As one of the leading and most respected UK non-profit expedition organisations, Greenforce offers you a location on every tropical continent. Working with organisations such as the WWF, Wildlife Conservation Society and the Red Cross, their adventurers have the opportunity to work in remote areas that are inaccessible to the standard traveller and live in communities untouched by today's western world.   Standard expeditions run for 10 weeks, although tailor-made options are available where you can pick and choose to design your own adventure.

Working with their close contacts in many of the countries that they have worked in over the past decade, they have developed short adventures, designed to be included in a longer trip, or as a taster for more long term travel.   For those looking for a low cost gap year they can also  offer internships and paid placements in Ecuador, Australia and Spain.

All training is provided in country (PADI dive training on marine expeditions and language training on terrestrial projects).

 

Fiji 
Working in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society the aim of the project is to create a UNESCO Seascape.   Based on a small island just off  Vanua Levu volunteers will receive dive training to PADI Advanced and Emergency First Response.   Science training will commence in the second week, when volunteers also learn to dive within the UNESCO Code of Scientific Diving Practice.   Completing up to eleven dives a week, volunteers will also have close contact with the local village.   A welcome ceremony, hosted by the village chief, is a perfect introduction to this island paradise.   Accommodation is in traditional Fijian 'bures' (grass huts) on the beach.   Expeditions are available from 4-10 weeks beginning in January, April, July and October.  From £1600 
 
Bahamas 
Working in partnership with the  Bahamas National Trust  the aim of the project is to create a marine national park and several 'no take' fishing zones.   Based on Andros Island, the largest but least developed of the Bahamian islands, volunteers live in army tents on the beach.   The camp is located next to the third largest barrier reef in the world, and the project aim is to create protected areas of the reef.   Volunteers will receive dive training to PADI Advanced and Emergency First Response.   Science training will commence in the second week, when volunteers also  learn to dive within the UNESCO Code of Scientific Diving Practice.   Completing up to ten dives a week, volunteers will also spend one afternoon a week working in a local school on a marine conservation awareness project.  Expeditions are available from 4-10 weeks beginning in January, April, July and October.  From £1600
 
Learn to Dive 
Learn to dive with Greenforce in the infamous Red Sea or the peaceful Mediterranean island of Gozo.   Use the experience as a taster to diving before joining one of their projects, or simply as a diving break.   PADI Open Water in one week, or PADI Open Water and Advanced in two weeks.  Available all year round.  From £550
 
Become a PADI Dive Instructor 
Based in Thailand this project can take you from PADI Advanced to a fully qualified PADI dive instructor in three months.   Living in apartments near the dive school you will work your way through Rescue Diver and Divemaster before becoming an instructor.   You will also be trained as a National Geographic certified diver, equipping you with a greater understanding the of the marine environment.   With a job placement service at the end of the course you will be able to work your way around the world.   Plus, an incredible extra, included in the cost is the following new  equipment for you to use on the course, and keep afterwards; wetsuit, mask, fins, Scuba Pro regs, Suunto Gekko computer, compass, knife and BCD.  Available all year round.  Three months, £5,600 

Sumatra 
A two week expedition that takes adventurers deep into the jungle where you stay at the Pan Eco Lodge on the bank of the beautiful Bhorok River.   With one week spent in the jungle on elephant safaris, canoeing and visiting the orang utan sanctuary the second week in contrast is spent on Sulawesi where there is time to relax as well as go diving.  Expedition is 2 weeks long, and available all year round.  Cost is £1350. 
 
Tanzania 
Working in partnership with the WWF the aim of the project is to survey the wildlife in the Maasai lands and to support the development of the Maasai village  where their camp is based.   Volunteers spend the first week in Arusha where they have briefings and an introduction to the Maasai language.   The next eight weeks  are then spent on camp in a Maasai village.   Living in traditional Maasai 'bomas' (mud huts) volunteers go out on daily surveys, sometimes packing up for a three day satellite camp to reach the furthest corners of the Maasai lands.   In the evenings volunteers will participate in the English language programme they are running with the villagers.   To wrap up a complete Africa experience they head down to the Spice Island of Zanzibar for the final week to soak up the diversity of this Arabic influenced corner of Africa.   Extensions available to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and PADI dive training on Zanzibar.  Expeditions are available from 3-10 weeks beginning in January, April, July and October.  From £1300 
 
Ecuador 
A South American adventure that begins with two weeks of one to one Spanish classes and cultural activities in Quito.   With improved language skills volunteers head down to the Amazon where they join existing research teams at the Jatun Sacha Research Station.   Here volunteers work on a variety of reforestation and community projects, not just involving the resident scientists, but also the local Quichua Indians.  The final four weeks is spent in Quito working for the Red Cross on community projects in schools and out in the mobile ambulance.   Extensions available to the Galapagos Islands.  Expeditions are available from 3-10 weeks beginning in January, April, July and October.  From £1300 
 
Ice Climbing, Ecuador 
The Greenforce ice climbing expedition will take you from the earth's equator, up to the world's highest active volcano and beyond.   In two weeks you will learn the skills required to climb the four volcanoes in the expedition at the Glacier School, and conquer them.   The final challenge is a night summit of Chimborazo, which is not only Ecuador's highest mountain, but due to the earth's equatorial bulge the highest point on earth from the earth's core.   Your efforts are well rewarded with a spectacular sunrise.   On the return journey to Quito adventurers can enjoy a trip into the Amazon.  Available all year round. Two weeks £1400
 
Football and Surfing, Brazil and Ecuador 
Create your own adventure by joining their football academy (learn the Brazilian way!)  in Sao Paulo before heading either to Maresias to learn to surf, or into Brazil's interior to work on the Mindball community project, or both.   This adventure allows you to design your own  expedition which can include football, Portuguese classes, surfing and community work, all within one of the world's most vibrant countries.   Alternatively join their football coaching project in Ecuador, where you will assist in coaching children from 5-18 to play in national and international leagues.   This can be added onto another Ecuador expedition, or done on it's own.  Available all year round. From £750.

 

Nepal/Tibet 
Working in partnership with the  Rural Communities Development Programme (RCDP) in Nepal the aim of the project is to  give volunteers a broad experience of these two fascinating countries and provide the opportunity to give something back to the communities there.   The first week in Nepal is spent having Nepali classes and visiting local villages.   Volunteers then travel down to one of the more rural valleys of Nepal  where they join the RCDP project for 10 days.  Whilst living with local families they will spend the day working on building resources for local schools.   Travelling further south volunteers visit the Royal Chitwan National Park where an elephant back safari and white  water rafting is on offer, before heading over one of the world's highest plateaus to Tibet, and it's capital, Lhasa.  Finally volunteers visit Everest Base camp on the way back to Kathmandu.  5 week expedition £1700.   Available in April, July and October.
 
India 
Working in partnership with the  Rural Communities Development Programme (RCDP) in  India the aim of the project is to  give volunteers a broad experience of India and provide the opportunity to give something back to the community.   The first week is spent in Delhi having language and culture classes as well as a guided tour of the city.   For the following three weeks volunteers work in an orphanage in the more rural area of the Delhi province.   Here a variety of skills are required to work with the children as well as help with the administrative running of the organisation.   In the final week volunteers venture to Agra and Jaipur to take in the famous sites of the Taj Mahal and Red Fort, among others.  5 week expedition £1700.   Available in  May, August, November.
 
Penguin Rescue, South Africa 
Set in the heart of the Cape Province volunteers learn to catch, handle, feed, tube and administer medication as well as assist in the Intensive Care Unit.   With two weekend excursions mountain biking on Table Mountain, and mountain biking on a wine tasting tour volunteers have an excellent opportunity to see plenty of the province.   However, the highlight is the four weekly release trip of the penguins where volunteers go out on a whale watching tour to release the birds near Robben Island.   Accommodation with local families. 4 weeks £1300.  Available all year round.
 
Work Placements, Australia, Spain and Ecuador 
With work placement opportunities in Australia, Spain and Ecuador your gap year doesn't need to cost a fortune.   Their placements range from farm work to bar work to teaching to NGO, tourism and marketing roles.   Request a brochure for more details.  From £800 sign up fee.   Available all year round.