What better way to connect with your family than by sharing a volunteer adventure overseas! We help families travel together to have safe, meaningful experiences. Let us find the best trip for your family – whether you are traveling with younger children, planning a multi-generational trip or traveling with your sibling, parents or extended family. Travel creates lasting memories. There is so much to experience in a new country, exploring the surroundings and learning about a new culture. You and your family will fall in love with your host country as you help a local animal project and become part of the community. Volunteering brings you closer. Spend time  together helping animals and contributing to a meaningful cause. Combine your family vacation with an animal adventure for a trip that you will never forget!

AEI is a proud member of the Family Travel Association to make sure you and your family have the best experience possible.

volunteers give enrichment to howler monkeys

Wildlife Rehabilitation in Guatemala

Help sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in central Guatemala.

Families with children of all ages are invited to help with the feeding, cleaning and care of wild animals who have been confiscated from animal traffickers. Living in separated cabins, families are able to have their own space while still living at the centre. 3 square meals are provided every day so parents just have to think about making memories with their families.
This centre is located in northern Guatemala, safe in the jungle away from busy streets and pollution. There is easy and close access to grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals.

Starting at $1771 Canadian for 1 week.


volunteers clean sea turtles

Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica

Help conserve sea turtles on the Pacific coast.

Families with children of all ages will love living in a small coastal community. Three square meals a day and self contained cabins for families meas that parents know their children are safe without having to worry about what they will cook for dinner. Volunteer activities range from measuring and releasing sea turtles to planting mangrove trees. Located in the safe and beautiful Osa peninsula, this program is a short bus or taxi trip to grocery stores, pharmacies and hospitals. Children will love getting up close and personal with animals while they do a short hike to the mangrove nursery. We have seen sloths, dolphins, toucans and scarlet macaws on our walks!

Starting at $1921Canadian for 1 week.


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Dog Rescue in Mexico

Help with dog and cat rescue, adoption and public education in Mexico. 

Located in central Mexico, this dog rescue centre is perfect for the family who wants to instil empathy and compassion in their dog loving children. Open to all families, there are always safe activities that children of all ages can take part in. Families have a choice to live in a home stay and see real Mexican culture or in a locally run hotel close to museums and authentic restaurants. Independent families will love the options of guided hikes, cultural tours and local cuisine tasting while they take evenings off. Experience the joy of rescue while also making memories that will last a lifetime.

Starting at $1410 Canadian for 1 week.


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Bat Conservation in Cuba

Assist with the study of bats in Cuba. 

For the family that wants to know more about locally run conservation and the real lives of Cubans. Not recommended for small children as all participants need to be rabies vaccinated- this is the perfect way to have your animal loving child see the hands on side of conservation. Three square meals a day, hiking into national forests and setting up nets in bat caves may not be for everyone but it looks great on everyone’s Instagram. Having your child understand their place in this world and empowering them to help animals is one of the best gifts you can give them. These programs run twice a year and are easily added to the start of a beach vacation in Cuba. Show your children that if you work hard, you can also play hard: balance is key.

$2190 Canadian per participant for the week long expedition.


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Horse Conservation in Mongolia

Help monitor the wild horses of Mongolia. 

Off the beaten track this is for adventurous families with children of all ages. Located 2 hours from the capital, this scientific research station is perfect for the family that needs a digital detox. There is electricity and very slow Wi-Fi (to check in back home). Children learn the basics of conservation while working on their jump shot on the most remote basketball court we’ve ever seen! Long hikes on the steppe and star gazing at night bring new found peaceful nights. Families with young children share a yurt while families who need some space (or who’s teenagers need some space) live in neighbouring yurts. All your meals are included so the only things that parents need to worry about is their jump shot.

Starting at $1751 for 1 week.


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Dog Rescue in Spain

Help rescue and rehabilitate Spanish Galgos. 

Help save these amazing dogs! In Spain, galgos – Spanish greyhounds - are used for hunting hares in the countryside. Despite being part of Spanish culture for centuries, as “hunting dogs” galgos are not seen as companion animals and often have difficult lives filled with neglect and abuse. Their speed and agility make them excellent at chasing hares and breeders aspire to create the “perfect” galgos.

Starting at $1473Canadian for 1 week.


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Horse Rescue in Spain

Help take care of rescued horses, ponies and donkeys in southern Spain. 

This equine rescue centre, located in the Costa Blanca region of Spain, provides an essential service. Their mission is to rescue and rehabilitate abused, neglected and abandoned horses, ponies and donkeys, while campaigning for the better treatment of animals across Spain. They provide each rescued animal with a safe and loving sanctuary for the rest of their lives, either at their facility or through re-homing.

Starting at $1430 Canadian for 1 week.


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Dolphin Conservation in Croatia

Help with dolphin conservation in Croatia. 

Our partner in Croatia has come to the aid of the dolphins. This organization began as a collaboration between the Slovenian Museum of Natural History, local biologists and scientists from several international universities. Their main aim is to monitor the dolphins and use the information collected to form a baseline for conservation plans. This 11 day placement is well structured. Each day begins with a group breakfast and briefing of the planned activities for the day. Mornings are spent analyzing new data. Volunteers help to check and enter data from the previous evening into the database and transcribe the notes made during the observation. The afternoon is spent in the boat watching the dolphin pods and recording the findings.

$2129 Canadian per participant for the 11 day program.


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Sea Turtle Nesting Conservation in Costa Rica

Help conserve sea turtles in Costa Rica by protecting nesting sites. 

The beaches along the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica are the nesting site for many leatherback, hawksbill and green sea turtles that lay their eggs here.  As the female turtles come in to nest, they are exposed to many threats. One of the biggest threats is the illegal poaching of the eggs that they lay.

Starting at $1625 Canadian for 1 week.