5 destinations · 24/7 supervision · Accommodation and meals included · From age 15 · B Corp Certified
A Freepackers humanitarian summer camp is 2 weeks of hands-on conservation work to protect endangered species, live alongside an international community, and return home with a meaningful experience to share—with friends, in university applications, and in future interviews.
An educational summer camp abroad is very different from a traditional holiday camp—and very different from voluntourism. It is a short, fully supervised programme built around a genuine conservation project: protecting sea turtles, caring for rescued elephants, or preserving endangered wildlife.
Your two weeks follow a structured schedule: conservation work in the morning, followed by cultural activities and country exploration in the afternoon. You’ll be part of a group of teenagers your own age—there are no adult participants, only young people aged 15 to 17.
This isn’t a humanitarian internship designed to make people feel good. Every programme is developed with trusted local partners to meet a real need that has been verified on-site by the Freepackers team. You are not sent to “help” a community. Instead, you become part of a long-term project that existed before your arrival and will continue long after you leave.
Marine Conservation in Bali
Where? Bali, Indonesia
When? June 13–26, July 09–22 and July 23 to August 5, 2027
Duration: 2 weeks (optional +1-week tour)
Age: 15–17 years old
From: €1,300
Bali is home to one of Southeast Asia’s richest—and most threatened—marine ecosystems. On this programme, you’ll work alongside local conservation teams to protect sea turtles and raise awareness among coastal communities about marine conservation.
Activities include night patrols on nesting beaches, nest monitoring, educational outreach in local villages, and underwater beach clean-ups. This is genuine conservation work based on real scientific data.
Discover this summer camp: Sea Turtle Conservation in Bali
Wildlife Conservation in Kenya
Where? Kenya
When? June 13–26 and July 09–22, 2027
Duration: 2 weeks (optional +1-week safari tour)
Age: 15–17 years old
From: €1,400
Kenya is home to some of Africa’s last great wilderness areas, where wildlife still roams freely. It is also one of the countries most affected by poaching and deforestation. During this programme, you’ll join a conservation team monitoring wildlife, restoring habitats, and working alongside Maasai communities.
Each day combines fieldwork—collecting data, restoring vegetation, and monitoring wildlife—with cultural immersion. You’ll stay in a conservation camp just a few kilometres from Kenya’s famous national parks.
Discover this summer camp: Giraffe Conservation in Kenya
Humanitarian Project & Elephant Conservation in Thailand
Where? Thailand
When? July 09–22, 2027
Duration: 2 weeks (optional +1-week tour)
Age: 15–17 years old
From: €1,600
This programme combines two meaningful experiences: humanitarian work in a rural school or local community, and elephant conservation in an ethical sanctuary. The elephants cared for here have been rescued from the tourism industry.
You’ll help prepare food, maintain the sanctuary, observe elephant behaviour, and participate in awareness activities with local young people. Afternoons alternate between Thai cultural experiences and community-based projects.
Discover this summer camp: Elephant Conservation in Thailand
Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica
Where? Costa Rica
When? July 14–26, 2027
Duration: 2 weeks (optional +1-week tour)
Age: 15–17 years old
From: €2,400
Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is one of the world’s most important nesting sites for leatherback and green sea turtles. It is also one of the most vulnerable, threatened by egg poaching, light pollution, and natural predators. Our local partner has spent the past 15 years protecting these populations.
You’ll join their team for night patrols, turtle tagging, nest protection, and monitoring. This is hands-on conservation work, collecting data that contributes directly to national research programmes.
Discover this summer camp: Sea Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica
A valuable experience for university applications—and for life.
A humanitarian summer camp abroad stands out. Whether in a personal statement, a university interview, or a conversation with a teacher, it is much more than another line on a CV. It demonstrates real responsibility, a measurable impact, and gives you a meaningful story to tell.
Improve your English naturally
No classroom, no grammar exercises, no vocabulary lists. English is the common language used with the international group and, in many cases, with local staff. After two weeks, teenagers who thought they “weren’t good at English” consistently return with greater confidence and stronger communication skills than after a traditional language holiday.
The confidence of travelling independently for the first time
For most participants, this is their first trip without their parents. The programme offers structured supervision and a dedicated coordinator available 24/7—but without solving every challenge for them. This balance encourages independence, resilience and self-confidence, qualities that parents often notice immediately after their teenager returns home.
Friendships that last
Freepackers groups are international. Teenagers join from France, Belgium, Switzerland and, depending on the programme, from English-speaking countries and many other nationalities. Living together, sharing conservation work and overcoming challenges as a team creates lasting friendships that go far beyond a traditional summer camp experience.
A programme exclusively for 15–17 year-olds. There are no adult participants. Your teenager joins a group made up entirely of young people their own age, rather than mixed-age volunteer groups. An experienced on-site coordinator supervises the group throughout the programme.
B Corp Certified. Freepackers is one of the few international volunteer travel organisations to be certified B Corp. This independent certification recognises companies that meet rigorous standards of social impact, environmental responsibility and corporate governance. It is not a self-awarded label.
Carefully selected local projects. Every local partner is personally visited before joining the Freepackers network. Projects are developed alongside local communities to meet genuine long-term needs. Since 2010, more than €1.3 million has been reinvested directly into our local partner organisations.
Everything included—no hidden costs. Accommodation in shared rooms with the group, breakfast, lunch and dinner, all programme activities, and a dedicated coordinator available 24/7 are included. International flights are booked separately.
Support from start to finish. The Freepackers team is available before departure, throughout the programme and after participants return home. As an added bonus, WhatsApp groups are created for parents and participants before departure so everyone can get to know each other, and an online meeting with the local coordinator allows families to ask any questions before the trip.
1. Get in touch with our team
Contact us by phone or email. We’ll take the time to understand what your teenager is looking for: destination, interests, English level, available dates, and personal goals. Based on this, we’ll recommend the programme that’s the best fit.
2. Registration & preparation
Once you’ve chosen your programme, our team will guide you through every step of the preparation process: registration documents, medical forms, packing list, vaccination advice, and practical guidance to help your teenager prepare for their first independent trip abroad.
3. The summer camp experience
A dedicated Freepackers coordinator is present on every programme and available 24/7. They supervise the group, manage day-to-day life, handle any unexpected situations, and act as the link between participants and our local partners. Parents also have direct contact details in case of emergency.
4. Returning home
The experience doesn’t end when the programme finishes. We encourage every participant to reflect on what they’ve learned by writing a personal summary, updating their university application or CV, and preparing to talk confidently about their experience in future interviews.
What is the minimum age to join?
Freepackers Summer Camps are open to teenagers aged 15 to 17. Every programme is designed exclusively for this age group, ensuring participants share similar interests, maturity and expectations.
How are participants supervised?
Each group is accompanied by a dedicated local coordinator who is present throughout the programme, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They oversee daily life, activities, participant wellbeing, unexpected situations, and communication with our local partners. They are not simply tour leaders—they know the destination, the project and the participants personally.
What happens in the event of a medical emergency?
The programme coordinator is trained in first aid. Every participant is covered by travel insurance suitable for international volunteer programmes. In case of an emergency, our local team is always available and works closely with the coordinator to provide immediate assistance and keep parents informed.
Will my teenager be in a mixed group with adults?
No. Freepackers Summer Camps are exclusively reserved for participants aged 15 to 17. The only adults present are the programme coordinators and local project staff.
How can I stay in touch with my child during the programme?
Participants keep access to their mobile phones throughout the programme. The coordinator also shares regular updates with families. In case of emergency, parents have direct contact with both the on-site coordinator and the Freepackers team.
How much does a Summer Camp cost? What’s included?
Prices vary depending on the destination and programme length. The fee includes shared accommodation, three meals per day, all scheduled programme activities, and 24/7 supervision by the local coordinator. International flights are not included and are arranged separately by each family.
Does Freepackers book the flights?
International flights are not included in the programme price. Our team is happy to advise you on the best travel options, but flight bookings remain the responsibility of each participant and their family.
Will someone meet my child at the airport?
Yes. Participants are welcomed at the destination airport by the local coordinator or a trusted member of our local team, who then organises the transfer to the accommodation.
What vaccinations are required?
Vaccination recommendations vary depending on the destination. Our team will provide all the necessary health information and recommendations once your registration is confirmed.
Does my teenager need to speak English?
A basic school-level understanding of English is enough. The programmes are designed for international participants, and English is the common language used within the group. The coordinator handles communication with local partners whenever needed. Many teenagers who initially felt uncomfortable speaking English returned home with noticeably greater confidence and fluency.
Do participants need previous experience in wildlife conservation or humanitarian work?
No previous experience is required. Our programmes are specifically designed for young people with no prior background in conservation or volunteering. Motivation, curiosity and commitment matter far more than qualifications. Local teams provide all the necessary training upon arrival.
Can my teenager travel alone without knowing anyone else?
Absolutely. This is the situation for the vast majority of participants. Groups are formed shortly before departure, and many teenagers start getting to know each other through dedicated WhatsApp groups before travelling. Once on site, living and working together creates friendships very quickly. For many, it is their very first independent trip—and that’s exactly what the programme is designed for.
Is this voluntourism, or does it have a genuine impact?
The difference lies in the way our programmes are built. Freepackers projects are not created simply to welcome volunteers—they already existed before participants arrived and continue long after they leave. Every local partner is carefully selected and personally visited by our team to ensure that volunteers contribute to a genuine need identified by the local community. Since 2010, more than €1.3 million has been reinvested directly into our local partner organisations.
What does B Corp Certified mean?
B Corp is an internationally recognised certification awarded by the independent non-profit organisation B Lab. It recognises companies that meet rigorous standards of social impact, environmental responsibility, transparency and governance. Freepackers is B Corp Certified following a comprehensive independent assessment, which is renewed every three years.
Is a humanitarian summer camp valuable for university applications?
Yes. It is one of the most distinctive experiences a high school student can highlight. Taking part in a meaningful conservation project abroad demonstrates initiative, responsibility, intercultural awareness and teamwork. It’s an excellent experience to include in university applications, personal statements, CVs and admission interviews.
Is the experience officially recognised?
Freepackers programmes are designed as educational travel experiences that combine learning, environmental engagement and cultural discovery. Many schools encourage this type of international experience as it helps students develop independence, language skills and global awareness. We recommend discussing your plans with your school or guidance counsellor if you would like advice on how to include the experience in your academic journey.
How long does a Summer Camp last?
Each programme lasts 2 weeks. Several destinations also offer an optional one-week cultural tour extension, allowing participants to discover more of the country after completing their conservation project.
Can I extend my stay with an additional week?
Yes. Most destinations offer an optional one-week tour after the conservation programme. Our team can help organise this extension so participants can explore the country and make the most of their international experience.
Dates:
This summer camp offers the possibility to extend the experience with an additional week-long tour, allowing for a deeper exploration of the country.
Dates:
Dates:
Dates:
You will stay in a room shared with other youth participating in the program.
A dedicated group coordinator will be available on site 24/7 on all projects.
All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are covered for each program.
