Inspired by the eye-opening events of 9/11, the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, more and more people are waking up to the value of service – and realizing that their vacation may be the best place to incorporate it into their hectic lives. Even more profoundly, many travelers are deciding that the best way to recharge may not be lying on a beach, but stepping outside of their normal routine to make a difference in the lives of others. The result is an experience that allows travelers to explore a culture in great depth, make new friends, and come home feeling that they have learned and benefited even more than those they have helped.
The book will provide a diverse range of volunteer vacations, with most trips easily accomplished within a one or two-week vacation. Following the highly successful format of Frommer’s 500 Places To Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, chapters will be organized by subject, providing dozens of unique vacation ideas for any traveler:
Introduction: How you know if a volunteer vacation is right for you, and what to ask
Sharing your knowledge: teaching vacations
Animal welfare: surveying wildlife, animal rescue
Working with children: orphanages, at-risk youth, street kids
Scientific research: archaeology, marine life
Healing the environment: conservation work, trail building, tree planting
Building better communities: construction projects and manual labor
Share the health: AIDS education, working with the disabled, feeding the hungry
Teaching through sport: coaching and training
Bridging cultures: working with indigenous peoples, historical preservation, music
Special events: becoming a festival volunteer
Crossing generations: helping seniors
Getting political: elections, human rights, refugee relief, community organizing
Peace-building: conflict resolution and security
Religious service: retreats and faith-based assistance
Bringing expertise: opportunities for those with specialized skills
Serving your kids: children-friendly trips that will open their eyes to the world
