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I recently noted how it's a good, green thing that many Americans don't go on vacation. But what if instead of going on vacation, you made a habit of eco-volunteering in those hard earned days off? And I'm not talking about volunteering at your local Parks and Rec service (though that'd be great too). No, I'm talking about a way to get all the thrills of an exotic vacation while doing something entirely beneficial for the environment.
During a bout of idle web surfing, I stumbled upon an organization called EcoVolunteer, and I have to say, they make a pretty intriguing idea. In an easy-to-use interface, you select either an area of the world you'd like to travel to, or a threatened species that's in need of aid. EcoVolunteer's database hooks you up with either, in the form of various conservation projects around the globe.
From helping to protect Iberian wolves in Portugal, to tending black and white rhinos in Africa, EcoVolunteer sets you up with a project that'll give whole new meaning to the concept of 'vacationing.' I mean, just imagine, instead of going to Paris and spending a fortune on a (great but) cliché American vacation, you could be one of the few people in the world to see black and white rhinos living in the wild.
And while I can't offer any endorsement on EcoVolunteer in particular—I've never used the program, nor do I know anyone who has—I can say that it's a great idea. And most of the fees that you pay towards the trip go to help fund the cause that you'll be volunteering for (and it's still cheaper than Paris). Trips can range anywhere from 15 days to five weeks. Seems like a great, green way to travel.
Benefits of Eco-Volunteering:
- Get the opportunity to go to exciting, exotic locales.
- Make a genuine difference.
- Have the chance to see and work with some of the rarest, most fascinating creatures on the planet. I'd say that beats a baguette and the Louvre any day.
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