Take a Volunteer Vacation and Travel with a Purpose

Everyone needs a break on occasion, some time away, a little R & R. Here are six wonderful ways to take a vacation, and do some good at the same time. You'll have so much fun with new experiences, new people and service, you may not want to come home!

* Visit a National Park. There are programs for artists, people interested in environment and ecology, folks who appreciate and study local history, and others who want to stay at the park for free in exchange for providing park maintenance.

* Travel with Habitat for Humanity and build a house for a family who needs a home. Itineraries are balanced with plenty of work, rest and free time, and you tack on a few non-Habitat vacation days if you like. Trips are scheduled in dozens of countries including the US, Ghana, Canada, Bangledesh, Northern Ireland, Brazil, and Portugal.

* Camp with Wilderness Volunteers, a nonprofit organization that "organizes and promotes volunteer service to America's wild lands." There are trips schedules nationwide and at every difficulty level.

* Take a volunteer vacation in Hawaii. "The friendly Volunteer Vacations Hawaii staff guides you in a diversified hands on experience ranging from scientific research of Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins and North Pacific Humpback Whales (seasonal) to learning modern practices in sustainable organic farming, all while immersing yourself in the Hawaiian culture."

* Enjoy world travel with Earthwatch and help sustain the environment. Trips are available to help all sorts of areas including conservation, archeology, biodiversity, even health.

* Travel with a purpose to one of five continents on a Heifer International Study Tour. You'll learn about Heifer's work in sustainable development and how your choices affect the world.

Want a little help in developing your vacation/volunteer experience? Consider these resources:

* United Planet "s a leading international, educational, humanitarian, and peace-building, non-profit organization with members and volunteers in over 150 countries devoted to fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship, supporting communities in need, and promoting social & economic prosperity among cultures in order to unite the world in a community beyond borders."

* United Planet arranges "travel that feeds the soul" in 19 countries across six continents.

* I-to-I allows travelers to "escape to the real world" through various programs in dozens of countries.

You're going to take vacations anyway, why not be useful at the same time? After a vacation like that, you'll return home relaxed, fulfilled, and recharged; ready to take on the world! Have fun!!

"Sir, I say that justice is truth in action." - Benjamin Disraeli