• Life On Land

Bear Conservation

location
4 - 12 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
rating  Good 4.2  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Very high response rate

Highlights

  • Offer a sanctuary for bears who suffered maltreatment or were left in the wild without mothers when they were too young to be on their own
  • Partake in a close-knit community organisation in a small town in Rural Croatia and will join a bear sanctuary!
  • Help promoting the traditional way of life and culture, according to the wellbeing and connectedness of the village community!
  • Bears matter, not only as keystone species but also as an important part of the world in which we live. A world without bears would be a poorer, sadder place!
  • Learn Croatian and get immersed in the culture!!

Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+

About the program

This project focus is on bear and animal conservation alongside cultural heritage preservation of traditional values in the a small cute croatian village!

Join a vibrant community in a picturesque rural town nestled at the foot of a mountain in Croatia, where you'll become part of a meaningful and impactful project dedicated to bear conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage. Here, you'll work closely with a dedicated organization ...

About the program

Join a vibrant community in a picturesque rural town nestled at the foot of a mountain in Croatia, where you'll become part of a meaningful and impactful project dedicated to bear conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage. Here, you'll work closely with a dedicated organization committed to protecting the natural environment and providing a safe haven for bears that have suffered mistreatment or have been orphaned at a young age. These majestic creatures belong to the Dinaric population, the second-largest bear population in Central Europe.

But this project goes beyond conservation. It’s also about embracing and sustaining the traditional way of life in the village, fostering a deep sense of community and cultural connectedness. You'll be immersed in the rich local traditions, learning from the villagers while contributing to the wellbeing of both people and animals!

What to Expect:

  • Community Integration: Immerse yourself in the local culture and language.

  • Bear Sanctuary Support: Help maintain the sanctuary and care for the bears.

  • Daily Activities: Engage in various tasks to support the sanctuary and village heritage.

Daily Tasks:

  • Forest Maintenance: Maintain the forest and surrounding environment.

  • Animal Care: Ensure the well-being of all animals at the center.

  • Visitor Support: Assist at the visitor center and educate visitors about bear conservation.

  • Handiwork: Perform simple handiwork tasks with guidance from experienced individuals.

Why Join?

  • Make an Impact: Help protect bears and preserve local heritage.

  • Gain Experience: Develop skills in animal care and community integration.

  • Cultural Immersion: Experience life in a traditional Croatian village.

Ready to Protect Bears in Croatia?

Typical day

Volunteers will fly to Split and sleep at the accommodation with all the other international volunteers!
On Monday they will do the orientation, tour and spend the whole day in beautiful Split!
On Tuesday they will spend the day in Split, either visiting the city either doing a punctual volunteer ...

Typical day

Volunteers will fly to Split and sleep at the accommodation with all the other international volunteers!
On Monday they will do the orientation, tour and spend the whole day in beautiful Split!
On Tuesday they will spend the day in Split, either visiting the city either doing a punctual volunteer activity (whatever they prefer)
On Wednesday they will go to the bear sanctuary with a coordinator by car.

At the bear sanctuary, a typical day is as follows:
8AM - 9AM - Breakfast at the accommodation 
9 AM  Morning meeting with the team and organization of the common areas of the facilities + cleaning and preparing the park paths and feeding the bears.
1h00 PM - 2H00 PM  Cooking lunch together with the other volunteers
2h00 PM Guided visits to the park + Working on specific awareness projects
8 PM Cooking Dinner together with the other volunteers

Free-time activities

Situated in the mountain bay of Velebit, the town is surrounded by nature, there are trees, hilltops and meadows. It's a peaceful town where noone is a foreigner. There is a river nearby, perfect for a refreshing swim in summer and many outdoor activities! National park Velebit is just around the ...

Free-time activities

Situated in the mountain bay of Velebit, the town is surrounded by nature, there are trees, hilltops and meadows. It's a peaceful town where noone is a foreigner. There is a river nearby, perfect for a refreshing swim in summer and many outdoor activities! National park Velebit is just around the corner, and sea is not far either. Local people are excellent farmers meaning there's plenty of local produce to enjoy. The nearest big town is 14km away and it can be reached with public transport!

You can always spend your weekends in Split with other international volunteers!

Amidst the Kozjak and Mosor mountains and surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, just a few hours away from one of the other European capitals, the small peninsula where Split is located has a lot to offer to every visitor and traveler.

Croatia, as a Balkan nation is a must stop country for anyone who chooses to visit eastern Europe in a meaningful way. On the one hand it has a rich historical heritage full of monuments classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the other it is a country that is still recovering from a political war, in the group of countries with the highest number of people living below the poverty line.

With its charming ancient towns and villages, beautiful beaches and more than a thousand islands, its history has produced a very rich cultural diversity, shaped by Roman and Turkish, that is, Mediterranean and Eastern European influences. These historical heritages mark the different regions of Croatia. Between Istria, Dalmatia and the center of Croatia, the gastronomy, lifestyle and accents can change a lot, making the country very diverse and interesting. Split, the second biggest city, has a specific Mediterranean influence that makes it especially welcoming, cosy and warm. With its palace just on the seaside, Split brings a peaceful and fresh atmosphere that invites you to come and stay for a while.

Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (intermediate level) or Croation (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

It is essential that you are flexible, curious, open-minded, and respectful of all people and animals. It is essential to know basic Croatian.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

What's Included

What's Included

Services by ImpacTrip

What’s included?

- Pick up at the international airport in Split & transfer to the accommodation

- In the first 3 days: Accommodation at a dormitory in a local hostel, female dormitory or mixed dormitory with private bathroom. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included (Local style. Vegetarian, gluten-free and meals for lactose-intolerant are also available upon request)

- For the remaining of your stay, you will be lodged in a shared room in the Bear Sanctuary

- Meals are provided but you will need to cook together with the other volunteers

- Shared use of common areas

- Orientation event on arrival (including introduction to Croatia and it's culture, the volunteer experience, overview of programs, practical information and safety guidelines)

- Guided city tour

- The best tips to discover the city!

- Allocation and coordination of a work placement in an impactful non-profit project

- Introduction on the first day of volunteering

- Ongoing support throughout the stay

- 24h/7 emergency support

- 10 hours on online language classes

Airport Pickup at Split Airport

ARRIVALS - what should I do when I arrive at the airport?

Your local coordinator, will contact you via WhatsApp a week before your arrival, so you can e-meet and discuss your arrival details.

She will be waiting for you at the airport when you arrive and is reachable 24/7, in case of any travel updates or troubles.

What if I arrive at another location?

Just let us know and we can organize your pick-up anywhere in Split

Please note that the pickup is included on the arrival Sunday.

Accommodation

The sanctuary is located in a rural mountainous area. 
The nearest town is half an hour away! 
To get the most authentic experience on the program, you will be accommodated in a traditional local house together with other volunteers. 
You will be sharing a room with one other person. 
The facilities are rudimentary and basic but you have all you need for a cosy stay: bedding and towels, a bathroom, common area and kitchen. You will be responsible for cooking your meals, cleaning the house, and other housekeeping tasks together with the other volunteers

Food & Beverages

Food is included in the price but volunteers are in charge of preparing the meals


Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Split Airport (SPU) in Split. We assist you to find cheap flights to Croatia. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Croatia provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Croatia you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Croatia. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Our Croatian programs start on the Sunday before the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month AND every Sunday from May to the end of August.
Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 2,495€
5 weeks 2,930€
6 weeks 3,365€
7 weeks 3,800€
8 weeks 4,235€
9 weeks 4,670€
10 weeks 5,105€
11 weeks 5,540€
12 weeks (max. stay) 5,975€
Average fees 560€/week

Program fees

560€ per week 4 - 12 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES

Duration

4 - 12 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.

Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with ImpacTrip during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip

Good 4.2 rating (70 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Very high response rate

Coordinated by

Cristiana

Spoken languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English

About the project

ImpacTrip is a social enterprise that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Meet your organization

ImpacTrip is a social business internationally certified as B-Corp that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences in Portugal, Spain and Croatia.

Founded in 2015 by two dedicated social entrepreneurs that want to change the way people travel, ImpacTrip aims at combining the best of travel with a positive social and environmental impact.

We really want travelers to have the most unique and meaningful travel experiences.

We offer short-term Travel Experiences across our country that allow you and other Responsible Travelers to connect with the locals, experience the culture and contribute in a positive way to the local communities.

We also offer long-term volunteer programs in which you can dedicate 1 to 12 weeks volunteering for local non-profits for a specific cause while meeting people from all over the world.

Since 2015 we've received people from over 50+ different nationalities that contributed with over 30.000 hours of volunteer work to support over 300 non-profits.

70 reviews · rating4.2

Alba Gala Torrero rating5

2024 at Youth Supporter

I recommend this experience to absolutely anyone, it was the best of my life. The first week my placement was in a Skatepark in Cascais, so I had to catch a train and then a bus. Although it was good and the commute was fine, I didn't feel comfortable at the beggining so I asked to switch to a ...
Martin Hag rating3.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

The people working there were really supportive and genuinely wish for you to have a good experience. My first day was an introduction to the area, possibility to get help with the tickets for the public transports and a guided tour of Lisbon. They also have communication chats for you to contact ...
Thomas Payne rating3.2

2024 at Animal Care and Protection

Honestly, I was surprised, when on the website it shows photos of so many dogs, animals, it turned out I was working at a cat sanctuary. It's not that I was disappointed by the cats, it was just a shock, and also, at points of the sanctuary I feel like I wasn't apart of it massively, there wasn't ...
Isabel Hager rating2.6

2024 at Environmental Scuba Diving

Here’s a more formal and assertive version of your feedback: After months of requesting a detailed schedule for our diving experience, we only received the information after all payments had already been made. To pay €1,500 for a week, only to end up with just four dives, is completely ...
Louise Rivet rating1.8

2024 at English Teaching to the community

Unfortunately, my experience was not the best one. The lodging was too far from the project; we had to travel almost two hours to get there. The classes were not organized. After one week, and following my request, I was assigned to a school which was fine but still one hour bus and metro to get ...
Lian Van Haaster rating1.4

2024 at Impact Surf Camp

I would not recommend the Impact Surf Camp program. I thought it was way too expensive for what you get in return. When I was there, early November 2024, I was the only one who had booked the Surf Camp program. At first it was cancelled the day before it started because of the weather, even though ...

Location

Europe > Southern Europe > Croatia > Kuterevo

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Contact Cristiana
  Very high response rate
Portuguese, Spanish, English

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