VOLUNTEER VACATIONSVolunteer vacations are short term voluntary commitments combing the adventure of traveling with the joy of giving back. You might construct bridges in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, document traditional West African textiles, or help save the leatherback turtle. Volunteer vacations provide opportunities to work with people from all over the world on exciting projects, while building strong friendships and lasting memories. Most programs last two to three weeks and require no skills other than flexibility, stamina and willingness to live in communal and often rustic environments. Except for digs and scientific expeditions, where you share the cost of the study, most volunteer vacations only require you to pay transportation and registration fees. Living expenses are covered by the sponsoring organizations; most expenses are tax-deductible.
Have you always wanted to join the Peace Corps but balked at a two year commitment? Globe Aware gives you the opportunity to help promote world peace and understanding by living and working in a foreign country but only requires one to two weeks of your time. You will work alongside the local community on projects they have selected to benefit their lives, while building relationships between cultures. You might plant trees in India or paint a community center in Costa Rica. Unlike a tourist, you will get a deeper insight into the countries you visit by living, talking, shopping, cooking and dancing, with the locals. The fee covers meals, accommodations, insurance, donations to community projects and administrative costs but does not include airfare. However, program cost and airfare are tax deductible. Earthwatch Institute provides hands-on opportunities to work towards solving the crucial environmental questions facing us today. There are numerous expeditions all over the world. Join scientists to explore nineteenth century ironworks on the Hudson River. Track the survival rate of coral reef fish larvae in Barbados. Excavate a site in Andalusia Spain to establish when and how man first came to Europe. Survey Australia’s vanishing frogs. Measure the impact of man on Argentina’s primates. The average commitment is three weeks. Volunteers share the cost of research expeditions. All expedition costs are in support of scientific research and therefore tax deductible.
Each year the American Hiking Society sends teams of volunteers deep into America’s National Parks, Forests, and Rangelands to revitalize trails that would otherwise be unsafe for foot travel. Projects last one to two weeks and are in remote areas to which the team must hike and make camp. On a typical day you wake at dawn, breakfast beside an open fire, hike into the woods, work six hours raking, shoveling and trimming trails, return to camp for a relaxing evening of conversation around a campfire and have a great time doing it. You must be in good physical condition, able to hike five miles or more a day and supply your own camping equipment.
For a modest fee Volunteers for Peace live, work and travel in a foreign country while participating in cultural exchanges aimed at promoting world peace and mutual understanding. Each camp is comprised of ten to twelve volunteers from at least four countries and runs two to three weeks. Housing is simple and volunteers assist in daily tasks including preparing their own meals. There are numerous programs all over the world to choose from in areas such as organic farming, park maintenance, historic preservation, or working with children, refugees, physically or the mentally handicapped. |
