An Exploration of Volunteers: Motivations for and Benefits of Participating in a Galapagos Islands Earthwatch Expedition

Abstract

Conservation science and service projects benefit from the participation of thousands of volunteers each year. Yet little is known about these volunteers and particularly, about ones that participate internationally. I sought to address this gap by studying the motivations of volunteers who participated in an Earthwatch Expedition in the Galápagos Islands (the “Expedition”), the subsequent benefits they derived, and the likelihood of further engagement in conservation behaviors as a result of their participation. Two groups of volunteers were surveyed and interviewed. One group (n=27) was surveyed and interviewed before the Expeditions that occurred during fall 2006, immediately after these Expeditions, and over 14 months later. Another group (n=27) was surveyed and interviewed over 14 months after their spring 2005 to spring 2006 Expeditions. Factor analyses of the study’s quantitative data revealed a range of motivations and benefits including self-interested (learning and personal growth, exploration, social interaction, breaking out of the routine, and professional growth) and altruistic ones (contributing to future generations, making a difference, and meaningful involvement). Qualitative results suggested that traveling to a unique location was also an important aspect of this particular volunteer experience and that volunteers associated the above listed motivations and benefits with the Expedition providing an alternative to traditional tourism. There were few differences among volunteers with the exception that older volunteers placed greater importance on altruistic motivations and benefits, particularly contributing to future generations and making a difference. Results also revealed that the volunteers who participated in the Expedition already engaged in a number of conservation behaviors which may help to explain why there was limited evidence that their conservation behaviors increased as a result of the Expedition. Several recommendations are made that are aimed at providing organizations such as Earthwatch with the understanding necessary to attract and retain volunteers as well as to better meet their goal of fostering further conservation behaviors.