Thumbnail

Fronteering

Why choose Fronteering?

Fronteering specializes in arranging unique volunteer experiences in places less visited and unspoiled. Our volunteer projects take place in some of the last frontiers and wildernesses of this world:

From the Canadian Artctic where you get the opportunity to volunteer with huskies and go dog sledding to the Amazon rainforest where you will live among native Amerindian tribes to help sustain there way of life!

Website
fronteering.com
Founded
2010

Reviews

Default avatar
Shelley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wildlife volunteering Ontario, Canada, 2018

I am really not good at this but here It goes. I am from Georgia USA and I needed to get some experience for my education back home. I am a biology student and I am planning to work in wildlife conservation and rescue after I graduate.

I chose this program since it was mentioned that it gives the best possible experience for my resume. There are different locations for this program but if you mention that you are looking for experience as this is your field of study then they will place you with the most relevant project which in my case was a wildlife hospital. I got a lot of experience and I learned quite a bit.

The area is also very nice and the great lakes are beautiful. Traveling around can be a bit difficult unless you have a rental car since it is quite isolated. My purpose was different of course but I am just saying if you are coming to travel and see places then its something you should be aware of.

What would you improve about this program?
What I would like other volunteers to know is that this project is not just 1 but there are different locations within Ontario and Fronteering choses which location you will go to. I like my location but I can't say much about the others.
Default avatar
Pete
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering at the Australia Zoo

I volunteered at the Australia zoo last Summer. I like the Australia wildlife and always was a big fan of Steve Irwin. Seeing this opportunity I knew it was for me. I had a great time and learned a lot. I should say that the location is quite isolated so that is something that you should be aware of. We also were staying in a nearby hostel which was okay but I know that they since then have instead been using homestays which In my opinion is much better and I would have preferred that option but unfortunately that was not possible when I went.

I can really recommend this trip especially now that it includes homestay accommodation and meals.

(why do we have to leave such a long review, I think if you would allow us to leave shorter reviews more people would do it).

Default avatar
Bennie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Koala Care Australia with Fronteering

Hi everyone I came recently back from my Australian Adventure. Based out of Brisbane I volunteering for 4 weeks at the Koala Sanctuary. It was a excellent time where I learned and experienced much. I did the whole back pack packing thing and Started Melbourne and ended up in Kakadu before heading home. Honestly the Volunteering was the highland of my stay. It was nice to be in one place for a longer time and I had such a good time there with the other volunteers. We did so many things together and the volunteering with the animals was amazing. Keep in mind that it does involve quite a bit of cleaning! I did not mind it though as in the end it is all for the goof the animal.

Al in all I had a good time and have not regretted it for one second. I hope more people will go out there and volunteer I believe schools and governments should make it mandatory for people to go volunteering abroad at least once in their life.

Default avatar
Francios
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Guyana

I was first slight nervous about this programme as I am not so young any more as some other volunteers that join these programmes. I am from Spain and always loved South America and had been to most countries there. I always heard about this hidden gem called Guyana but did not know much about this place so I knew I had to go see it for myself.

After some search I came across some interesting volunteering programmes from Fronteering and I know that was the way I wanted to go.

In short Guyana was amazing and I can recommend it to anyone. Whether young or old. The programme was well organized and it was a great cause to help with sustainable eco tourism and to help out the Amerindian people.

Go see it now before I all changes!

I will be back!

Default avatar
Katrin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering Russia

Together with my friend I traveled to Russia to volunteer at the Lake Baikal Conservation project. When my friend first told me about this program I had no idea where it was, even more I never heard about Lake Baikal before. Even though I always wanted to travel Russia and this was a great experience.

Being so isolated and so far away from the normal world was really cool and interesting. It also meant that we made a lot of friends and even if I had travelled alone I would have still had a great time.

Lake Baikal is really nice and a beautiful place, There is nice wildlife to see everyone and the Vistas are amazing. The volunteering team is also great and helps you along the way.

I also want to Thank Fronteering, my coordinator Yusuf was really nice and helpful.

What would you improve about this program?
I wish we could have stayed longer as I really did not want to leave

Programs

Displaying 1 - 7 of 7

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Dingenis Nieuwehuizen

Thumbnail

Why did you choose this program?

I am always looking for new challenges and exciting travel opportunities. I never volunteered before and I was not sure whether I would like as much as a regular backpacker trip. Then, I found the ideal combination by volunteering as a wildlife guide. While I normally prefer to arrange my own experiences, the Fronteering experience was too good to pass off!

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Fronteering assisted me with pretty much everything. From arrange the placement, helping with insurance and international flights, as well as picking me up from the nearest airport to the program, a transfer to a private airstrip and a domestic flight to the ranch where we landed right on their own private airstrip. It was all a great experience and they provided all the emergency services as well as meals, accommodation, tours, travel advice for Brazil, etc.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Be open minded, take initiative, be flexible, communicative and kind. That will get you far in life, especially with traveling and even more so when volunteering. When you show your best side, so will they, and you will get invited more to hang out, get more interesting volunteering responsibilities, etc. If you just do everything bare bones and keep to yourself, don't be surprised if your host starts to do the same!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

This is Brazil! There is no such thing! That being said, every day there were certain guiding activities. On the first trips I joined, It was more for training, but after a week or so, you start to assist with guiding. We also go involved with tasks like cooking for the guests as well as some maintenance work. The guiding work was of course my favorite, especially on horseback, and the canoe trips!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I guess we all have a fear of that the program is not what you think it is. I did have this initially, but after speaking to Fronteering, seeing reviews, pictures, talking to the host, etc., all those fears were taken away and I traveled there with mostly excitement and very little anxiety. When I arrived, I immediately knew this program matched and even overachieved my expectations.

Why Volunteer in the Pantanal as a wildlife guide?

Well, firstly, it is the Pantanal! If you have not heard of it before, read in to it! This is hands-down one of the best places in this world to see wildlife and one of the best adventure travel destinations in the world. The whole atmosphere of the Pantanal is amazing.

Secondly, to volunteer as a wildlife guide was so amazing. We saw almost every animal you can image - from Tapirs and Giant River Otters, to Hyacinth Macaws and even Jaguars!

I am considering now to take part in the Amazon Surival guide experience in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil through Fronteering!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Patrick van de Velde

Job Title
Founder/Manager
Thumbnail

Patrick van de Velde, the Founder of Fronteering, started the organization to assist individuals and causes in the less visited places and last frontiers. Through this passion, he hopes to preserve the last wild places of this world.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Wow, there are so many!

My favorite memory from my more distant past would be traveling with my father and uncle when I was quite young. We were camping in the Serengeti in Tanzania. During the night, our camp was overrun by carnivorous driver ants.

A more recent favorite memory would be traveling to the Pantanal. Our pilot decided to dive and started to fly through the river just a few meters above the water.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Being involved with so many different volunteers and host organizations from so many different countries has changed me and I have grown in many ways.

Mostly in how I perceive and understand the world. I have also gained a greater understanding of who I am as a person.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would probably participate in one of our programs with Amerindian communities in the Guyanese Amazon rainforest. I try to visit once a year or so and it is just one of the most beautiful places in the world and the people are just so amazing! Not to mention, it's also one of the best places in the world to watch wildlife and fish!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Something that makes Fronteering unique is the countries we focus on.

I am especially proud of how our team was able to set up our programs in Guyana. The remoteness of Guyana and the fact that the country still does not get any real tourism made it quite a challenge.

From having a meeting with tribal elders to cars breaking down in the middle of nowhere, seven-hour boat trips due to lack of water in the rivers, and riding bull carts. It was quite the challenge! The result is, however, that we have the most amazing programs set up in Guyana, and participants can make a real difference!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Fronteering focuses on different locations and programs than most other organizations. From volunteering as a dogsled handler in the Canadian Arctic to helping Amerindian communities in the Guyanese Amazon. We prefer to work in unique and more isolated locations and I believe this has made us stand out and be successful.