Volunteer With Us!
Wild Sun Rescue Center offers unique volunteer programs.
Most volunteers work 5 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 this enables consistency in the standard of care we provide for the animals. Specific duties are assigned to volunteers based on the amount of time committed and overall experience. Volunteers must be 18 years old or above. Please note, due to the increased costs associated with upkeep of on-site housing, from May 1st 2025 we are increasing our housing fee from $45.20 (listed below) to $60 per week. Any volunteer or internships booked before May 1st 2025 will retain the current price.
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 $45.20/week.
For this position you must be at least 18 years old, willing and able to work in all weather conditions, and comfortable being on your feet for up to 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
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 18 years old, willing and able to work in all weather conditions, and comfortable being on your feet for up to 8 hours per day, 5 days per week.
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 & 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 5.5 hours a day, 2 days per 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 per week, 8 hours 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 5 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, 8 hours per day
Volunteering is free with a 6-month commitment, 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. Application and interview not required.
We strongly prefer applicants with a background in or experience with biology, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry.
There are 2 positions available at a time, inquiries welcome any time.
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
We will preferentially select applicants background in social media, marketing, or photography/filmography. Volunteers must bring own camera equipment to capture content, and laptop for editing.
Social Media and Marketing volunteers will undertake the typical volunteer tasks for 3 days a week and specific social media and marketing tasks 2 days a week. If there are ample volunteers, we may reduce animals care days in favour of additional social media and marketing days.
Additional responsibilities include but not limited to:
Fundraising
Advertising for internship and externship programs and retreats
Advertising for summer camp program
Photography (when requested)
Filmography (when requested)
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 undertake the typical volunteer tasks for 3 days a week and specific grant writing tasks 2 days a week. If there are ample volunteers, we may reduce animals care days in favour of additional grant writing days.
Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Researching grant opportunities and corporate sponsorships
Writing grants
Submitting grants
veterinarian volunteer
Minimum 12 week commitment, with free accommodation plus meal plan. Participants are required to hold a vet school degree from any country.
Vet volunteers will have a unique opportunity to 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 for carrying out various vet medicine and animal husbandry tasks.
For this position in particular, please contact our vet (ivanna@wildsunrescue.org) directly.
