How to get Conservation Experience

Find and secure conservation volunteering and internships that fit your goals – no matter your background, budget or career stage.

A practical roadmap to securing conservation experience

Conservation experience, like volunteer and internships, can open career doors and change lives – but finding the right opportunity can feel overwhelming, competitive or costly. 

In just a few hours, we’ll guide you through a proven 5-step process to find and secure meaningful experience, whatever your background, budget or career stage.

Backed by over a decade of insights from Conservation Careers, this short, practical course helps you clarify your goals, explore the full range of options available and focus your time and energy where it counts – for you.

Whether you’re launching, switching or levelling up your career, you’ll gain the clarity, strategies and confidence to gain experience with purpose.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

  • Clarify your goals, values and motivations to guide your experience search.
  • Identify conservation experience types that match your priorities and circumstances.
  • Find advertised experiences, uncover hidden ones or create your own.
  • Avoid exploitation and evaluate experiences in alignment with your goals and ethics.
  • Use proven techniques to approach organisations and submit standout applications.
  • Maximise learning, growth and career impact before, during and after your experience.

Course outline

This practical, step-by-step training walks you through a proven process to find, choose and secure conservation experience that truly fits you – whatever your background, budget or career stage.

Module 1 | Dream & define

Build clarity before you take action… Too many people rush into experience without direction. 

This module helps you slow down, reflect and set strong foundations – so every decision that follows is intentional. You’ll learn how to:

  • Define your ‘why’ – clarify what’s really motivating you and what you want from a conservation experience
  • Identify your ideal experience – across time, money, location, structure and lifestyle
  • Identify career gaps – pinpoint where experience could strengthen your employability
  • Set meaningful goals – turn ideas into clear, motivating, achievable goals
  • Set up support – build a personal support ecosystem to keep you motivated and on track

Module 2 | Discover what’s possible

See the full range of options – not just what’s most visible… Conservation experience is far more diverse than most people realise. 

This module opens up the landscape and helps you focus on what’s realistic and right for you. You’ll learn how to:

  • Explore conservation experience types – including volunteering, internships, training, expeditions and citizen science
  • Clarify your target experience – bring your goals and preferences together into a clear direction
  • Fund your experience – explore ways to reduce costs or secure funding if needed

Module 3 | Design

Find opportunities – even when nothing is advertised… 

This module shows you how to move from clarity to action, using multiple routes to uncover opportunities others miss. You’ll learn how to:

  • Find advertised experiences – using job boards, platforms, search engines and social media
  • Find hidden and potential experiences – through research, networking and targeted outreach
  • Create your own opportunity – confidently propose an experience that meets both your goals and an organisation’s needs

Module 4 | Decide with purpose & apply

Choose wisely and apply with confidence… Not all experience is good experience. 

This module helps you evaluate quality, avoid exploitation and apply in a way that highlights your value. You’ll learn how to:

  • Be ethical and safe – assess opportunities for quality, ethics and wellbeing
  • Shortlist experiences – compare options and confidently choose your top 3–5
  • Apply like a pro – approach organisations and submit strong, focused applications

Module 5 | Make it count

Turn experience into lasting impact… Getting experience is only part of the journey. 

This final module ensures your effort leads to growth, confidence and future opportunities. You’ll learn how to:

  • Before – prepare mentally, practically and professionally
  • During – maximise learning, wellbeing, relationships and evidence as you go
  • After – reflect, capture value, strengthen connections and plan what comes next

Meet Your Instructor

Hi, I’m Kristi Foster and I’m the Head of Coaching at Conservation Careers.

I’m a conservation careers specialist with over 8 years of experience helping thousands of people worldwide start and grow their Conservation Careers.

I have a master’s in Conservation Biology and have worked in conservation across the globe, from East Africa to the Amazon, with organisations such as Fauna & Flora, the World Agroforestry Centre and Ecotourism Australia.

Like you, I started with questions: “Where do I begin? What kind of experience will help me start a career in conservation? And how do I afford it?” 

This course distils the guidance I wish I’d had — a step-by-step approach to finding opportunities that fit your goals, your life and your values.

Only in CC Pass

We include this training inside CC Pass, so you’re supported beyond the first step.

Instead of buying a single course and being left on your own … CC Pass gives you access to all our courses, live jobs, resources, events and support – allowing you to progress at your own pace, return to materials when needed, and get ongoing guidance as your conservation career evolves.

You start small – and you’re guided from there.

Single Courses

CC PASS

Availability

Available as Single Course

Available in CC PASS (£2,500+ value)

THIS COUSE | How to Get Conservation Experience

Only in CC Pass

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Certificate in Conservation Communications
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Certificate in Rewilding
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Certificate in Community-Based Conservation
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Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design
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Certificate in Conservation Fundraising
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Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced)
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Certificate in Marine Conservation

Coming soon

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Certificate in Conservation Science

Coming soon

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Conservation Career Kick-Starter

Only in CC Pass

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How to Apply for Any Conservation Job

Only in CC Pass

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Conservation Career Accelerator

Only in CC Pass

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Public Speaking for Conservationists

Only in CC Pass

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Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass

Coming soon

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Best for Focused skill development Accelerated professional development
Duration 12 months Ongoing - Cancel anytime
Money Back Guarantee 7 day money-back guarantee 7 day free trial
Select Currency $ £
Price £147/ quarter
ALL COURSES | JOIN CC PASS

Single Courses

Availability

Available as Single Course

THIS COUSE | How to Get Conservation Experience

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Communications Check icon
Certificate in Rewilding Check icon
Certificate in Community-Based Conservation Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Fundraising Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced) Check icon
Certificate in Marine Conservation

Coming soon

Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Science

Coming soon

Check icon
Conservation Career Kick-Starter

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
How to Apply for Any Conservation Job

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Conservation Career Accelerator

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Public Speaking for Conservationists

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass

Coming soon

Check icon
Best for Focused skill development
Duration 12 months
Money Back Guarantee 7 day money-back guarantee

CC PASS

Availability

Available in CC PASS (£2,500+ value)

THIS COUSE | How to Get Conservation Experience

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Communications Check icon
Certificate in Rewilding Check icon
Certificate in Community-Based Conservation Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Standards Project Management and Design Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Fundraising Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Communications Strategy (Advanced) Check icon
Certificate in Marine Conservation

Coming soon

Check icon
Certificate in Conservation Science

Coming soon

Check icon
Conservation Career Kick-Starter

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
How to Apply for Any Conservation Job

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Conservation Career Accelerator

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Public Speaking for Conservationists

Only in CC Pass

Check icon
Conservation Scholarship Success Masterclass

Coming soon

Check icon
Best for Accelerated professional development
Duration Ongoing - Cancel anytime
Money Back Guarantee 7 day free trial
Price £147/ quarter
ALL COURSES | JOIN CC PASS

Got a question?

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch by mail@conservation-careers.com