|
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 service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
