Family volunteer vacations, once known as voluntourism, are back in action as the global pandemic comes under control. From community service to building homes, environmental research projects and teaching, travelers are looking for ways to give back. The concept of mixing volunteer activities with seeing the world dates back several centuries to the work of missionaries. It really took hold in the 1960s with John F Kennedy’s Peace Corps as a way to see the world.
Family Volunteer Vacations for All Ages
Many organized programs focus on volunteer vacations, close to home or abroad, for the entire family. Local charities have always relied on volunteer help, of course. Now, many welcome short-stay visitors to contribute a helping hand wherever they can. Tourists are welcome as groundskeepers and chauffeurs, for example, if they plan ahead with the Orlando charity, Give Kids The World. GKTW is a short-stay residential village for children with life-threatening illnesses. Those who have “Made-A-Wish” to visit the themeparks head to Orlando. The GKTW charity relies on many volunteers each week to meet their guests’ needs.
Blaze Trails Across the US Together While Volunteering
The American Hiking Society spearheads the annual volunteer effort, National Trails Day. They also run cheap, week-long camping trips with small, friendly groups on trail-clearing and trail-blazing projects. Participants must be able to hike at least 5 miles per day and be accompanied by a parent or guardian unless over 18-years of age. They’ve also begun a popular program of alternative spring breaks for small groups of college students.
Do Conservation Projects on Family Volunteer Vacations
Elevate Destinations is a highly regarded luxury adventure tour company. Their past trip to Haiti was selected as a National Geographic Traveler “Tours of a Lifetime.” Take your family on an adventure tour in one of their fascinating destinations on an itinerary specifically tailored to fit your family’s interests, including local service. They regularly offer exciting volunteer trips, such as an African safari in Kenya where you can work with lion conservationists. Another Kenya adventure gives you the opportunity to work with tribal communities. Participants will learn about tribal skills, traditions and rituals.
Enrich Your Travels with Cultural and Humanitarian Volunteering
Global Volunteers is a non-profit, non-sectarian, international organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. They have run short-term human and economic development projects throughout the world for over 30 years. Having worked in 32 countries on six continents, they are currently offering projects in 13 countries. A spokesperson says they “have placed hundreds of families in meaningful, educational service projects in nearly all those countries.” Typically, many ongoing projects are open to families traveling with kids under age 15 during school breaks and summer. Tasks include caring for infants and pre-schoolers, teaching conversational English and health care. Active volunteers assist in light construction, building maintenance and planting school and household gardens.
GlobeAware.com is another resource founded by Kimberly Haley Coleman, herself a mother of two toddlers. They organize and offer a variety of one-week international family volunteer vacations. These are service trips whose mission is to “encourage people to immerse themselves in a unique way of giving back.” Families can review upcoming service projects on the Globe Aware website. Get in touch with them to find out if they are appropriate for different age children. Ms. Coleman notes that many young families want their children volunteering at younger ages. Global Aware is committed to developing opportunities where even the very young can participate (such as helping to build a clay stove in a Latin village.) They note that foreign languages and cultures can be easily embraced by family volunteers.
An operator of worthwhile tours called i-to-i organizes TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) training opportunities for travelers. There are intern trips to a handful of fascinating locations such as China, Spain, Thailand and Cambodia.
Teen Volunteer Vacation Opportunities Around the World
There’s one group with 50+ years’ experience and the endorsement of National Geographic. Because of their science research trips, Earthwatch is respected around the world. Their Teen Team Expeditions are hands-on trips that aren’t only educational. Teens on these trips make a real difference and help the places they visit. The organization offers all the tools, training, and experiences their volunteers need to make an impact. Activities range from snorkeling to tracking sea turtles, monitoring climate change and conserving wild bees. Teen Teams are exclusive to 15- to 18-year-olds and run during the summer months.
The U.K. based Projects Abroad has offered tailor-made group trips for more than 30 years. Join other students, sports teams, or simply groups of friends in traveling abroad to help others. They also offer two, three and four-week summer programs for 15 to 18-year-olds. Projects Abroad gives volunteers the option to custom-design a placement to suit their goals and interests. Groups focus on teaching projects as well as conservation, archaeology, childcare, sports, law, veterinary medicine and animal care, human rights, and other subjects.
Habitat for Humanity offers teens the opportunity to help construct and rehabilitate homes in their communities, across the US and abroad. Habitat for Humanity often has one-day volunteer opportunities as well as longer term projects.
Think Global, Act Local: Volunteer Vacations in the New York City Area
Volunteering opportunities don’t have to come from exotic locales. Often those in need are right in our own backyards. With that in mind, since our backyard is New York City, we decided to scour around for valuable work that students can do any time of year.
Is your teen interested in “learning the ropes”? The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater welcomes 2-4 volunteers for week-long stays to sail, assist and learn from the permanent crew. Participants must be at least 16 years-old during the mid-April until late October season. Since 1969, the Clearwater has offered environmental education and organized music festivals along the Hudson, while working towards the restoration and protection of the river. Once aboard, volunteers may get a taste of everything from boat maintenance and daily chores to sleeping below decks. Sailing experience is not a requirement, and this is a great way to learn.
Junior Achievement of New York is a non-profit organization that bring volunteers together with students K-12. Jobs include helping to inspire, encourage, and engage kids through in-class and after school activities. These programs are designed to prepare students for their future plans and economic success. The program offers daily and weekend volunteer opportunities.
Central Park Conservancy offers a handful of volunteer opportunities, from picking up trash to pulling weeds and painting rails. Participants ages 18 and older must sign up for volunteer gardening opportunities in advance; space is limited. On Family Days, participation age begins at 4 years old.
United Way of Northern New Jersey strives to bring the basics, education, income and health to everyone. Deliver food to elementary schools or help the program develop agendas and initiatives. It’s a way togain important skills crucial for entering the workforce.
We welcome you to share any other family volunteer vacation opportunities you find in the Comments field below.
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Grt place to visit.. This place is located after entering the Ranthambore National Park.. However, to visit this place u can evn get your own vehicle…
John, glad you liked the story. This park is in Ohio where the weather can be unpredictable! It’s warmest between late April and November, but even April has the risk of some snow. If you’re camping with kids, the safest bet is June to August, because it’s warmer and there’s little rain. Enjoy your trip.
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It’s truly magical being there. I love the art this country offers. Their wall arts and crafts are just lovely.
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The history of Cuhahoga valley national park seems interesting and must be a new experience when we observe scenes of National park from their scenic campgrounds.
which season do you think is the best time to visit this national park?
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Wow, what a nice article. Makes you feel like you should pack up and go immediately. It seems Linblad runs a good operation and trips are kid friendly. Is there a list of particular dates that are family friendly or are there kid activities year round on board the boats. Any other advice on travling with kids to Ecuador and Galapagos would be really welcome.
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Hello Michael, glad to hear your family is interested in a dude ranch holiday.
Since your kids are older and, hopefully, everyone in the family rides, you have lots of options. The Dude Ranchers Association is a really helpful resource in sorting through the many types of ranch vacations. For example, you can go here: https://duderanch.org/by-activity-amenity and search for ‘Advanced Rides’ and “Cattle Drives’ and that would get you some real working ranches that would have more of the lifestyle you seem to be looking for. One of our authors recommends the Hideout in Shell, Wyoming for this type of trip.
Looking for a real ranch experience with horseback riding (lots of it) and time in the open air with my son (15) and daughter (12) and my wife (49). I am 62. We live in NJ, my children have been sheltered but I grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. I want my children to see another side of life.
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Of course, you can do travel freely and easily through these two countries yourself, but I enjoyed having the trip curated for me, including well-chosen local guides, comfortable transportation on call and some superb private tours, such as a Khmer cooking class or historic walking tour of Saigon, with flexibility in the itinerary for our group of five to follow their own paths, such as making an emotional detour to the moving Genocide Museum housed in the old S-21 jail in Phnom Penh.
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For Richard re: dual citizenship US-Nicaragua… can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
Hi Richard, In our travel experience, this type of document should work well for your travels, but if your wife is available, it can’t hurt to download the sample forms we have online and also have her fill out and notarize one for your trip with your child. The agency responsible in your case will be the carrier — we assume an airline — and if they can make a note in your travel record that they have approved the Nicaraguan documents you should be fine on both departing and entering.
Safe Travels!
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very informative article Travel forums provide first hand experience and advice to travelers and are a great source of information and travel tips.
As a signal parent, your life, world, actions are based on your childs well fair. Not your happiness or anything that has to do with you.
It should list where they are going, the dates that they are allowed to go and grant your permission for that trip. You want to include your address and phone number and probably the contact info for the adult traveling as well.
The grand archways and the paintings of Lord Krishna and his cows are a visual treat. Wander through areas opened for tourists and you shall witness the impressive aura and architecture of the Royal state of Rajasthan.
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Hello guys my wife and I have dual citizenship US-Nicaragua, I’m planning to travel to the US with our son also dual citizenship for 3 weeks, with a Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) from Nicaragua, can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.
Congratulations to the winners! A question to all the professional travelers here, how are you planning the route ant the places to see while visiting a new country? As for me I just google the most touristic and popular places. It works mostly, but there were a few times when I realized that I have seen only some the places this country or city is famous for, and that’s sad. On my last trip to Armenia, I decided to take a tour and it was quite productive. It’s much more informative when somebody is telling you history and some interesting facts. If someone wants to save their time – make sure to ask them to help if you’ll ever be there.
Curitiba é uma lugar lindo, além de ser considerada uma das melhores cidades para se morar em Brasil.
Realmente a muito o que conhecer por lá, como também diversas outras belezas do nosso brasil.
Principalmente as praias do Brasil que são muito procurada por inúmeros turistas internacionais e nacionais.
As Praias do Litoral Paulista, divididos entre Praias do Litoral Norte e Litoral Sul.
As mais conhecidas são as Praias de Ubatuba com mais de 100 belas praias no litoral norte paulista.
Já no litoral sul, a região mais procurada são as Praias de Guarujá, a região conta com 23 praias de pura beleza e preservação ambiental.
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Was an honour and pleasure to host you both in the Maori Whakata/Welcome to Wanaka. Welcome back anytime to this wonderful part of the world.
Kia Kaha/Stay strong
[http://www.wanahaka.co.nz]