Wildlife & Conservation · Ages 14–18 · 2027
Rustic Pathways Wildlife & Conservation Programs for Teens are supervised service-based trips for students ages 14 to 18 that support wildlife and habitat conservation through field research, monitoring, restoration, and animal care.
Seven 2027 programs run for 8 to 14 days, with tuition ranging from $2,795 to $6,250.
From $2,795 Program Tuition7 programs · 8–14 days
See programs
Protect loggerhead turtles on a Greek island
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Fieldwork to save sea turtles
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Elephant care and conservation
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Jungles, reefs, and Mayan culture
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Irish ecovillage, Icelandic energy
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Surf, kayak, and wildlife fieldwork
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Marine surveys on Ligurian coast
Flights to and from the program aren't included.
Flight options include: Chaperoned Group Flight, Independent Flight with Support, or Self-Managed Airfare. You'll choose with your advisor after enrolling.
Compare Rustic Pathways’ 2027 wildlife & conservation programs by their focus, service commitment, duration, and tuition.
| Program and what students do | Days | Service hours | Program Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belize: Caribbean Reefs & Mayan CultureConduct wildlife studies, participate in bird banding, and learn about community-based rainforest and marine conservation. | 8 | About 22 | $2,795 |
| Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation ProjectSupport sea turtle conservation at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge through hatchery monitoring, nighttime beach patrols, trail maintenance, and beach cleanups. | 8 | 26 | $2,895 |
| Greece: Island Turtle ConservationMonitor loggerhead sea turtles with marine biologists through nesting surveys, seagrass habitat mapping, harbor monitoring, and conservation data collection. | 9 | About 20 | $3,495 |
| Mediterranean Marine Biology in ItalyPhoto-identify bottlenose dolphins with Delfini del Ponente biologists, map seagrass on snorkel surveys, monitor sea turtle nesting beaches, and survey the Pelagos Sanctuary. | 8 | Not listed | $3,395 |
| Thailand: Thai Elephant Conservation ProjectSupport Asian elephant conservation through forest restoration, daily care routines, herd behavior monitoring, and learning about veterinary care. | 12 | 20 | $3,995 |
| Ireland & Iceland: Ecovillage to GlacierLearn sustainable living from residents of the Cloughjordan ecovillage, then study geothermal and hydropower systems and spend a day on a glacier in South Iceland. | 13 | Not listed | $6,250 |
| Australia: Queensland Ecosystems and Wildlife ConservationWork alongside Noosa Biosphere Foundation and university researchers, learn about caring for Country from a Waka Waka Traditional Custodian, and visit the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. | 14 | Not listed | $6,250 |
Sorted by length, then Program Tuition. Program Tuition excludes flights to and from the program and the enrollment fee. A dash means the program page does not list a service-hour total.
Program Tuition includes accommodation, scheduled meals, program transport and activities, gratuities and donations.
See the full guide to what is included and not included in Rustic Pathways programs.
Choose turtles or dolphins for ocean conservation, or Belize’s rainforest and reef.
On land, compare elephants, ecosystems or sustainability.
Costa Rica: 26 service hours. Belize: about 22. Greece: about 20. Thailand: 20.
The others focus on research and conservation learning.
Marine programs involve swimming, snorkeling or surfing.
Check each itinerary’s swimming, fitness and climate requirements.
Compare fieldwork, culture and adventure days on each itinerary.
Rustic Pathways builds wildlife & conservation programs around ongoing work in the host destination rather than one-time animal encounters. Community partnerships last at least three years, and projects align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Life Below Water and Life on Land.
Costa Rica’s Turtle Conservation Project is based at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge. On Greece’s Island Turtle Conservation, students work alongside Wildlife Sense marine biologists.
In Lampang, students on the Thai Elephant Conservation Project learn alongside staff and mahouts at a government-run elephant conservation center.
Local partners direct monitoring, restoration and field research.
Tasks may change with partner needs, weather or wildlife.
Projects support animal welfare. Wild-animal rides are prohibited.
Staged photos holding or posing with captive wildlife are prohibited.
Qualified staff lead activities through licensed, insured vendors.
Registration applies where available; encounters aren’t guaranteed.
Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students. No Student Travel program exceeds 7 students per staff member.
Dr. William R. Smith, a board-certified emergency physician, has served as Rustic Pathways’ dedicated Medical Director since 2015. Rustic Pathways reports an average parent-notification time of 27 minutes.
Rustic Pathways reports that 92% of its seasonal staff are local to the countries where programs operate.
Rustic Pathways received the 2024 Travel Weekly Magellan Gold Award for Outstanding Health & Safety Innovations. It also received the 2025 International Travel Awards title Best Group Tour Operator.
The Rustic Pathways safety approach and the transparency audit publish the full detail.
After the program, students take over the Rustic Pathways Instagram with their own photos and stories. Here are three from wildlife & conservation programs in summer 2025 and 2026.
“I snorkeled with turtles, ate amazing food, made so many friends, watched sunrises and sunsets and so so much more!” Meghan K., on Instagram
“Hi!! My name is [Meghan K.] and I went on the Greece Turtle Conservation trip. I made so many fun, happy memories on this trip and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I snorkeled with turtles, ate amazing food, made so many friends, watched sunrises and sunsets and so so much more!
This trip taught me that who you share experiences with can be just as meaningful as the experience itself. The friendships I made, the support I received from my Program Leaders, and the many connections I made while volunteering all made a huge impact on making my trip so memorable.
Beyond the friendship aspect of the trip, I loved experiencing the beautiful Greek culture and community. This trip gave me a new perspective on both the world around me and the impact we have on it.
This trip genuinely was the best thing I have ever experienced and will cherish it forever. The laughs and smiles we all shared will never be forgotten. I LOVE RUSTIC PATHWAYS!!!!!!!!”
Meghan K., Greece: Island Turtle Conservation, summer 2026
“My Spanish really improved as I went through daily life there while learning about the culture.” Amelia B., on Instagram
“I loved being immersed in the Costa Rican culture! The night walks and learning how to surf were great experiences.
My Spanish really improved as I went through daily life there while learning about the culture. It was an amazing trip that I would love to do again in the future !❤️☀️🤩”
Amelia B., Costa Rica: Turtle Conservation Project, summer 2025
“Our time spent with the elephants stood out to me the most, as we got to do close up activities with them.” Audrey L., on Instagram
“Hi! My name is Audrey and I am from Dublin, Ohio. This summer I had the amazing opportunity to go on the Thai Elephant Conservation Trip!
I went into it with zero expectations, and it ended up being a trip of a lifetime. Our time spent with the elephants stood out to me the most, as we got to do close up activities with them. I also really enjoyed the night markets, it was a great way for us to interact with the locals.
I want to give a shoutout to P-Chet, P-Jay, Sergio, and Zoe who were amazing leaders and were so fun to be around.
If you are thinking about doing a Rustic Pathways trip, go for it! This was a trip of a lifetime.”
Audrey L., Thailand: Thai Elephant Conservation Project, summer 2025
Rustic Pathways is rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google, Trustpilot and GoOverseas, and 4.7 out of 5 on GoAbroad and the other review sites.
Tell us a little about your teen and our admissions team will email you two or three wildlife & conservation programs that fit, with dates.
Scott IngramDirector of Admissions
Prefer to talk now? Call +1 (440) 975-9691.
Our admissions team will reply to . In the meantime, you can browse the programs.
Students complete conservation work such as sea turtle monitoring, habitat restoration, wildlife research, data collection, and supervised animal care. Conservation activities vary by destination, field conditions, and local partner needs.
No, students do not need previous conservation experience to participate in Rustic Pathways wildlife and conservation programs. Programs are for students ages 14–18, and conservation specialists provide instructions before each task.
Students may handle wild animals during certain conservation programs, but animal contact is not guaranteed. Contact depends on the program and field conditions. Rustic Pathways does not place animals on students, bring animals near students' faces, or allow contact with animals known to be dangerous, sick, or venomous.
The difference between wildlife & conservation programs and animal tourism is that wildlife & conservation programs focus on habitat protection, research, rehabilitation, and animal welfare. Rustic Pathways excludes elephant rides, staged animal performances, and captive-wildlife photo opportunities.
Four of the seven Rustic Pathways wildlife & conservation programs for 2027 include listed service hours. Costa Rica's Turtle Conservation Project lists 26 hours, Belize's Caribbean Reefs & Mayan Culture lists about 22 hours, Greece's Island Turtle Conservation lists about 20 hours, and Thailand's Thai Elephant Conservation Project lists 20 hours. The other three programs do not list service-hour totals.
Wildlife & conservation programs for teens cost $2,795–$6,250 in Program Tuition for 2027. Flights to and from the programs and other excluded expenses are not included in tuition.
Wildlife & conservation programs can be physically demanding, depending on the destination and activities. Students may participate in nighttime beach walks, early-morning fieldwork, swimming, snorkeling, or trekking. Physical requirements vary by program and should be reviewed before enrolling.
Conservation service hours earned abroad usually count for school when the program documents them, but each school sets its own requirements. Students should confirm their school's rules with a school counselor before enrolling.
Rustic Pathways supports student safety on conservation programs through staff supervision, medical oversight, and parent communication. Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students, and no Student Travel program exceeds seven students per staff member. Dr. William R. Smith, a board-certified emergency physician, serves as Medical Director. The average parent-notification time is 27 minutes.
Conservation programs suited to future marine biologists include Mediterranean Marine Biology in Italy, Island Turtle Conservation in Greece, and the Turtle Conservation Project in Costa Rica. In Greece, students join Wildlife Sense marine biologists in the field. In Costa Rica, students work in a turtle hatchery and participate in night patrols.
7 wildlife & conservation programs with 2027 dates.
See all 7 programs
