Volunteer With Us!
Wild Sun Rescue Center offers unique volunteer programs.
Most volunteers work 6 days a week, up to 8 hours a day based on current needs. The minimum stay is 4 weeks, but we encourage longer stays as consistency is important for the animals in our care. Specific duties are assigned to volunteers based on the amount of time committed and overall experience. Must be 18 to volunteer.
Volunteer Positions:
Full Term Volunteer (minimum 12 weeks)
For a minimum 12 week commitment, volunteering is free! If you do not live locally, we offer accommodation on site for only $40/week + 13% tax.
For this position you must be at least 20 years old, willing and able to work in all weather conditions, and comfortable being on your feet for up to 8 hours per day.
Duties may include but are not limited to:
Animal diet preparation
Feeding pre-release animals
Enclosure and facilities cleaning and maintenance
Making animal enrichment
Grounds maintenance and gardening
Photography (under Wild Sun terms and conditions)
Nursery animal handling
Syringe and bottle feeding
ICU record keeping
Administering medicine and wound care
Force feeding, tube feeding and animal restraint*
Other duties, as needs dictate
*As long as the individual is willing to be trained and shows competence
Testimonial from Corinne, 2019 “I've been involved in a variety of wildlife experiences, including other rehab centers, and being at Wild Sun was unlike anything else I've ever done. Where else could you wake up with scarlet macaws as your alarm clock, telling you it's time to get up and feed monkeys? I grew so much from this experience, both personally and professionally, and I'm so glad that I did it.”
Short term
Volunteer for 4-11 Weeks
Must be at least 20 years old, willing and able to work in all weather conditions, and comfortable being on your feet for up to 8 hours per day.
Duties may include but are not limited to:
Animal diet preparation
Enclosure cleaning, maintenance and construction
Making enrichment for animals
Grounds maintenance and gardening
Composting
Sign painting
Photography (under Wild Sun terms and conditions)
Additional duties
For a select group of volunteers duties may additionally include the following (depending on need and competency and prioritizing volunteers who stay longer when possible):
Nursery animal handling
Syringe and bottle feeding
ICU record keeping
Administering medicine and wound care
part-time volunteer (locals only)
The minimum commitment for part time volunteers is 5 hours a day, 2 days a week for 12 weeks. Responsibilities are the same as those of a short-term volunteer, including but not limited to:
Animal diet preparation
Feeding pre-release animals
Enclosure cleaning, maintenance and construction
Making enrichment for animals
Grounds maintenance and gardening
Foraging for leaves and branches
Sign painting
Photography (under Wild Sun terms and conditions)
Extended long-term part-time
1 month minimum commitment following a successful full term volunteer commitment of 12 weeks.
Living off-site only
Minimum 3 days a week, 3 shifts a day
To extend for a minimum of 1 month following a successful 12 week full-term volunteer commitment, volunteering is free and you will be staying off site. Instead of 6 work days a week, you will only be required to work 3 days.
*Duties are the same as the full-term volunteer, however:
Full-time volunteers take priority on the most sensitive cases eg. new baby monkeys, intensive/critical care patients
No ICU unless short staffed.
junior site manager
6 month commitment. Free accommodation and food assistance.
5 day work weeks
For a minimum 6 month commitment, volunteering is free and we provide accommodation and food assistance. For this position, you must have been a previous volunteer or intern for a minimum of 3 months. Background/experience with biology, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry preferred.
2 positions available.
Application and interview not required. Inquire only if you have been a former volunteer or intern at Wild Sun for a minimum of 3 months.
Duties are the same as full-term volunteers + emphasis that this position would most likely mean:
“Managerial” responsibilities
Training of other volunteers
On call for emergencies, etc.
social media and marketing
3 month commitment, free accommodation plus possible commissions. 1 spot available
Preferred: background in social media, marketing, or photography/filmography.
Must bring own camera equipment to capture content, and laptop for editing.
Social Media and Marketing volunteers will still be expected to do all the typical volunteer tasks for 4 days a week and will take on additional internship tasks 2 days a week. If there are ample volunteers, we may swap an animal care day for an additional internship day.
Additional responsibilities include but not limited to:
Fundraising
Advertising for internship and externship programs and retreats
Advertising for summer camp program
Photography
Filmography
Managing our social media
Updating the website
hospitality
3 month commitment, free accommodation
Preferred: Spanish speaking competence
2 spots available with staggered start dates
Hospitality interns will still be expected to do all the typical volunteer tasks for 4 days a week and will take on additional internship tasks 2 days a week. If there are ample volunteers, we may swap an animal care day for an additional internship day.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
Guest Check-in/Check-out
Handling payment
Arranging activities for guests (surfing, snorkeling, taxis, day trips, quad rentals)
Being in communication with guest
Organizing cleaning, cooking and maintenance staff
Inventory and Ordering
grant writing
3 month commitment, free accommodation plus food assistance.
Preferred: previous grant writing experience
Grand writing volunteers will still be expected to do all the typical volunteer tasks for 4 days a week and will take on additional internship tasks 2 days a week. If there are ample volunteers, we may swap an animal care day for an additional internship day.
Additional responsibilities include but not limited to:
Researching Grant Opportunities and Corporate Sponsorships
Writing Grants
Submitting Grants
veterinarian volunteer
3 month commitment, free accommodation plus meal plan for 1st position, meal plan only provided for 2nd position with option to live off site or pay for simple accommodation onsite (only $542.40 for entire 12 week stay). Required: Vet school degree from any country
Vet volunteers will work alongside and learn from our onsite vet staff. Vet volunteers may also be assigned shifts when vets are not onsite, always with a direct line in case of emergency. You will be responsible to carry out various vet medicine as well as animal husbandry tasks.
For this position in particular, please contact our vet (marian@wildsunrescue.org) directly.
Volunteer
