an orientation of the project, where you will meet your placement coordinators as well as learn more about the tasks that you will be doing during your stay. In the afternoon you will get a tour of Valencia where you will see it’s famous landmarks as well as learn more about living in Spain. There is an option to add on weeks of Spanish lessons before your volunteering for an additional fee.

Days 2-5, Tuesday-Friday: You will volunteer four-six hours in the morning or afternoon and can spend your free time enjoying Valencia, its beaches or improving your Spanish chatting with the locals. Depending on your chosen project, your tasks may include turtle monitoring, tree planting, habitat restoration and general park maintenance.

Days 6-7, Saturday-Sunday: The weekend is free for you to rest, sunbathe or explore all that Valencia and Spain have to offer.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having Saturday-Sunday off. Valencia is perfectly located in Spain for you to use the weekend to explore the country. Departures are on a Saturday.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Valencia, Spain

Project length Project length: Minimum 2 weeks – Maximum 12 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Valencia Airport (VLC)

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Conservation work in nature reserves

Age Age:  18-45 (This project may accept volunteers who are 16 years old with a letter of consent from a parent or guardian. They must live with a host family for an additional fee.) This program accepts families with children aged 8 and above.

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Up to 8 international volunteers

Important Note Important Note: This project is closed during the month of August. 16-year olds must upgrade to the homestay for an additional fee .

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Private room in a shared apartment or homestay

Food Food: Dependent on accommodations option

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers:  Airport pick-up is provided on arrival day

Orientation Orientation: First day orientation tour is provided

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, meals (half-board available at home-stay upon request), return airport transfer (available on request), public transportation during project (10-15 EUR per week), personal expenses

Although the Valencia region is better known for its extensive coastline, its inland areas are home to diverse ecosystems with unique flora and fauna that thrive in the Mediterranean. The fantastic landscape is dotted with hills and mountains, rivers, forests, islands and wetlands, offering incredible contrasts. Explore the wonder of the Sierra Calderona, Sierra de Mariola, the Montgó Natural Park or the Sierra of Espadán.

 

Depending on the season, the current needs of the environments, and availability on site, volunteers will get a chance to work at one or both of the following options:

 

Albufera Natural Park:
Located only 15 kilometers from downtown Valencia, the Albufera Natural Park, one of Spain’s most important wetlands, also exists as one of the most emblematic locations in Valencia due to its biodiversity and great ecological interest. Home to a wide range of wildlife including water, wading and migratory birds as well as species in danger of extinction, the area is declared by the European Union as a place of special protection. The Albufera provides conservation support for the after effects of the intense agricultural (cultivation of rice), industrial, hunting and touristic uses; the consequences of which have upset the ecological balance. The conservation work performed by the volunteers will assist local teams with the recovery plan and park management activities.

Volunteering tasks and assignments may include:

  • Participating in activities restoring bird habitats, nest construction and checking, and bird ringing
  • Wildlife census/surveys and data collection
  • Turtle monitoring
  • Eradicating invasive vegetation
  • General park maintenance

 

Projects around the Valencia Region:
Although the Valencia region is better known for its extensive coastline, its inland areas are home to diverse ecosystems with unique flora and fauna in the Mediterranean. A landscape dotted with hills, mountains, rivers, forests, islands, and wetlands, offers incredible contrasts. Popular sites of this region include the Sierra Calderona, Sierra de Mariola, the Montgó Natural Park and the Sierra of Espadán. During this program, volunteers will experience different Spanish ecosystems and contribute in a practical way to the conservation of Valencia’s environment.

Volunteering tasks and assignments may include:

  • Tree planting
  • River inspection and conservation
  • Flora and fauna surveys and data collection
  • Prevention of forest fires
  • Construction and maintenance of walking tracks
  • Conservation of the Valencia’s wildlife and its natural habitats

 

Schedule: Volunteers work approximately four-six hours a day. Work is done during the mornings from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Weekends are usually off. The volunteer work is about 30-60 minutes away from the accommodations.

Internet icon Internet: Internet is available for use.

Laundry icon Laundry: Volunteers have access to a laundry machine.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Volunteers are provided with a single room within a shared apartment. Each apartment holds up to six volunteers at any given time. For an additional fee, there is an option to live with a host family with half-board (breakfast and dinner). It is possible to upgrade following registration. 16-year olds must upgrade to the homestay for an additional fee.

Food icon Food: Not included with the apartment accommodations, but you will have access to a fully-equipped kitchen. Volunteers who upgrade to a home-stay (for an additional fee) will receive breakfasts and dinners.

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Good level of English
  • Basic level of Spanish is recommended
  • Physically fit and prepared to work in the open environment

In addition to volunteering at local projects that could not exist without support from volunteers, participants can explore the Valencia region as more than just tourists. There are plenty of opportunities for hiking, rafting and exploring the city itself. Valencia is a coastal city with hot summers and mild winters. It is a city rich in culture and heritage and has more than 15 kilometers of beaches. From the old maritime quarter of El Cabanyal, the Albufera Natural Park, the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, the old town with its monuments and museums, the fun and lively neighborhood of El Carmen or Ruzafa with exciting night life, it’s impossible to get bored in a city that offers so much.

 

Learning Spanish in Valencia (Not Included):
Participants that don’t know Spanish or wish to brush up on their language skills have the opportunity to sign up for a Spanish course, before or after your volunteer project. You also have the option to take private lessons.

Spanish classes can be arranged following registration. Please note there is an additional cost for this.

Volunteer Experiences

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