Environmental science
We would like to inform our community that we have decided to discontinue our collaboration with our marine projects in the Seychelles and Fiji.
This decision reflects a positive development: these projects have now reached full operational autonomy. They benefit from sufficient funding, a steady number of participants, and strong local capacities, allowing them to continue their conservation and research activities independently.
At Realstep, our mission is to focus our support where it can make the greatest and most immediate impact.
We therefore prioritize and promote independent marine projects facing more pressing needs and actively seeking committed volunteers, including:
Discover all our current marine conservation internships and scientific research programs through our dedicated project pages.</p
The marine conservation project in the Canary Islands is an opportunity to contribute to an ethical initiative while observing whales and dolphins in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Meet people from all walks of life, gain experience abroad and contribute to the preservation of marine environments.
Dolphins and whales are threatened in the waters of the Canary Islands by water pollution, the omnipresence of commercial fishing boats, and intensive fishing. The direct consequence of these intensive human activities: the degradation of their environment and habitat.
In this project, you will be able to contribute to the preservation of the region’s ecosystems.
Your missions are as follows:
The information you collect will be used by local organizations to make decisions regarding the development and implementation of environmental policies. It will also be used by local and international organizations to better understand the long-term effects of threats to the conservation of whales, dolphins, and other marine species.
Your work therefore actively contributes to the protection of these animals and the environment.
Please note that this is not a diving program, although you may dive recreationally during your free time.
Throughout the program, you will develop many useful skills:
07:30: Start the day with a team breakfast and get ready for the project. Enjoy the morning views and fresh sea air.
09:00: Head out to sea to collect data on cetaceans, observe their behavior, and identify species. Analyze human impact on the species and take part in a beach cleanup.
12:00: Group lunch, with participants taking turns cooking varied dishes using local products, including delicious regional specialties.
13:00: Enter the data into a local database, including information on dolphin and whale behavior, the number of species observed, and the presence of young.
18:00: Take part in base tasks, help prepare dinner with the group, or enjoy your free time.
19:00: After dinner, it is common to discuss the day’s work and its impact on the environment. You will also review the next day’s schedule.
Like all of scientific expeditions, this marine research project in the Canaries allows you to benefit from in-depth learning while contributing to the preservation of the region's ecosystems.
The participants are thus integrated into the teams on site, and actively help to protect these animals by collecting various data. The latter are thus used to establish better management of the region and its marine environment in the long term.
This vocational training program is part of the so-called “career” projects. In addition to the mission that you carry out on site, it allows you to benefit from real support, and to access the position of project coordinator in 6 months. Here you combine theoretical training with practical learning, with online modules to be completed after the end of the mission. At the end of the program, you obtain an international certification recognized and issued by the University of Richmond, in the United States.
The accompaniment is therefore present upstream, on site but also downstream of the project. During the course of the mission, you will also have a remote project to carry out: you will have to solve a problem with other partner organizations in marine conservation, environment, animal protection... A coach will follow you and support you to help you better in solving these problems, and at the end of the project you will have access to a platform of job offers in NGOs, following the professional training you will have received.
The distance learning projects included in the vocational training will be completed AFTER completing the environmental and sustainability training.
If your training lasts 4-11 weeks, you will work on a remote project for a period of 4 weeks after completing the field assignment.
If your training lasts 12 weeks or more, you will work on 2 remote projects for a duration of 8 weeks after completing the field mission.
For more information on the employment guarantee conditions, click on the link:
Conditions on the job guarantee
Take a closer look at all the specificities of this training as a career program !
Participant Missions and Tasks:
Following the training on the environment and sustainable development of the first days, the volunteers can carry out three different missions:
The frequency of these activities will depend on the season in which you carry out your training on the environment and sustainable development in the Canary Islands.
Founded in 1997, our partner organization has received over 200,000 participants on humanitarian and sustainable projects around the world. With a seat on the United Nations International Commission on Sustainable Tourism, all their actions are carried out in collaboration with communities and local authorities.
Founded in 1997, our partner organization has received over 200,000 participants on humanitarian and sustainable projects around the world. With a seat on the United Nations International Commission on Sustainable Tourism, all their actions are carried out in collaboration with communities and local authorities.
This program is available for up to 24 weeks, Please contact us for rates and availability.
| Duration | Fees to be paid upon registration |
|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | 2195€ |
| 4 Weeks | 3345€ |
| 6 Weeks | 4445€ |
| 8 Weeks | 5195€ |
| 10 Weeks | 5995€ |
| 12 Weeks | 6845€ |
Housing is allocated by local NGOs, not by Freepackers - the descriptions are there to give you an idea of the type of accommodation, as it is very likely that conditions will vary on site depending on the number of volunteers, weather conditions, availability, etc. Each volunteer will be accommodated according to the stated conditions, but it is possible that the accommodation may not match the description or images shown on this site word for word, for example, in the case of annexed housing, renovations, relocations, etc.
Participants share a room with 4 to 8 other people, and have a common bathroom. The accommodation also has running water and electricity.
The first 3 months, during the training, the meals are included and the following 3 months, during the practical training, they are at the expense of the participants.
Participants share meal preparation tasks with accommodation staff. The dishes are balanced, and often typical of the region. Breakfasts are composed of cereals, bread, fruit and other products depending on the season. Dishes vary according to preference, but generally there are salads, pasta or sautéed vegetables. Participants can also buy their meals directly in town.
Network :
The project includes a wifi connection on site. In addition, the telephone network is rather due to the location of the center. The city also has cafes with free internet connection.
Transportation :
A member of the team is in charge of welcoming you on your arrival, before being transferred to the project site. Unless the distance makes it possible to go to the project on foot, the journey from accommodation to the project site is provided by our partner NGO.
Climate :
Pleasant, expect temperatures between 18 and 24C on average between December and February, and 24 to 28C between June and August.
Please contact the embassy or immigration website of the country you wish to enter.
You can find all ressources on the World Organization Website, in the Travel Advice section A vaccine vial.
For all international projects, Realstep requires participants to take out travel insurance covering accidents, illness, and repatriation, as well as civil liability for professional activities abroad.
For complete protection while studying or interning abroad, you can take out Cap Student insurance online by following this link Student insurance abroad | Chapka Assurances, which will give you a 5% discount.
If you take out another insurance policy, we will ask you to send us a copy of your certificate in English.
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