How to Choose a Volunteer Trip

For travelers interested in packing purpose into their trips, volunteer vacations offer opportunities to leave a place better than they found it. But time commitments, costs and the work required varies. The following tips explore the variables that distinguish volunteer travel experiences.

Understand the spectrum of work

Volunteer trips with the most impact require a significant work contribution. They tend to be run groups like Global Volunteers, a nonprofit based in St. Paul, Minn., that has operated in 37 countries for 40 years. Volunteers usually have evenings and weekends free while living in communities where they are working.

For those seeking a balance of work and travel, a category of trips known as “voluntourism” combines lighter service and more time for tourism activities.

The website Workaway, for example, lists global opportunities to volunteer, including landscaping in the Gulf Islands of Canada and harvesting tea in Vietnam. Workaway volunteers are expected to work five hours a day in exchange for shelter and some meals, and the website allows users to browse opportunities by country and by service subject.

Commit to at least one week

Organizations that offer travel programs that last a week or two say short-term work can be powerful if well organized.

“With a group, you can get a lot of project work done,” said Chris Braunlich, the board chair and chief executive of the California-based nonprofit Conservation VIP, which runs outdoor trips from the Scottish Highlands to Patagonia, Chile, that might involve building or maintaining hiking trails with a crew of six to 18 volunteers working roughly seven to eight hours most days.