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So, yes actually. Check out earthwatch.org, they offer trips where you participate in ecological research and/or conservation efforts. For example, here is a 2-week trip focused around counting animal populations in the Mongolian steppe:

earthwatch.org/…/wildlife-mongolian-steppe

These trips are somewhat pricy (this one is US$4250), but typically include room and board for the entire period and all local travel. Also:

As a paying volunteer, you directly fund scientific research by covering permits, equipment, and other costs while supporting local vendors.

You do have to make your own arrangements for traveling to wherever the research location is.

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cybervseas@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Thank you this is exactly what i was looking for. Cataloguing critters I found on a marine reserve in the Bahamas last week was so interesting but doing it all without any experts to learn from was lonely.

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- TheTechnician27@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  What kinds of critters? 👀
  
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  - cybervseas@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Mostly I was checking out the fish and invertebrates coming up into the shallow waters and rock pools. Filed my first ever inaturalist observations!
    
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    TheTechnician27@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Congratulations on iNaturalist! We use images from iNaturalist on Wikipedia all the time, so we’re intensely grateful for the work y’all do. Did you see any crabs by any chance?
    
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icelimit@lemmy.ml ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Yeah I’ve been salivating at some of their trips. But it’s really pricey.

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- TheBat@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  
  But it’s really pricey.
  
  Yeah lol. Not for people in third world countries. 😪
  
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  - icelimit@lemmy.ml ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Some of their trips go to jungles in third world countries, if you catch my drift
    
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AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Holy shit thank you for this.

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Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
I’d consider popping over to Mongolia and helping with grunt work, but $4000? Do they have a cheaper package where you bring your own motorbike, food, tent, gear, etc?

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- UnspecificGravity@piefed.social ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  That’s just called “going camping” and it probably costs more than 4 grand to get all that shit to Mongolia.
  
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  - Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Depends on where you are, Ill probably be in NE China again by summer, so a sleeper train to the border would cost ~50USD depending on city, then there’s daily buses to ulaanbaatar.
    
    Then buy a used motorbike and sell it when you’re finished.
    
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