The personal benefits of vacations are well-known: They can reduce stress, rekindle relationships and rejuvenate you physically. But your vacation can also benefit the world around you. Across the country and around the world there are opportunities to study the environment and preserve the landscape with Volunteer Vacations.
"The key to a successful Volunteer Vacation is being realistic about your desire and abilities," says Doug Cutchins, one of the authors of Volunteer Vacations. Being realistic about what you'd like to get out of the trip will certainly decrease your chances of winding up in a tent for 10 days dreaming of running water. Think about what areas and subjects are important to you: Do you want to study climate change in the Arctic or preserve the campground you and your family love?
Cutchins suggests asking about the demographics of others on the trip with the host organization. Ask: Will there be other families, singles, seniors, or school groups on this trip? You'll be spending a lot of time with these people and although these trips are a great way to meet new people, if you are the only single person vacationing with families you could feel a bit left out.
Cutchins gave us some great suggestions for short-term Volunteer Vacations, and we added a few additional trips that we'd love to take. Location, price, activities, and length of stay vary so much that he believes there is something for nearly everyone. Happy trails!
Study Climate Change in the Arctic:
By monitoring the ecosystem, you'll see that climate change is most visible at the Edge of the Arctic, as EarthWatch calls this expedition. Volunteers are stationed near Canada's Churchill river, near the geographical center of the North American continent. From the tundra to the forests, volunteers measure snowpack, monitor plant development and, during downtime, even learn how to build an igloo. (Your own accommodations will be a little warmer: Volunteers stay in modern dormitories.) Your research will be used by scientists to monitor ecosystem responses to global warming. There are trips scheduled for 2009 and 2010. The price is $2,950. Find out about more EarthWatch volunteer vacations.
Explore Old Europe in a New Way:
Maintaining ancient forests in England, protecting wetlands in Germany, building nests on the Black Sea in Bulgaria: These are not your typical European vacation activities. But each promises an unforgettable experience. Toss out your travel guidebooks and explore a foreign country while helping to protect it with a BTCV Conservation Holiday. (That acronym used to stand for British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, but now they simply go by BTCV.) The organization offers conservation holidays around the world but focuses mainly in the U.K. and other parts of Europe. Trip prices range from approximately $70 to $1,000, and the trips can last from 2-15 days.
Help Preserve Cheetahs in Namibia: 
To participate in this project, you won't have to keep up with the speedy cheetahs (which can dash at speeds over 70 miles per hour). You just help save them from local extinction in Namibia. EarthWatch volunteers are based in Eland's Joy, the headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. This area is the last stronghold of the wild cheetah, so it's the perfect place to conduct wildlife surveys, feed and care for captive cheetahs and spread the word about cheetah conservation to the local people. There are trips planned for 2009; the cost is $4,050. Learn more about volunteer expeditions at EarthWatch.org.
Study Sharks and Crocodiles in Belize:
Across the world, shark and crocodile populations are being threatened. The Oceanic Society's goal is protect sharks and crocodiles, and other endangered species, by working with local groups and universities to research and collect data on the animals and to eventually translate this data into policy proposals. Volunteers on these projects will be living in the Turneffe Atoll area of Belize and participating in such activities as counting crocodile hatchlings and deploying underwater cameras. In their free time, volunteers can explore beautiful Belize and try activities like snorkeling among the coral reefs. The Belize Shark Research trip costs $1,950 and the Belize Crocodile Research trip is $1,975. More trips are available through the Oceanic Society.
Volunteer in the Deep Sea:
Photo Credits: Jackie Zinger / Pacific Crest Trail Association, EarthWatch (2), Reef Check
More from The Daily Green:
11 Eco-Friendly Volunteer Vacations
5 Free (or Almost Free) Vacations
The 10 Most Romantic Ecotourism Destinations
Amazing Wildlife Photos
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