by Robin Peak

Created on: August 08, 2009

Enjoy living while giving...take a volunteer vacation. It is a marvelous way to enrich your life and make a difference. Whatever your hobby or interest, there is a volunteer vacation package available to suit your needs. If money is a big factor in your decision then consider doing what Alex did. Alex is an energetic student volunteer for a non-profit organization headquartered in New York; she joined the group in 2009 and then enticed her sister Nikki to join. From day one, Alex has been passionate about the organization's mission. She works virtually over the Internet volunteering her time to support a good cause...helping people affected by natural disasters. She has blogged. She started an e-mail campaign among her friends and family to raise awareness as well as funds for the organization. She is reaching out to other student volunteers, telling them how to get involved in their communities. This young lady does not volunteer because it is easy; she does it because she cares! Another way Alex shows her compassion for others is by spending part of her summer vacation abroad helping to build leadership qualities in other young people.

I asked Alex to drop me a few lines about her latest vacation/mentoring experience. On her recent missions trip to Cooks Brook, Nova Scotia, she worked as a camp counselor. (Cooks Brook is a small inland community located in the picturesque Musquodoboit Valley, where the summers are normally hot.) This camp had 40 campers attending the week Alex volunteered. The "American Team," made up of high school and university students, which Alex was a part of, was asked to perform several different odd jobs. Alex was assigned as counselor in a cabin with eight very crazy prepubescent girls. "It took the girls awhile to come out of their shells," said Alex, "but in the end they felt like my family." She told me this experience taught her responsibility and, "Most importantly how to be a good role model." What I loved most about what Alex had to say was this: "If any of you have a love for kids, check out summer camps near you, or even out of the country! It's a great way to minister and connect with the younger generation."


Isn't it great that Alex was willing to give up a few weeks of her precious summertime fun to make eight young girls happy? She traveled outside the country, stayed on 400-acres of beautiful wilderness in Nova Scotia, and made memories that will reach far beyond the activities she shared with these young girls. Alex is an ameliorator. Way to go, Alex! You are making a difference.


Many organizations offer opportunities to combine vacationing with volunteering. The American Hiking Society and Washington Trails Association both offer hikers opportunities to enjoy nature, while preserving our nation's trails. The Charity Guide lists numerous volunteer vacations, from teaching in Africa, to saving endangered species around the planet. Next time you're planning a vacation, think about combining your passion with your travels, and enjoy an enriching experience that benefits you and the world around you.

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