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Tags: Volunteer Travel / Alternative Spring Break / Spring Break Travel / → All Tags
Where To Go For An Alternative Spring Break Experience
Getting drunk in Acapulco is fun, but what if you want something more out of your spring break? This year, there are several volunteer and travel agencies organizing spring break trips with a purpose just for you.
United Way has been on the forefront of the alternative spring break movement and this year is no exception. They have volunteer trips planned from March 28 through April 3 in various locations across the U.S.
Students can choose between helping out nonprofits in Detroit, Michigan, repairing and rebuilding flood-damaged homes in Wabash Valley, Indiana or helping to rebuild and reconstruct communities in Louisiana and Mississippi. The cost of the trips is $150, and you'll have to provide your own transportation. You can find more information at Liveunited.com.
Tags: Events / Active Travel / Charity Travel / Chicago Travel / Volunteer Travel / → All Tags
Why You Should Take a Dip in Chicago's Freezing Lake Michigan This Weekend
If someone offered you $100 to jump into Lake Michigan in frigid March, would you do it? Last year, more than 1,200 crazy people took the cash and went for a wintertime dip in Chicago's North Avenue Beach for the Polar Plunge, the main fund-raising event for Special Olympics Chicago.
Those who want to test the waters and help a good cause can put on their bathing suits and head to the lake on March 7 at 9 a.m. for the 10th annual Polar Plunge. The event works similar to a walkathon. Polar Plungers have to raise at least $100 in donations, but instead of walking a certain amount of miles, they have to brave the cold-as-hell water.
Tags: Earthquakes / Emergencies / Volunteer Travel / Chile Travel / → All Tags
Who's Helping Out in Chile and How You Can Contribute to Earthquake Relief
Though Chile may have been somewhat prepared for the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit off the coast on Saturday, they are still in need of assistance with more than 700 dead and dozens of bridges and buildings collapsed. Here's a look at some organizations that have already gone into action and how you can help out:
· The American Red Cross is pledging $50,000 from its International Response Fund for relief operations. You can donate to the Red Cross online or by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW.
· Habitat for Humanity Chile is already working on developing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. To help, you can donate online or register to become a volunteer for Habitiat for Humanity in the U.S. They frequently send teams around the world to help build housing and shelter for those in need.
More! After the jump...
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Literary Travel / New Orleans Travel / Events / → All Tags
How to Volunteer at New Orleans' Tennessee Williams Literary Fest
The five-day Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival kicks off March 24th in the French Quarter of New Orleans. The annual festival features talks with award winning writers, live theater, film screenings, walking tours of Williams' old stomping ground and even a "Stanley and Stella" shouting contest.
This year's big name panelists include John Patrick Shanley who wrote and directed Doubt, Edward Albee, who is best known for penning Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Dave Eggers who wrote the big screen version of Where The Wild Things Are and ABC News' Cokie Roberts.
Like most festivals, the Tennessee Williams Literary Fest needs volunteers to keep it running smoothly. Volunteer shifts are 4-5 hours and for each shift worked, you earn a free panel pass worth $60. Volunteer assignments will vary depending on the events of the day but most volunteers will be collecting tickets, providing information or helping with concessions. You can choose from an available shift here.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Vancouver 2010 Olympics / Vancouver Travel / London Travel / London 2012 / → All Tags
Couldn't Volunteer In Vancouver 2010? Its Not Too Late To Sign Up For London 2012
It's not just sports enthusiasts and athletes descending on Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The city has also welcomed thousands of volunteers who have traveled from around the world to take tickets, escort athletes, direct crowds and do hundreds of other small jobs that keep the games running smoothly.
Yea, but what do you get in return? Find out after the jump
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Haiti Travel / Earthquakes / Frequent Flyer Miles / Disasters / → All Tags
Relief From the Sky: What the Airlines are Doing to Help Haiti
As we reported last week, Spirit Airlines was giving away enough loyalty miles for a free flight to anyone who donates $5 to Haiti by Jan. 17. But, Spirit isn't the only airline getting involved in the relief efforts. Here's a look at a few other airlines and what they're doing to help:
· American Airlines: American is giving customers a chance to earn 250 bonus miles when they donate at least $50, or 500 bonus miles for a donation of $100 or more to the American Red Cross through Feb. 28, 2010. The airline, in conjunction with American Eagle, is also sending three flights to Haiti filled with 30,000 pounds of relief supplies, food and water.
· Continental Airlines: Continental has a program for OnePass members in which they can donate their miles to relief groups, including the Red Cross.
More airlines, after the jump
Tags: Earthquakes / Haiti Travel / Disasters / Tragedies / Spirit Airlines / Volunteer Travel / Frequent Flyer Miles / → All Tags
Donate $5 To Haiti Relief and Spirit Airlines Will Give You a Free Flight
All day today and yesterday, ways to do your part to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti have been publicized on Twitter, Facebook, and on the news. Even celebrities are throwing their weight behind some of the text-to-donate schemes, but how can you be sure it's all legit?
Unless you really do the research, it's all a crapshoot with those texting charities and money boxes at gas stations, so we're throwing our weight behind the charity efforts of an airline, of course. Specifically Spirit Airlines, who will give you enough loyalty miles for a free flight if you donate only $5 to Haiti by January 17.
On their website, you can login or sign up for the Spirit Airlines frequent flyer program (Free Spririt) for free, and then choose who you'd like to donate to: The Red Cross, UNICEF, or Wyclef Jean's charity Yéle Haiti. After completing the donation form and sending at least $5 to the charities, Spirit will credit your account with 5,000 miles if you're among the first 200,000 to do so, which is enough for a roundtrip flight if you have the Spirit Mastercard, or half of a one-way flight if you don't. Granted, it'll take 6-8 weeks for the miles to drop into the account, but it's for a good cause. Go here to participate and donate.
Related Stories:
· HaitiRelief [Spirit Airlines]
· A Man with a Radio is all that's left of the airport in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti [Jaunted]
· Spirit Airlines News [Jaunted]
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Animal Travel / San Diego Travel / San Diego Zoo / → All Tags
How To Get Closer To The San Diego Zoo's New Baby Panda
It seems like all the world's a-twitter today over the San Diego Zoo's 4 1/2 month old giant panda, Yun Zi. The cub stepped outside his den on Monday to explore an outdoor area where he checked out the bushes, played with his mom and climbed on tree branches. This is one of the first times Yun Zi has left his den, so it's causing quite a stir at the zoo and online of course, where people can't seem to get enough of newly posted pictures and video of the baby.
If you want to do more than just gawk at the animals in the San Diego Zoo, they have a volunteer program that offers both short-term and long-term opportunities. Some of the positions available include Interpretive Volunteers who provide information about wildlife conservation to guests, Information ambassadors who answer questions and provide assistance throughout the zoo and Conservation Research Volunteers who usually have a science background and help out in the Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Christmas Travel / Charities / → All Tags
Think Internationally And Gift A Cow Or Llama For Good Karma
If the mad rush of buying Christmas gifts is turning you into a Grinch, the Heifer International charity wants you to give a gift that will be meaningful to both your family and families around the world, without all the hassle. In fact, it's the perfect last-minute gift since it doesn't require going out to buy it (you purchase online) and nothing needs to be shipped.
Heifer International provides animals like cows, llamas, sheep and even water buffalo to impoverished families who can then use the animal for their own nourishment and to create an income for the future. For example, if a family has a cow, the children will be able to have a glass of milk every morning for nourishment. They will also be able to go to school because the revenue earned from selling milk can pay for classes. Then, every gift multiplies. As the cow's first offspring is born, it is passed on to another family, and they agree to pass on an animal too and so on and so forth. It's quicker, cheaper and plain easier than taking a two-week voluntourism trip, and yet you'll probably feel just as good about it.
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Television Travel / Malaysia Travel / → All Tags
Take A Killer Volunteer Vacation To Malaysia, 'Dexter'-Style
If you were following Dexter this season, you know that the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) cemented his youngest victims into new construction for Four Walls, a fictional charity that built homes for the needy. In the end, Dexter took care of Trinity, but there are still plenty of people in the real world who need a home, and its Habitat for Humanity who is helping them.
Habitat for Humanity has several volunteer opportunities available in local communities and at build sites across the globe. One of them, the Global Village Program, lets volunteers experience another culture while making a difference in the lives of others.
Tags: Celeb Travel / Volunteer Travel / Lindsay Lohan / India Travel / → All Tags
La Lohan Heads To India To Save Children And Talk Politics
Lindsay Lohan's apparently busy saving lives this week, taking a break from ruining her own. The Mean Girls star/trainwreck is currently in India making a documentary about the trafficking of women and children for the BBC and, according to a recent tweet, she has already saved 40 children! Yesterday, she exclaimed, "Over 40 children saved so far… Within one day’s work. This is what life is about… Doing THIS is a life worth living!!!"
A Hindu stateman, Rajan Zed, advised Lindsay to take a dip in the holy Ganges if she really wants to change her ways. Zed said, "Lindsay Lohan should rediscover herself by taking a dip in the holy Ganges. It is believed that bathing in the sacred Ganges purifies one of all sin and its waters confer immortality." But, Lindsay hasn't taken him up on the offer yet. She's been way too busy saving lives and debating political issues. She just tweeted, "Having a heated debate w/ my security guard about politics & I'm seconds from leaving my table! Never debate over dinner!! You'll leave hungry."
Tags: Volunteer Travel / Caribbean Travel / New Year's Eve Travel / → All Tags
New Year's Eve Is For The Birds In The Dominican Republic
Want to ring in the New Year by helping the world without sacrificing the necessary creature comforts? Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic recently announced the launch of their first voluntourism package which allows guests to participate in the island’s annual bird count with Dr. André Dhondt from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
Guests staying at Tortuga Bay and The Puntacana Hotel between Dec. 28 and Jan. 2 will be invited to partake in the yearly census of more than 25 indigenous bird species native to the Dominican Republic. The annual count is crucial to monitoring and protecting the health of the island's birds. Hotel guests will also have the opportunity to join Dr. Dhondt for lectures and tours of the resort grounds, including exclusive access to the resort’s beautiful Ecological Reserve.
