Volunteer Vacations: The New Way To Go (NAPSA)—One of the latest trends in tourism involves traveling somewhereas a volunteer. A vacation built around volunteering can give travelers the chance to immerse themselves in another culture and build bondsof friendship while making a contribution to the quality of life in a community. In some cases, it may even offer a tax write-off. A Growing Trend Seniors and many baby boomers who came of age during the civil rights movementare credited with charting the volunteer vacation course—but younger travelers are jumping on the volunteer bandwagon as well. It’s even become a popular way for families to vacation together. “People are looking at ways to give back, even when they’re on vacation. I think it’s a natural follow-through for the family who wants to travel together. Whether it’s the grandparents or the parents and the grandchildren, volunteer vacations are a great way to do something as a family,” says Cheryl Hudak, President and CEO of American Society of Travel Agents. Helping At Home And Abroad A volunteer vacation can take a number of forms. For instance, vacationers can teach English to Hungarian children, nurture orphaned children in Ecuador or help save lives by providing basic health care screenings in countries around the world. Within the United States, vol- unteers can tutor the children of immigrants in Minnesota, con- struct playgrounds for Blackfeet A travel agent can often identify volunteer opportunities, help volunteers save money on airfare tickets and offer some exciting ideas for a traveler’s free time. Indians in Montana, help deprived Appalachian families start fresh in West Virginia, work with senior citizens on an Indianreser- vation in South Dakota or restore community buildings in Mississippi and more. Smart Way To Travel For a budget-conscious college student who wants to see the world, a volunteer vacation can be a great way to go overseas. Stu- dents can soak in the gorgeous South African sunset and learn how to protect dolphins, whales, seals and seabirds. Or they can venture to Costa Rica and get their handsdirty rebuilding homes. You can speak with a travel agent who is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents. Members can often help set up volunteer programs, makeit possible to save money on airfare andoffer some exciting ideas for a traveler’s free time. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.travelsense.org.
