As a public school employee, you give to the community. A lot. And you look forward to the summer as a time to recharge for the coming school year. Summer is a time to devote to yourself and your family, to grow, and most of all to enjoy. Why not spend the summer in a totally new way, but doing something very familiar—giving back to the community?

What Is Voluntourism?

Just as the hybridized word suggests, voluntourism is a combination of volunteering and tourism. David Clemmons, founder of VolunTourism.org, describes it as “whatever your imagination allows you to create. It is an incredible vehicle to live personal values through the value of travel combined with volunteering.” He goes on to note that “teachers bring values to the table that should be showcased.”

Though it has been around for longer, voluntourism gained prominence after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Citizens of all types and from all corners of the country heard the call to assist their fellow countrymen, and answered it. On their own time and dollar, people flocked to the Gulf Coast to give a helping hand.

According to David Clemmons, the first volunteer vacation was operated by Earthwatch Institute in 1971. Since then, voluntourism has taken many directions. Today even the Ritz-Carlton offers half-day volunteering opportunities for their guests through a program called Giveback Getaways.

Financial Considerations

Not just a contribution of time and effort, voluntourism generally also requires some out-of-pocket expenses. The amount varies widely depending on transportation requirements (do you need an international plane ticket or can you drive there yourself?), program cost, type of accommodations and other factors. For example, if you volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a portion of your trip cost covers building materials. Though these types of trips are usually cheaper than your garden variety tour, some of them carry a substantial price tag.

Although all organizations listed in this article are nonprofits, current tax laws generally do not allow you to claim the costs of your trip as tax deductible. Only Earthwatch Institute and the Continental Divide Trail Alliance specify that contributions and related expenses are tax deductible. Consult with your tax adviser to determine if the cost, or a portion of the cost, of your voluntourism trip can be claimed as a deduction. Request a letter from the organization that states their mission and the volunteering work you performed and provide to your tax adviser along with all related receipts.

Why Voluntour?

As bad news dominates the headlines, with the whole world in a recession, war in Afghanistan and hunger and misrule in Zimbabwe, global warming and natural disasters wreaking havoc around the globe, the call for citizen action becomes more compelling. We all know people who have lost their jobs, their homes, sizable amounts of their pensions, and whose financial stress has bled into other areas of their lives. You may have students who are homeless, victims of the long-term mismanagement of the mortgage industry. Somehow, spending large amounts of money to wallow on a beach sipping exotic tropical drinks seems a little indulgent and out of step with the times.

In response to mounting need, organizations are mobilizing as never before to offer assistance in many fields, from humanitarian to scientific, and making it easy and simple for the public to join their efforts. The options available to the voluntourist are extremely varied, and one is sure to match your interests.

Many schools now require that students complete a certain number of service learning hours in order to graduate. By bringing back stories, photos, journals and other material from your voluntouring experience, you can inspire your students, give them ideas on volunteering activities, and encourage them to contribute by doing what interests them most rather than what is easiest and most accessible.

A Valuable Professional Development Tool

Janet Lombard, a modern languages teacher in the Harvard Public School system in Massachusetts, unearthed a 75,000 year-old horse skull on an Earthwatch Institute archaeological dig in southwestern France. The experience, she said, “made me soar as a teacher and a person.” Working right beside archaeologists and scientists, she performed the same “nitty gritty work” that they did, and “really came away with an appreciation of what science is all about.”

Integrating her experience into her classroom, Janet introduced archaeology vocabulary to her students and used her trip as a review lesson in her French classes. Also, since one of her tasks was entering data into a computer, her computer skills have been greatly enhanced, and now she uses technology with more confidence and ease.

She was so impressed with Earthwatch that she now volunteers there, doing background research, working on projects for the PR director, and fielding inquiries from fellow educators who are interested in voluntouring with Earthwatch. Janet’s advice to teachers is, “Do it. As they say in Spanish, hágalo. Don’t wait. Time goes by so quickly and the opportunities don’t always come along ... It has opened up a whole new world.”

Then there are the Kuglers, a family of educators. Noting that teachers get “two precious months off” in the summer, Sara Kugler, who was at that time a reading and writing teacher in the New York public school system, said, “I wanted to do something bigger with my time off.” Her parents, Larry and Eileen, shared that sentiment. Working in tandem with People and Places, a British organization, and Calabash Tours, a South African tour operator, the Kuglers arranged to spend the summer of 2008 working at A. V. Bukani Primary School in the township of Nomathamsanqa in South Africa. It was a transformative experience.

Each Kugler had his or her own goal. Larry Kugler, a retired teacher and school administrator from northern Virginia, “wanted to do things that made my heart sing.” His wife Eileen, an educational consultant and director of Embrace Diverse Schools, commented, “I went to support the teachers in whatever way I could.” Their daughter Sara wanted to use her teaching skills in volunteering and to really experience the place where she was traveling. She saw her volunteer work as social activism and not charity work, just as valuable to her as it was to the community in which she volunteered.

Their experience in South Africa exceeded their expectations, and contributed to both professional and social growth. Not only did Larry bring back “an understanding of the challenges the teachers in South Africa’s poor townships are faced with each and every day but, more important, the incredible optimism and openness to new teaching techniques that exists among this same group of teachers.”

Sara was impressed by the South African teachers’ profound dedication, even in the face of incredible challenges. “They didn’t complain about the lack of resources or the students or the class size (40-50 students). This is something I'll always carry with me. Those teachers learned how to be problem solvers and advocates for the kids.”

Eileen was assigned to teaching basic computer skills to the staff, many of whom had never used a computer before. Echoing her husband’s and daughter’s sentiments, Eileen observed, “One critical lesson that impacts my professional, as well as personal, life is the way the faculty did not get frustrated by what they did not have. They just learned to persevere and move forward in whatever way they could.”

The Kugler family was so satisfied with their South African experience that Eileen and Larry are returning again to the same primary school for another summer of volunteering. As Eileen  put it, “The powerful connection that we had with the teachers, the students, and the community was so strong that I could not imagine not returning to see them.”

Programs

Though only nonprofit organizations are profiled in this article, there are for-profit organizations that cater to the voluntourist as well. Many of these companies provide very good services and there is no reason not to use for-profit companies. Of course, as with the nonprofits, research the company thoroughly and make sure that the volunteer activities are legitimate and that the company is a responsible partner to the communities that are featured in their itineraries.

Center for Cultural Interchange

Established almost 25 years ago, Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) offers a variety of programs, including high school exchanges, short-term group homestays, internships and language study. With programs in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries, CCI is a nonprofit “dedicated to the promotion of academic development, cultural understanding, environmental consciousness and world peace.”

Volunteer: Participate in service work that promotes the health and welfare of the Earth and its inhabitants through a wide range of environmental and social welfare projects with CCI’s Greenheart Travel program. Opportunities include education-specific programs like computer training in a middle school in Benin, assisting children in an orphanage in Ecuador with school work and life skills, or working as a teacher’s assistant in a public school in Lima, Peru.
Tourism: By pairing participants with a homestay family and working among the local people, the volunteer is immersed in the local culture and gains a firsthand view of everyday life. There is ample free time to explore the host country on one’s own.
How: Go to www.cci-exchange.com to learn more about Greenheart Travel. Only international volunteering opportunities are available. The program arranges for participants to stay with a local family, and provides some meals. Programs vary in length from 2-12 weeks. Depending on the project, programs in Spanish speaking countries may require Spanish language skills.
Cost: Program fees are between $970-$4,350. Comprehensive travel insurance is included with the program. A $250 nonrefundable deposit is due with the application, which must be submitted 6-8 weeks before the trip leaves. Travel arrangements are made by the participant and transportation costs, visa fees and other travel related expenses are the participant’s responsibility.

Continental Divide Trail Alliance

Formed in 1995, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) works with the U.S. Forest Service to assist in the completion, management and maintenance of the Continental Divide Trail.

Volunteer: Help build and maintain the Continental Divide Trail. No trail building experience is required, just a love of the outdoors and willingness to engage in hard physical labor. Or become part of the CDTA Chef Crew and plan, shop for, and cook meals for the trail crew volunteers.
Tourism: Get back to nature and camp out under the stars. Set among some of the most beautiful natural settings in the U.S., enjoy the solitude and majesty of the wilderness. Some projects are near culturally significant sites, from Native American sacred places to abandoned mining towns.
How: Visit www.cdtrail.org to see a description of projects and information on what is required of a volunteer. Projects vary in length from 1-6 days, and are classified from easy to difficult. The difficult ones usually require backpacking to the site. Many projects are at high elevation, in remote settings and subject to rapid weather changes. Some projects allow the participation of children as young as 10 years old with the supervision of an adult. Sorry, no dogs allowed.
Cost: There is no cost to volunteer, but participants are encouraged to become a member of CDTA for an annual fee of $31. Transportation to the project site and camping equipment is the volunteer’s responsibility. All work tools (except work gloves) are provided. Depending on funding and Chef Crew volunteers, meals may be provided; according to CDTA it is very rare that they are not. All costs associated with volunteering with CDTA are tax deductible, so keep expense receipts.

The CDTA website also lists partner projects for Continental Divide Trail construction and maintenance managed through other organizations. Many other trail construction and maintenance volunteer opportunities are available throughout the country as well.

Disaster Recovery

Natural disasters strike with relentless frequency. Especially in areas of high population density, the recovery process can be long and onerous.

Volunteer: Work to rebuild areas devastated by natural disasters. Volunteer opportunities vary widely, depending on the type and extent of damage and where the greatest need lies. From rebuilding homes to restoring public open spaces to assembling care packages, the opportunities are vast.
Tourism: By going to the site of the disaster and working side-by-side with the community, enjoy special insight into the local tourist attractions and cultural events.
How: Either go through a structured organization or else do it on your own. Many national organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, Earthwatch Institute and Hands On Disaster Response, organize volunteer trips to disaster sites. State tourism organizations and city convention and visitors bureaus provide support, assist with finding lodging, and list local volunteering opportunities. For example, the New Orleans Conventions and Visitors Bureau website features a voluntourism page that acts as a clearing house for volunteer opportunities and volunteers, and provides a hotel search engine to help you find accommodations. Another good resource for New Orleans disaster relief opportunities is www.handsonneworleans.org. The city of Galveston has a website dedicated to the relief effort, www.help4galveston.org, through which you can find volunteer opportunities and accommodations assistance. Check www.visitidaho.org/voluntourism for voluntouring ideas in Idaho.
Cost: Varies according to location, transportation needs and type of volunteer activity.

Earthwatch Institute

With the motto “Change the world. Yourself” Earthwatch offers the chance to engage in scientific field research and ecological and cultural conservation.

Volunteer: Work alongside leading scientists in 8-hour work days to conduct scientific and/or conservation field research on long-term projects related to sustainable development in four interrelated categories—oceans, climate change, sustainable culture and ecosystems services. Earthwatch offers a variety of expeditions that range from less than a week to more than 2 weeks, and vary in activity level from very easy (assisting with a paleontological dig in Rapid City, South Dakota) to strenuous (monitoring fossa, a mongoose-like mammal endemic to the forests of Madagascar).
Tourism: Many of the projects are in little-visited and isolated destinations set amidst beautiful and unspoiled locations, both in the U.S. and abroad. Typically a program allows for community interaction separate from field research by providing opportunities to visit a local school or a nearby attraction.
How: To see a complete list of expeditions, go to www.earthwatch.org. Each expedition’s web page details the research you will be involved in, the kind of accommodations (including if there are flush toilets and electricity), the daily schedule, recreation opportunities, a description of the destination and testimonials from previous volunteers.
Cost: A contribution is required for all trips. Fees are listed as “minimum contributions,” meaning that you may donate more. Contributions range from $1,500 to over $5,000. Fees do not cover travel to the sites, and there may be additional costs, like visa fees, pocket money and additional accommodation charges. Short duration expeditions require that you arrange your own accommodations and some meals. Earthwatch Institute is a public charity described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, contributions donated by U.S. citizens are tax deductible. Under certain circumstances, volunteers may deduct reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with their participation in an Earthwatch expedition including some expenses for transportation to and from the research site. 

Elderhostel

Combining volunteering with a more traditional touring itinerary, the educational tour operator Elderhostel, which caters primarily to travelers 55 years and older, features service learning programs around the world.

Volunteer: Make a difference in a community, ecosystem or the life of an individual. Pursuing Elderhostel’s educational travel mission, Service Learning programs provides learning through hands-on experience, lectures and instruction. From working in an animal sanctuary in Utah to ecosystem service projects in Grand Teton National Park, Elderhostel has dozens of voluntourism programs. This summer, all Service Learning programs are U.S. only, though there are international projects available at other times of the year. Some of the Service Learning programs are classified as intergenerational, meaning they are designed for adults and minors traveling together.
Tourism: Though it varies according to program, on average about a quarter to half of the trip is spent on field trips, lectures and sightseeing, mostly related to the theme of the program.
How: Check out www.elderhostel.org for a complete list of programs. Click on “browse by interest” and then click on “service learning.”
Cost: Varies according to the tour. Tour cost does not include airfare. Accommodations are generally fairly simple, but some programs include alternative accommodations for a higher fee. Most programs include all meals. Most of the programs are under $1,000, though extras like single occupancy accommodations can add on to the cost.

Habitat for Humanity

Brought into prominence by President Jimmy Carter, Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, provides affordable housing by bringing workers and families in need together to construct decent housing. It is an ecumenical Christian organization that is open to anyone who has a desire to eliminate the problem of substandard housing and homelessness.

Volunteer: Build or rehabilitate simple houses with the help of the homeowner families through the Global Village program. Long days of hard work are punctuated by visits to local schools, orphanages, medical clinics and other community institutions.
Tourism: Habitat for Humanity has programs in all 50 states of the U.S. and Washington, DC, as well as in more than 90 other countries. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in local cultural activities, and by working side-by-side with local partners, get to know the community in an intimate and very real way.
How: See http://www.habitat.org/cd/gv/schedule.aspx  for a schedule of trips and information on the destination, lodging and meals, type of construction project, itinerary, cost and team leaders.
Cost: Varies by trip, starting from approximately $1,200 up to approximately $2,300. Cost does not cover transportation to the site, R&R activities, and visa and exit fees (if applicable). It usually includes accommodations, meals, in-trip transportation, medical emergency evacuation and trip cancellation insurance, some local cultural activities, and team coordination and orientation materials. As what is provided varies by trip, check the individual trip description page. 

People and Places, UK

A British organization, People and Places matches the skills of volunteers with the needs of local communities in Africa and Asia. With projects that include educational development, the organization works with local partners in close community relationships to offer responsible and sustainable volunteer travel.

Volunteer: Choose from 8 types of projects to best match your skills. The work is community based, ranging from teaching in a local school to researching threatened species in a game park. People and Places works closely with participants to place them in compatible communities. Expect a regular 5-day work schedule.
Tourism: Most projects suggest a minimum stay of 4 weeks, though longer or shorter placements can be arranged. Accommodations are either with a family, which offers a unique perspective on the local culture, or in a local lodge or bed & breakfast. There is ample free time for independent exploration.
How: Visit www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk to see currently available projects.
Cost: Varies by project; most cost more than $2,000 for a 4-week stay. Fees do not include flights, visa costs, insurance, some meals and personal expenses.

People and Places, US

People and Places, established in 1975, provides domestic and international small-group travel, vacation and respite opportunities for developmentally disabled adults. Tour group sizes are 6-8 adults with 2 staff escorts.

Volunteer: Escort adults with developmental disabilities like mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism on holiday trips. Volunteers must be take-charge types comfortable with responsibility and making travel plans, and experienced in working with the client population. While People and Places provides the basic itinerary and transportation, makes reservations for accommodations and organizes meals, the escort needs to execute the logistics and is encouraged to do pretrip research to further develop the itinerary. The 2 staff escorts are responsible for 24-hour supervision of the clients, so there is no free time to go off on your own. Volunteer escorts make pretrip get-acquainted phone calls to the travelers and their sponsors. 
Tourism: People and Places offers over 100 trips a year. Some are international, but most are in the U.S. First-time volunteers can expect to go on a drive trip, and should be able to drive a 15-person van. There are themed trips, like attending the Frisbee dog championships or a country music tour to Nashville; historic cities tours; national parks excursions; coastal New England destinations; and many more.
How: Volunteers must fill out a tour guide application, provide references and be interviewed face to face. Experience working with developmentally disabled adults is required. Other considerations in accepting and placing volunteer staff escorts are experience with planning travel and destination knowledge. Male volunteers are especially welcomed. If you are interested, please contact Joie Budington at (716) 496-8826.
Cost: All on-trip expenses are paid by People and Places. Trips typically depart from the western New York region, but People and Places will pay to transport you to the departure point and for pretrip overnight accommodation. The organization also reimburses for all pretrip phone calls that are made to clients or to do destination research. The only out-of-pocket expenses for the volunteers are for souvenirs and other personal items.

Volunteering Directly Through Individual Organizations

Many nonprofit organizations offer the opportunity for short-term volunteering directly through the organization. For example, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama accepts volunteers through the Smithsonian’s Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Program. If you have a favorite research institution, advocacy group, humanitarian or human rights organization, or educational nonprofit, contact them to see if they are able to accommodate short-term volunteers.

Choose Carefully

Once you decide to become a voluntourist, it is important to choose the organization, volunteer activity and destination that is right for you.

• Understand what your comfort level is. If you are vulnerable to heat, then going to New Orleans in the summer to perform strenuous labor is not the right choice for you. If you love animals but hate creepy crawlies, forgo the trip to the jungle of Costa Rica, even though it involves working intimately with wards in an animal rehabilitation center.
• Be mentally prepared. If you have volunteered to go to a place where poverty is profound, services are woefully lacking, food and customs are different, disease is rampant and hygiene standards are well below to what you are used, you need to know what to expect. If you arrive and are so shocked by what you see that you cannot perform your volunteer functions adequately, than the trip will not be success. As Eileen Kugler says, “When you know the whole picture, you prepare yourself.”
• Find something that uses your talents. You have desirable skills from working in the educational community and voluntouring offers a wonderful way to live your personal values. Though you may feel compelled to go where the need is greatest, take your own requirements, skills and wants into consideration.
• Do due diligence on your chosen voluntourism organization. Make multiple phone calls, request to talk with past volunteers, and do your research before signing up. Good intentions make people vulnerable to fraud, and there is no shortage of entities out there looking to prey upon people’s pure-hearted motives.

Though you may be the independent type, if you are a first-time voluntourist, consider going through an organization. Once you know what to expect, you can go back on your own the next time.

Of course, you could just donate the money that you spend on fees, transportation, lodging and sightseeing activities to a worthy charity. Or spend your vacation volunteering in your home town. Both are very worthy ways of contributing to the greater good. But voluntourism is also about feeding the soul and growing as an individual. People travel to take themselves out of their everyday environments and learn something about the wider world and the inner soul. Your trip can inject cash into the local community, through your lodging and meal fees, and engender goodwill, when locals see that outsiders have come to give a helping hand.

As any educator will tell you, when the teacher learns, students benefit.

Photos courtesy of: Higham (www.earthwatch.org); Kugler family; HFHI Steffan Hacker; Semmes (www.earthwatch.org)