Our programs.

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 travelling with younger children, planning a multi-generational trip or travelling with your sibling, parents, or extended family. Travel creates lasting memories. There is so much to experience in a new country, such as 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!

If your family is travelling as a group (with or without children under 18), we recommend Wildlife Rescue in Guatemala, Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica, Dolphin Conservation in Croatia, Dog Rescue in Spain, and Horse Conservation in Mongolia. If your family is travelling as a group with children who are over 18, we would love to plan a group trip to any of our programs!

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

Your Gap Year is about adventure and fun. But it can also be about making a difference. Spend your Gap Year with AEI, participating in a life-changing experience. Do you want to try something new and exciting before starting college or university? Are you interested in making connections around the world? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of animals in need? If you are considering a Gap Year and would love to work with animals, AEI experiences are perfect for you. AEI will ensure that your volunteer travel experience is smooth and worry-free. We take care of you every step of the way—making sure you are prepared before you leave, matching you with your perfect AEI experience, and taking care of you in your host country while you are away. Join our international family as you make friends and create lifelong memories. Explore the world and volunteer with animals as you have the time of your life!

If you are looking to volunteer as part of your gap year and you are over 18, we are happy to invite you to any of our programs! All AEI programs will have you intentionally living in a community while taking part in experiential learning activities. And yes, Mom, we make sure they are safe!

We are a member of Gap Year Canada and The Gap Year Association. Visit their sites for more information on how to make the most out of your Gap Year!

Join our growing family of 50+ international volunteers who choose to travel while making a difference. Volunteering while travelling is a wonderful way to get to know the countries you visit. Unlike resort vacations or holiday tours, which may not provide you with an authentic travel experience, volunteering allows you to integrate into the local culture. When you volunteer, you are no longer a tourist—you become part of the community and experience the language, cuisine, and local traditions firsthand. You will quickly feel at home with your international hosts and become an important part of the volunteer team. You bring with you a lifetime of skills and experiences that will benefit our partner organizations. We will work with you to ensure you find the perfect project that will suit your needs and offer you an unforgettable experience. AEI offers experiences tailored to the more discerning traveller, including upgrades to local hotels and lighter volunteer work if needed. Use your skills and your passion to help organizations that benefit local communities, animal organizations, and, of course, the animals themselves.

Read about a zoomer’s adventure firsthand! Marilyn went to Kenya with us and wrote about it on 50+ World.

We are often asked if people under 18 years of age can participate in AEI experiences. The answer to that —YES! We have many partners who will accept volunteers who are 16 years old or who wish to volunteer with a parent or guardian. Explore the world within the structure and safety of an international volunteer program. At AEI, we take care of all the details for you, making this the ideal way to begin a lifetime of travel. We have personally visited all of our placements, which means we can ensure that the placement is safe, ethical, and really helps animals. We tell you exactly what to expect, answer all of your questions, and make sure you are prepared in every way for your big adventure. Volunteering is an amazing way to see the world. You are able to get involved and learn about the animals you are helping. You will make friends with the volunteers, your hosts, and people in the community. You will also be able to explore the area where you are staying and try new things. Our clients want to make a difference in the lives of animals—and they definitely do. But their own lives are also forever changed by their travel experience. Join our family of international volunteers and see how you can start living your dreams today!

If you will be under 18 years of age when you're volunteering we would love to talk to you about: Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica, Dolphin Conservation in Croatia, and Dog Rescue in Spain.