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Tags: Volunteer Travel / Surfing / Ecuador Travel / Water Sports / → All Tags
Surf For A Cause With A Volunteer Vacation In Ecuador
Dreading the doldrums of winter already? Instead of hibernating til spring, you could spend two weeks this January volunteering, surfing, and exploring private beaches, all while living in a beach side cottage just outside of Canoa, Ecuador. The Eco Surf Volunteer program matches volunteers with local elementary schools where they work hard teaching the kids English through games, activities and sports. But, they also find time to play hard. Each afternoon volunteers are taken to the area's best surf spots to catch some waves before going on a local excursion to meet indigenous tribes, visit re-forested mangrove islands or explore animal sanctuaries.
The daily schedule for the trip begins at 7:00 AM when breakfast is served before heading to a local school. There is a lunch break from Noon- 2:00 PM, which is when the afternoon surf lessons begin, followed by dinner at 7. Volunteers also have the option to take a free, private surf lesson from Ecuador's Junior Surf Champion and his team. Each night, Eco Surf also plans social activities like beach parties, bonfires or salsa dancing.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Military Travel / Airport Travel / Frequent Flyer Miles / → All Tags
For Veteran's Day, Donate Your Unused Miles To An Injured Soldier
If you've been looking for a way to give back to the men and women of the armed services, look to The Fisher House Foundation. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting America's military in their time of need, they're always looking for donated frequent flyer miles. The Hero Miles program allows passengers to donate their frequent flyer miles to service members and their families.
Fisher House specifically uses the donated miles to provide free airline tickets to military men and women who are being treated at a military or VA medical center due to an injury they sustained in Iraq or Afghanistan. The purchased plane tickets provide these men and women with the ability to visit home on an approved leave, or for their families to come to them.
The Fisher House works with several airlines including AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways for the Heroes Miles program. To donate, you can visit Fisher House's website or the individual airlines and request information about donating your miles.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Celeb Travel / Kids Travel / Travel With Children / → All Tags
'Project Explorer' Asks For The Definition Of A 'Global Citizen'
Whether it was because of a family road trip or National Geographic, most of us were inspired to become travelers at an early age. Now, the non-profit Project Explorer is bringing that inspiration to the classroom and exposing kids of all ages to different places around the planet. Their website, ProjectExplorer.org, provides free virtual field trips that include information about everything from the history to the culture and cuisines of far off locations around the globe. Their current trips include Jordan, Shakespearean England, South Africa, and a visit to Malaysia is also in the works.
To further their mission, Project Explorer is asking leaders, visionaries, public figures, children and the general public to answer one question: What does being a good global citizen mean to you? You can share your answer by becoming a member of Good Global Citizen. Well you are there, you can also watch inspiring videos by others who have already answered Project Explorer's call including Andrew Zimmern, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Russell Simmons, Allison Janney, Ziggy Marley, Dulé Hill, Paul Rudd and Mario Batali.
Check out their website for more information about how you can get involved or donate to Project Explorer.
Related Stories:
· Project Explorer [Official Site]
· Travel the World Virtually with ProjectExplorer.org [Wandering Educators]
· Volunteer Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Good Global Citizen]
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Montana Travel / Family Travel / Frontier Travel / → All Tags
Take The Whole Family On A True Western Adventure Next Summer
If you're already thinking about where to take the family on vacation next year and want a trip that includes adventure, giving back and activities everyone will enjoy, we may have found the perfect option. Adventures in Preservation, a non-profit group dedicated to saving the world’s architectural heritage, is planning its first hands-on building conservation workshop in which the entire family can participate. The workshop will be held in the historic mining town of Nevada City, Montana, June 20-26, 2010.
During the workshop, participants will learn and practice building preservation techniques and then put those skills to work. Activities include learning how to mix and apply historic exterior finishes as well as practicing chinking and daubing techniques that keep the wind from blowing through log walls.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Las Vegas Travel / New York Travel / Los Angeles Travel / Celeb Travel / Television Travel / → All Tags
Celebs Want You To Participate in Voluntourism With Them This Week
If you've watched any network TV this week you may have felt the sudden urge to do good. That's because the networks have teamed up with iParticipate—an industry-wide initiative aimed at urging viewers to participate in volunteerism—to include story lines that spotlight community service. That's also why the photo shoot on last week's Ugly Betty had a Nothing But Net theme and why Kenneth the page is going to try to adopt all of the dogs at a local shelter on Thursday's night's episode of 30 Rock. Not only will your favorite shows have a "do good" theme but the commercials will too. Several A-Listers, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew Mcconaughey, have taped ads for iParticpate reminding us that by helping others, we help ourselves.
But the Entertainment Industry Foundation, who is spearheading the initiative, isn't just spreading the message through TV, they have also scheduled several star-studded events this week to encourage people to get involved in their community. For instance, today, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba will donate her time along with more than 50 volunteers for a day of service at the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas beginning at 10:30 AM.
Tags: North Korea Travel / Volunteer Travel / Travel News / → All Tags
Help The Blind Read By Visiting North Korea
Wilderness experts teach campers to leave a place better than they found it. A tour group responsible for more than half of all Westerners visiting North Korea has taken that sentiment to heart, asking travelers to donate to help children in the impoverished, often aid-rejecting country.
Koryo co-founders Josh Green and Nicholas Bonner, both Brits, came up with the idea for the company when Green was working for a shipping company in Pyongyang in the early '90s. Using his connections, they were able to connect with the Korea International Travel Company, an official government agency that ushers foreigners in and out of the DPRK, and now contribute to the Pyongyang International Film Festival and produce documentaries as well as leading tours.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Maine Travel / Gay Travel / Political Travel / → All Tags
'Travel For Change' Is Sending Volunteers To Maine For Gay Rights
Usually, volunteer vacations are about helping the needy, but for some, they can also have a political agenda. Last year, Travel for Change helped send over 400 volunteers to swing states to work for the Barack Obama campaign. Now, they are helping send volunteers to Maine, where voters will take to the ballot box next month and decide whether to overturn a law that allows same-sex couples to wed. "Question 1," as it is being called, is similar to Prop 8, a same-sex marriage ban eventually approved by voters in California last year.
Travel for Change is working with the No on Question 1 campaign to get volunteers from across the country to Maine to work for marriage equality. The organization is raising funds and airline miles, matching volunteers to share rooms and cars, and placing them in appropriate jobs once they arrive in Maine.
Tags: Christmas Alternatives / Volunteer Travel / Costa Rica Travel / Holiday Travel / → All Tags
Help Costa Rican Families This Holiday Season On A Volunteer Vacation
Who needs another awkward family Christmas watching Aunt Betty get drunk and grandpa fall asleep? Instead, why not spend the holidays spreading some much needed holiday cheer in Costa Rica and participate in fun activities like zip lining and river rafting?
Tropical Adventures has created a special tour, dubbed The Holiday Project 2009, which mixes fun adventures with much-needed visits to diverse communities to spread the joy of the holidays. The trip is open to families and children of all ages are welcome to join in on the fun. As part of the package, families will spend a total 9 days/8 nights in Costa Rica, 2 nights will be spent in a hotel in San Jose, 4 nights in Puerto Viejo with a host family and the final 2 nights are spent on an Indigenous Reservation. The trip also includes all on-the-ground transportation, most meals, 3 holiday parties with local children and retirees, and 3 adventure tours.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Disney / Orlando Travel / Travel News / Freebies / → All Tags
Spend One Day Volunteering And Get A Free Pass From Disney
Mickey's giving away free one-day passes to Disney's Theme Parks and all you have to do to get one is spend a day volunteering. Beginning on January 1, 2010, you can sign up to volunteer with any participating organization for just one day, and in return you will receive a one-day pass to any Disney park. Disney is hoping to inspire one million people to volunteer (and spend money at Disney World) next year.
If you're not sure how or where to volunteer, Disney has made it easy by teaming up with HandsOn Network, which links volunteers with more than 70,000 nonprofits across the country. Once you've completed your day of service, it will be verified by HandsOn and you will receive a voucher good for one day at any Disney park.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Honeymoon Travel / Virgin Islands / → All Tags
Finally, Something Worth Getting Out of Bed For On Your Honeymoon
If you're planning a honeymoon, but want to do something more with your time than just sip on drinks by a pool and stay in bed, The Westin St. John Resort has just the trip for you. The Westin is offering a $100 resort credit and free transfers for couples who book the resort's Honeymoon package and participate in The American Hiking Association's volunteer vacation programs in the Virgin Islands National Park while they are there.
The AHA's volunteer vacation program includes trips that last up to 6 days and combine outdoor activities with environmental preservation. Volunteers are led throughout the Virgin Islands National Park by a crew leader who assigns various tasks ranging from moderate to difficult each day.
The Westin’s Honeymoon package includes breakfast daily, airport transfers, couples massage, snorkel gear, and a picnic basket. Nightly rates start at $440 based on double occupancy. But you must present confirmation of your volunteering plans to receive the resort credit. Leave the marabou-trimmed nighties out of the suitcase and make room for your hiking boots and cargo shorts.
Related Stories:
· American Hiking Society [Official Site]
· Green Weddings: Volunteer Honeymoons [The Knot]
· Volunteer Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Cape Cod Stretching]
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Airport News / Travel Help / Tips / → All Tags
Volunteer At Your Local Airport For An Altruistic Staycation
It's great to be able to take a volunteer vacation, see somewhere new and feel like you're doing good, but not everyone who wants to take such a trip can actually afford it. For those of you who are on more of a staycation budget, there is a way to combine altruism with your love of travel without having to leave town.
It's called Travelers Aid International, and they're located in airport terminals across the country, providing travel information, crisis intervention and general help for vulnerable or at-risk travelers. Their information booths are also located in several train and bus stations. With airports and other stations combined, they served more than 6 million people last year alone.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Garden Travel / Kauai Travel / Hawaii Travel / → All Tags
Exotic Voluntourism At The National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai
Love nature and digging in your garden? Have we got a volunteer vacation for you! The National Botanical Garden on the island of Kauai in Hawaii has been dedicated to preserving tropical plant diversity through research, education and by creating a safe haven for at-risk plant species for more than 30 years. Their headquarters at The McBryde Gardens features native Hawaiian Flora, orchids, palm trees and flowering trees that were wild-collected from tropical regions around the of the world.
Visitors to this eden are able to explore the garden via paths and bamboo bridges that cross over the park's natural streams and waterfalls. The garden is always looking for volunteers for the long-term or on a "vacation and volunteer" basis. There are endless opportunities available year-round using a variety of skill-sets. But that's not to say you need any special skills to help out, the garden's staff provides on-the-job training for newbies.
