Want to feel good, do good and enjoy a money-saving vacation at the same time?
Sheryl Kayne, author of “Volunteer Vacations Across America,” has investigated and catalogued more volunteer vacation opportunities than I ever imagined existed. Many of them are very suitable for seniors and are not necessarily limited to the summer months.
For example, one retiree and his wife who live in Florida, take a yearly volunteer vacation at either of the beautiful Ghost Ranches in Abiquiu or Santa Fe, N.M. The artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, lived in Abiquiu for many years and the landscape is spectacular. Volunteers work the front-desk reception, in the gift shop and the education and visitor center. In exchange for working five hours a day, you pay only half the housing fee and meals are included.
Another different opportunity, also in the Southwest, is a five-day program sponsored by Ambassadors for Children. You work side by side with Native American children.
Another organization offers a seven-day volunteer vacation program tutoring children of the Navajo Nation in Tuba City, Ariz. The Navajo Nation is the largest reservation in the United States.
Closer to home, volunteer to spend part of the summer at the Hole in the Wall Gang camp in Ashford, Conn., helping children who have cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. The camp also has weekend sessions from fall through spring. Started by the late Paul Newman, applications are available at www.holeinthewallgang.org.
If you love riding the rails, connecting with people and American history, a joint venture between the National Park Service and Amtrak may be for you. Select the section of the country you would most like to visit ... different routes offer different programming.
The book has a complete chapter of activities for people whose passion is animals and animal rights, from sampling wildlife in New York City to helping care for gibbons in Santa Clara, Calif.
There are boat- and land-based opportunities and work may include maintenance chores, data collection or educating the public. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center offers a free training program in fossil preparation, before a one-week commitment, and the majority of volunteers are seniors.
There is sea turtle preservation in Savannah, Ga., an endangered elephant sanctuary in Tennessee and a wild wolf sanctuary in New Mexico, to name only a few of the many opportunities available to those who like to work with animals or wildlife.
Opportunities for the entire family are also covered. Whether your interest area is cycling, horses, surfing, the theater or farming, there are volunteer opportunities to match your interests and availability. Be sure to ask about the specific chores you will be responsible for and the time commitment required.
Ask about the average workday, relaxation time and the activities enjoyed by previous volunteers. Be forewarned, the author suggests, that this is not an ordinary vacation where you might expect everything to be done for you.
Volunteer vacations are working vacations, but reward those who participate through mutual growth, understanding and experience. They are reciprocal … benefiting both the person who serves as well as the recipient.
While there is no substitute for this information-packed book; the Web site, www.1-800-volunteer.org, is a national database of volunteer opportunities that enables you to search for a place to volunteer or browse organizations. Happy vacationing, whatever your plans may be.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
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