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  LOW COST ETHICAL VOLUNTEERING | ATLANTIC WHALE AND DOLPHIN FOUNDATION
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CAREER FOCUS AND EDUCATION

Our low cost volunteering programmes provide experience, opportunity for individual contribution, and a chance to explore with friends and enjoy different activities at a price that is both affordable and inclusive.

We have developed a range of ‘Careers’ packages that give further opportunities. Each ‘Careers’ package combines two core elements: Firstly the acquisition of knowledge and qualifications and, secondly, real experience to give deeper grounding to the knowledge acquired. Alongside this learning we have dedicated programme leaders who provide mentoring support and guidance in the selected area as well as career progression guidelines for further development and possible work opportunities.

Scholarships and subsidies are available so as to make them inclusive.

Careers ‘Packages’:

  1. Ocean based (PADI++)
  2. Mindfulness
  3. Nature Guiding
  4. Film & Photography
  5. Research (Marine focus)
  6. Eco Tourism

Access: All packages come with a basic offering to be bolted onto the volunteer programme (which provides accommodation, half board and transport logistics) with optional further opportunities for progression . The programmes are designed to be enjoyed along side the volunteering opportunities, which add further valuable experience. These ‘Career’ programmes run alongside the volunteer programmes.
1. Ocean based (PADI++)
A. Basic package:
Introductory sessions in Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Surfing and Snorkelling with workshops and talks on marine conservation issues and research methods. To include beach and ocean cleans and mentoring advice on career development. Certificate awarded. 
Cost 
​Package A - 
£150 
​B. Additional opportunities:
Scuba dives Package of 5 - £150
PADI Open Water Certificate -  £150 
​Cost
Package B - £300
​Packages A+B - £450
C. Speciality Dive courses:
PADI Scientific Diver - £195 
Underwater Photographer - £195 
Marine Medic -  £195
Invest in 2 get 3 rd half price
​All Three £495
Cost
​​Package C - £195 - 495
​Packages A+B+C - £945
D. Research dives:
(10) Sea horse, sea grasses, flora & flora surveys, water quality, r
eview of literature reviews, methodologies, data collection and processing, and statistical analysis techniques 
Cost
​​Package D - 
£195
​
​Packages A+B+C+D - £1140
E. Dives
​La Gomera /El Hierro (3 dives, 3 days) including transport and accommodation
Cost
​​Package E - 
£295
Additional activities FREE​
Picture
2. Mindfulness
A. Basic package
Workshops on mindfulness designed to equip participants with tools necessary for working with their own mental health and highlighting routes to careers in this area. 
Sessions with practitioners working with nature- Forest Bathing, Night Skies and working with animals including dolphins.
​Certificate of attendance and mentoring and support in identifying career paths.
Cost
​​Package A - 
£150
B. Introduction to a range (Four) of activities 
  • Yoga
  • Shiatsu
  • Reiki
  • Animal Healing
  • Aboriginal Pottery
  • Herbal Practices
Opportunity to focus with further workshops in one area Mentoring support and career guiding.
Cost
​​Package B - 
£350
​Packages A + B - £499

​
3. Nature Guiding
A. Introductory Course in Nature Guiding:
To embrace fundamental skills such as speaking, presentations, group dynamics, communication etc.
Workshop on opportunities for careers in guiding and possibilities for further qualifications and experience.
Experience on real guided tours- Whale Watching, Nature Treks including bird watching, night sky
and flora.
Certificate of attendance. £150 (A)
Cost
​​Package A - 
£150
B Specialist Nature Guide Modules (in Tenerife)
Expert led workshops with real experience guiding real groups.
Modules:
  • Whale Watching
  • Nature Treks
  • Flora
Certificate and reference
Mentoring and career support (networking)
One week minimum per module. £195 for first week ​and £150  for subsequent weeks
Cost
​​Package B - 
£195 -£495

Packages A + B - £345
C. Further Modules available around the world:
  • Sri Lanka: Bird Watching
  • Big Cats Leopards
  • Elephants
  • Jungle Treks
Costs as above
4. Marine Research
A. Introductory package:
Workshops on the research process (literature reviews, developing methodologies etc), basic statistics with practical experience of photo I/D techniques, acoustics, land based methods and sub littoral (Snorkelling only- see Programme 1 for underwater work) Workshops, practical experience.
​Certificate
Cost
​​Package A - 
£150
B. Individual research projects
Based around above methods to include mentoring support - developing research question, collecting, processing and analysing data and developing an academic report and Research Poster.
Certificate, Research Poster and mentoring support in disseminating findings.

​£295 for first week, £150 subsequent weeks.

​Minimum two weeks £495 (A+B)
Cost
​​Package B - 
£295+

Packages A + B - £495+
C Further opportunities
See work available across the AOCN (Atlantic Ocean cetacean Network) and through the Dive programme above!
Experience
5. Film & Photography
A. Taster programme:
  • Using DSLR Cameras, mentoring sessions x3, focus on either landscape, marine, portraiture, fashion, night sky.
  • Using Mobile phones to create media content. Half day session with mentoring support
Experiential project
Careers and generating work
Certficates x2
Cost
​​Package A - 
£150
B. Either DSLR Photography
​
Focus on an area with mentoring support 2 weeks
Landscape, Night Sky, Portraiture, Nature, Fashion, Underwater
Certificates
Portfolio opportunities- exhibition etc
Expert mentoring support

OR

B. Creating digital content using mobile phones
Professional assignments
Mentoring Support
Careers Guidance, money making
Cost
​​Package B - £500

                      (£250 per week)

Packages A + B - £650 
C Influence course 
Certificate, Mentoring, real assignments
One week
Cost
​​Package C - £500
6. Eco Tourism Business Development
​A. Workshops on:
Eco Tourism; Business Development, Marketing including International Marketing; Internet marketing; Social Media; Entrepreneurship; Setting up a Business.
Professional assignments working with selected businesses or associations to package, position and
promote the enterprise
Mentoring support
Cost
​​Package A - £150
B. Professional assignment to work with selected businesses
Mentoring support
Budget to affect a promotional campaign
Commission on monies generated. £295pw
(No cost for individuals/ projects deemed worth investing in.
​Cost
​​Package B - £295pw
Make a donation, make a difference
You could be about to do something wonderful for our seas, shores and marine wildlife. Your donation will help AWdF programmes and ensure that the Atlantic Ocean is fit for life - clean waters and coasts supporting abundant marine life, healthy fish stocks and global sustainability.
Need more information? Have questions?
​Please fill in our
Contact Form

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