Voluntourism and Family Vacations

Families combine community service with sightseeing as voluntourists

This generation of teens and 20somethings has grown up with the idea of community service and the importance of giving back. Many went to schools that required a certain number of hours of service. Others found it something fulfilling to do with their families and scout troops. Small wonder then that "voluntourism" has become one of the fastest growing trends in the tourist industry and a natural for family vacations. Building a voluntourism element into your family trip can make it even more enticing and meaningful for older teens, college kids and 20somethings - and you.

There are literally thousands of voluntourism opportunities out there. So how do you decide where to go and what to do on your family vacation? How do you work out the logistics? And what issues do you need to consider?

• Places & Causes: Some families are drawn to certain parts of the world and certain causes. They want to help elephants in Thailand, others yearn to rebuild hurricane-ravaged New Orleans (pictured). Some are intrigued by archaeology or ecological causes, others want to work with children. So the first thing to consider is what part of the world you want to visit, and what type of cause to pursue. Books such as Volunteering Around the Globe by Suzanne Stone (compare prices), and Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others by Bill McMillon, Doug Cutchins and Anne Geissinger (compare prices) may be just the thing to spark ideas.

• Beds, Cash & Three Squares: Read the fine print so you know what meals, transportation and accommodations your fees cover. Voluntourists may be housed in dormitories, homestays, campgrounds or hotels. While some families are perfectly fine bedding down anywhere, others can't bear the idea of a hostel or dorm existence. Check before you go. And don't be surprised if your fees are sizable. They can range from $20 a week to $3,000 or more. You're not just covering your own costs, you're underwriting hurricane rescue work or an ecological conservation project.

• Realistic Expectations: Suzanne Stone was surprised to be handed a shovel on her archaeological voluntourism trek. "Somehow the leaders of this dig weren't privy to my fantasy," she writes in her book, "I had envisioned myself sitting in the shade, quietly and sensitively brushing centuries-old dust off pottery shards." Some volunteer projects, including archaeological digs, involve hard physical labor. Others utilize brains over brawn. Read the fine print so you know what to expect.

• Sightseeing & Free Time: Just as voluntourism gigs can vary from a few days to 12 weeks, the amount of free time you're given can vary dramatically too. Some leave volunteers plenty of free time with which to explore the countryside, others leave virtually none, so if you wanted to take that Kenyan safari, you may need to allow extra time at the end of the trip.

• Need More? Click here for a sampling of voluntourism organizations with projects around the globe.