Top 5 Conservation School Trips for 2026/2027

This conservation programme takes place in Costa Rica’s most biodiverse and vital conservation areas. Discover the energy of the tropical rainforest at the Camaquiri Conservation Initiative (CCI) and explore the remote Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge on the Caribbean coastline.

These locations are critical for many endangered species, as ongoing conservation work plays a key role in preserving Costa Rica’s rich natural heritage.

Programme aims

This conservation programme offers students a hands-on introduction to wildlife research in Costa Rica. 

You'll monitor monkeys, sea turtles, and birds, learn camera trapping, and participate in reforestation and beach cleanups. Your help is crucial, as by collecting real data and supporting conservation actions, you directly contribute to protecting local wildlife and fragile ecosystems. 

Conservation activities

To help maintain the reserve and contribute to research, your group will participate in activities such as:

• Conducting bird surveys along established transects.
• Learning and applying camera trapping techniques to study the differences between forest edge and interior habitats.
• Conducting primate surveys and recording observational data.
• Heading out on anti-poaching evening beach patrols.
• Contributing to reforestation efforts.
• Hatchery maintenance tasks
• Monitoring amphibian sites
• GPS/GIS mapping

Guided by experts, you’ll gain valuable field skills, deepen your understanding of biodiversity, and engage with local communities. It’s a meaningful way to grow personally while making a lasting impact on wildlife conservation.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Ecosystems & biodiversity: Students will study tropical ecosystems, such as rainforests and marine environments, and improve their understanding of the impacts of human activity.
• Scientific inquiry: Develop data collection skills and practice them in a meaningful way. The compiled data will contribute to crucial, ongoing conservation research.
• Wildlife protection and ethical engagement: By learning about ongoing threats to wildlife, both locally and globally, students will develop a better understanding of conservation, its necessity, and how to practice it ethically.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Ecosystems & biodiversity: Students will study tropical ecosystems, such as rainforests and marine environments, and improve their understanding of the impacts of human activity.
• Scientific inquiry: Develop data collection skills and practice them in a meaningful way. The compiled data will contribute to crucial, ongoing conservation research.
• Wildlife protection and ethical engagement: By learning about ongoing threats to wildlife, both locally and globally, students will develop a better understanding of conservation, its necessity, and how to practice it ethically.

Teacher Testimonial.

“In Costa Rica we had 4 members of Project Abroad staff with us at ALL times, with the group leader Sofia being especially amazing… for the first four days, we worked on the beach and then in the jungle for the second half, working on conservation projects. The students loved the variety of activities, with the highlights perhaps seeing turtles laying eggs and the wildlife in the jungle.”

Jon Lewis, Head of Politics & Sociology, Oakwood Park Grammar School

Our rhino conservation programme in Nepal offers students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on conservation within the community forests bordering Chitwan National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site and stronghold for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. 

Programme aims

This programme aims to support wildlife research, protect natural habitats, and raise awareness about conservation. 

Students will help gather data on species like the greater one-horned rhino, Bengal tiger, and vultures, contributing to vital scientific reports. They also assist in maintaining the Chitwan Community Forest, ensuring it continues to safeguard wildlife and welcome visitors.

By engaging the local community in environmental awareness sessions and tree planting initiatives, students will help inspire people to continue their work long after they’ve gone home. 

Beyond its environmental impact, the programme also focuses on personal growth, offering hands-on experience, new skills, and the chance to work alongside experts in a fun, adventurous setting.

Conservation activities

• Helping to protect the greater one-horned rhino
• Conducting butterfly and bird surveys
• Preserving the community forest
• Joining anti-poaching patrols
• Conduct surveys collecting data on vultures and the gharial crocodile.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Physical and human geography: Students explore different ecosystems (jungles, wetlands, hills) and understand conservation challenges in Nepal.
• Environmental stewardship and global citizenship: Engage in conservation-based activities such as planting trees and educating the next generation to ensure the future protection and preservation of local biodiversity.
• Biodiversity monitoring: Learners engage in species identification and behaviour observation within diverse habitats, contributing to longitudinal datasets relevant for conservation planning.

Embrace the great outdoors with our lion and giraffe conservation programme in Kenya.

Set in the heart of the stunning Soysambu Conservancy—a 48,000-acre wildlife haven in the Great Rift Valley—students will be surrounded by savannah, lakes, and volcanic landscapes as they live and work alongside conservationists to help monitor and protect key species, such as lions and giraffes. 

This hands-on experience supports crucial efforts to preserve Kenya’s iconic wildlife and ecosystems while offering a deep connection to African conservation in one of its most breathtaking settings.

Programme aims
Due to human activity, poaching, pollution, and damage caused by residential and commercial development have become major threats to the flora and fauna in Kenya.

By joining this programme, your students will help to protect threatened species, such as the Rothschild giraffe, through research, data collection, and maintenance of waterholes.

Acquire practical conservation skills while expanding your knowledge of local landscapes, wildlife, and ecology.

Conservation activities

• Researching the Rothschild giraffe
• Setting up camera traps to monitor and study the behaviour of animals such as lions
• Wetland and terrestrial bird surveys
• Assessing vegetation
• Working in a tree nursery
• Designing, marking, and maintaining new roads
• Removing invasive plant species
• Maintaining waterholes to ensure vital water access to wildlife
• Building eco-stoves in the community

Students will also raise awareness about the importance of the environment with outreach at a nearby school, engage in community clean-ups, and plant trees.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Scientific research & environmental conservation: Rothschild giraffe surveys and lion/carnivore monitoring introduce students to real-world population dynamics, conservation strategies, and field survey techniques.
• Environmental awareness: Learn about ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity, and the impact of human activity on wildlife through activities such as de-snaring and invasive species removal.
• Fieldwork Skills: Through geographic fieldwork, including habitat surveys, species tracking, and mapping exercises, students will gain a deeper understanding of research methodologies and data analysis.

During your time in Sri Lanka, you will work at a conservation centre in Galbokka Bay, contributing to ongoing efforts to protect endangered sea turtles and preserve the local ecosystem.

Programme aims

In Sri Lanka, all species of sea turtles are classed as threatened or endangered. This is due to a variety of factors, including poaching and human activity in the area.

It’s crucial that we protect local groups of sea turtles, such as the Green, Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Loggerhead, and Hawksbill sea turtles, as once they have died out, there is no way to replace them with another group. This is because while groups of turtles can be found all over the world, those from outside the area don’t have the inherited instructions needed to navigate within and from their new homes.

With the help of students, we can work to prevent this from happening and help the turtle population thrive by protecting sea turtle eggs and assisting baby turtles in reaching the sea.

Conservation activities

• Burying the sea turtle eggs in a safe, dedicated area to keep them safe from poachers.
• Conducting daily checks on the eggs to check their hatching time and help the emerging baby turtles.
• Maintaining the sea turtle tanks at the rehabilitation centre.
• Taking care of cleaning, feeding, helping, and releasing turtle hatchlings.
• Hand feeding any injured turtles.
• Taking part in the night patrol to look for endangered sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.
• Planting mangroves to combat deforestation.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Human impact on the environment: Beach cleanups, pollution awareness, and discussions on sustainable practices reinforce understanding of human-environment interactions.
• Global interdependence: Explore how global environmental issues (like marine pollution) also impact local communities and consider ways to create change on a personal and worldwide level.
• Environmental science: Students will learn about coastal conservation, climate change impact, and sustainable tourism practices, bettering their understanding of marine biodiversity and the ecological roles of endangered species.

Embark on an unforgettable journey that blends conservation, research, and cultural exploration in the historic town of Sommières. 

Live, work, and learn in the south of France as you master practical wilderness survival skills and learn about the vast array of local wildlife that resides in the Cévennes mountain range. Develop your knowledge of and keep an eye out for foxes, wild boar, beavers, wolves and mountain goats. You may also catch a glimpse of some of the 360+ bird species and 15+ reptiles throughout your time here.

Programme aims

This immersive experience allows students to play an active role in preserving the area's local wildlife and environment while gaining a deeper appreciation of France’s rich history and traditions.

Students will learn essential survival skills while exploring the great outdoors and discovering local wildlife through engaging lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities.

This is also an excellent opportunity for students to gain experience with various traditional and modern research techniques through real-life applications, contributing to ongoing biodiversity monitoring.

Conservation Activities

• Conduct biodiversity surveys using various scientific methodologies.
• Set camera traps and monitor animal behaviour at tracking stations.
• Collect and analyse data to monitor the behaviour of wild animals such as reptiles and small mammals like otters and voles.
• Practise wilderness survival skills.

What will students gain from this trip?

• Survival & outdoor skills: Learn wilderness survival techniques, including water sourcing and navigation, while participating in physical challenges and team-building activities.
• STEM & data analysis: Set up and analyse camera traps for wildlife research, conduct bird surveys using transects and learn about long-term data sets and climate tracking.
• Geographical skills & fieldwork: Map environmental data using GIS and digital tools, learn about water habitat assessments and river ecosystem health, and explore geological formations, such as the Abîme de Bramabiau cave system.