Volunteer Vacations in the United States
Donate Time Locally or Travel Across the Country to Lend a Hand
Apr 19, 2009
Practically anyone of any age can be a vacation volunteer. One only needs the willingness to make a difference and the courage to step forward. Learn new skills, work with people of all ages who share the same interest, and invest time and energy in a worthwhile setting.
Many people who spend a summer vacation volunteering have such a great experience they go back to the same group or agency year after year. Check out some of the ideas offered here and know there are many more just waiting to be filled.
How Does One Become a Vacation Volunteer?
Volunteer jobs are available through local service agencies, environmental programs, youth organizations, churches, and many businesses. Decide first what type of work setting is desired and contact the agency or organization of choice for volunteer application information.
Some volunteer vacations require specific clothing and equipment. Check with the agency to see what's needed. Volunteers may or may not get assistance with travel expenses, so ask questions before making any long distance commitment. Some positions require medical exams. Other positions, such as those working with children and people with disabilities, require background checks.
Agencies that Depend on Volunteers
- Habitat for Humanity. Volunteers build affordable decent housing for families all over the world. Skilled or unskilled volunteer workers are needed for all phases of home construction.
- Wilderness Volunteers. "Wilderness Volunteers, a nonprofit organization created in 1997, offers people of any age a chance to help and maintain national parks, forests and wilderness areas across the United States." (McCune, Jenny, MSN Money Web site, 2009) "Volunteer Your Way to a Cheaper Vacation"
- Youth Sports Associations. Sign up for baseball, swimming, and all sorts of athletic activities through local churches, schools, and youth centers.
- Sierra Club Outings. Volunteers help restore wilderness areas and assist park rangers.
- American Hiking Society. This group builds and maintains trails in diverse areas across the country.
- American Red Cross. Volunteers are recruited to help with disaster relief, including working in shelters. Some positions require a training course. Volunteers also help individual families facing sudden disaster such as loss of a home to fire.
- Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. This volunteer group does everything from providing relief for disaster victims, to supporting youth camps, aiding elderly persons, and helping with any need in-between.
Community Services that Often Need Volunteers
- Soup Kitchen
- Homeless Shelter
- Summer School Tutor
- Children's Home
- Learn to Read Program
- Food Bank
- Nursing Homes
Additional Volunteer Opportunities
- Day Camp Worker. During the summer, camps for children need volunteers.
- Special Needs Camps. Children's camps and adult camps need volunteers. The variety is broad, including camps for the blind, cancer victims, physically-challenged persons, mentally-challenged persons, muscular dystrophy camp, and many others.
- Center for Independent Living. Provides a wide range of services for people with disabilities, including, but not limited to, building wheelchair ramps, assistance with moving, advocacy work, and much more. According to the ILUSA Web site, there are nearly 500 Independent Living Centers in the US.
- Animal Shelter. The number of animals placed in shelters is on the rise due to the sagging economy. Volunteers are needed for feeding, bathing, and walking animals.
Volunteer vacationing within the U.S. provides hands-on opportunities in new and sometimes challenging surroundings. The vacancies filled by volunteer workers are critical to keeping many vital programs active, especially during unstable economic times. There's a volunteer job to fit most any vacation time frame and vacation budget, and the choices for work are virtually unlimited.
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