Eco-Volunteering Research | IPBio

What a wonderful time i had learning and meeting the team. Everyone was super welcoming knowledgeable and just all round great. Definitely wont forget my time here and what i learnt over the short time of my stay!

Volunteering at IPBio was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. From day one, I felt welcomed by a dedicated and passionate team who truly care about conservation and community engagement. I had the opportunity to participate in biodiversity monitoring, including fungi and bird surveys, while also learning about the incredible ecosystems of the Amazon. What I valued most was the balance between scientific work, cultural exchange, and teamwork. Every day brought something new, whether it was exploring the forest, contributing to meaningful research, or sharing meals and laughs with fellow volunteers from around the world. The living environment was comfortable, and the staff were always supportive and ready to help. IPBio is not just a place to volunteer, it’s a place to grow, to connect with nature, and to leave knowing you’ve contributed to something bigger. I will always be grateful for this experience and the memories I made here.

My name is Chloe, I am from the USA, I turned 20 during my volunteer experience with IPbio. When I found this program, I had just left what I thought was my "dream school", but I turned out to hate. I returned home feeling lost and not sure what to do next. That's when I found IPbio. It might be the best thing that's ever happened to me. I spent April to the end of May in the Atlantic as an eco-volunteer and then June through July in the Amazon. Those 4 months helped to remind me who I am and what I am meant to be doing. I think I learned more about myself, the social and political state of the world, and of course, biodiversity during my time with IPbio than I have at any school. Living with people of all ages, from all different backgrounds, cultures, and countries, brought together by a shared passion for the environment, was incredible. The programs are different from each other in many ways, with the Atlantic feeling more established with infrastructure such as a laboratory, visitor center, aquarium, and greenhouse. They also have a team of amazingly knowledgeable local biologists! In contrast, the Amazon has none of the infrastructure and fewer staff (for now), but you really feel as if you are on the frontier of scientific discovery, frequently finding species that haven't been recorded yet on inventories (and could even be new to science!). Overall, I couldn't recommend this program more. The staff are great and the mission of IPbio is sound and more critical than ever. Every day felt like watching a nature documentary, but there's no screen infront of you and where you would expect David Attenborough's voice, there's only the sound of the forest and your own awed gasp as a toucan flies overhead or a massive anaconda silthers past, or a mushrooms glows brilliantly before your eyes in the dark night, or....