Family volunteering holiday at a bear sanctuary in Romania

Families with teenagers of 14 or older will love this project. It enables you and your family to work together, to experience the great outdoors and to make a genuine contribution to the welfare of the bears at this inspiring haven. Not only is the sanctuary home to over 90 bears, it also provides shelter to wolves, donkeys, horses and dogs. It is an animal lover's paradise!

You and your family will be put to work helping to prepare food for the bears. This involves de-packaging food, making "bear ice cream" and separating what they can and can't eat. Often this task is carried out under the watchful eyes of some of the bears.

It's not all hard work though, and you are all encouraged to get out into the sanctuary and watch the bears in their newfound freedom. Head up to the treetop viewing station, or underground to the sub-terranian viewing station to see these bears really acting wild! This is a great privillege, and one which not many people can enjoy.

In your time off, you will be able to explore all that this wonderful corner of Europe has to offer. Included in your project is a half day trip to Dracula's Castle, but on top of that you could also explore the Carpathian Mountains, the local towns and even the medieval city of Brasov where you will be living.

You and your family will be living together in accommodation in central Brasov. Food is not included, but you have full access to all cooking amenities - or there are a wonderful range of cafes, bars and restaurants that you can eat in if you feel like treating yourselves.