Customer Reviews

Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having spent the past seven years volunteer travelling around the world for my vacations, I can honestly attest to the fact that this extremely helpful reference book was my starting point for research into the culturally-enriching, service-oriented travel experiences which have changed my life. Provided inside this handy book are the names of the volunteer organizations which arrange and organize the travel, listings of the type of volunteer work and skills required and all of the necessary logistics. (Actually the only skill often required is a desire to serve and to learn.)

The second half of the book contains numerous brief volunteer journals where the reader can obtain a clearer picture of how this type of travel impacts the recipients of the service work and more importantly perhaps how these deeply moving and life-altering experiences greatly enhance the life of the volunteer.

I have met people of all ages and from all walks of life on these incredible journeys. If you have a bit of adventure in your blood and a desire to serve and especially to learn from another culture's experience...investigate this book...it may open some brand new doors in your life.

This book covers all kinds of volunteerism, from ecologic to medical. From the USA to the far corners of the world. Not only does it contain volumes of information on agencies seeking volunteers, it also has a great cross-referenced index, so that you can easily choose a "volunteer vacation" to fit your interests, schedule, and your wallet.

*****
I bought this book out of curiosity and was amazed at the variety of opportunities available to travel and contribute throughout the world. The book is a compendium of opportunities of every imaginable type, an incredible resource if you're even thinking about a taking a vacation in which you volunteer.

Each opportunity contains all contact information, include web site, the types of projects available, organization mission statements, the year founded, the number of volunteers last year (so that you can see the scope of the program), funding sources, what kind of work the organization does, project locations, time line (when and for how long commitments are made), cost (including arrangements that must be made like medical examinations), how to get started, needed skills, and the specific populations that could qualify.

The book is very friendly to those with limitations (for example, sight limitations, physical agility, etc.). There are also stories throughout the book from volunteers about their actual experiences while volunteering.

There is a section on long-term volunteering opportunities. There are four indexes: by project cost, project length, location, season, and type.

It is a wonderful book to use to explore what types of things you might like to do, as well as to use as a research base to search out specific opportunities. It is a great value, and an organized way to begin your volunteer journey!

Highly recommended.
*****

"The book is bland as far as pictures go...but the info inside makes up for it entirerly! The layout is basic & straight foreward but the websites on each particular job provide pics & other info for interested volunteers. There's a lot more international opportunities in it than in the book "The Back Door Guide to Short Term Job Adventures". I love how the book sorts the jobs by cost, length, season, location & type!" I am volunteering in Africa this September with an organization that I saw in this book. I am soooo excited!!!!

This book was extremely well organized. I was able to quickly sort through for an organization that allowed teens and was for the duration of time we had available. From there, it was easy to go on the specific websites for the pretty pictures. We have just come back from our experience building homes in Costa Rica and can't wait to go again! You will never again feel the need for a beach vacation. It was much more invigorating to give something of yourself.

I have bought this book twice... I lost my first copy and needed another one. This book is absolutely indespensible for me. It is so well organized, with indexes ranging from seasons to cost to type of work. I'm a bit of a penny pincher and I've never had to pay more than $400 a month to live in a place that is absolutely breath taking. I've used several of the companies the book lists, namely wwoof and volunteers for peace (VFP) and have had great success. I've been fortunate enough to have lived in Guatemala, Thailand, the Galapagos, and Scotland thanks to this book.

I really like that every single entry has a webpage to go along with it so you can check exact dates and prices with the agency/farm/company. I highly recommend buying this book for anyone between the ages of 18-30 though they have some excellent projects for seasoned professionals as well.

I'm sure you can get most of the information in this book online but there's nothing like being able to curl up with this while dogearing pages and marking it up. It is extremely well organized and indexed in multiple ways so you're sure to find what you're looking for. Once something gets your interest you can contact the organization or look online for more info. One really nice feature is the occasional presence of first person narratives from people who've actually done the vacations.

I have read versions of this book since 2004 when researching and considering volunteer vacations. It's clear, concise entries make it easy to compare and contrast different options. Every time a new edition arrives, I pick it up.

I highly recommend this book to my volunteer vacation classes. The beginning students really appreciate the cross-reference sections in the back of the book. Listed by cost, length of program, season, continent or country, and project type helps to shorten research time. Once the would-be volunteer has determined the most important aspect of their trip, they quickly focus on what matters for their trip.

Thank Mr. McMillon, et al., for inspiring more people to get out there and make a difference.

Jane Stanfield
Author of Mapping Your Volunteer Vacation

I got this book for my son who is looking for something more rewarding to do with his summer break this year. This book is filled with practical information that will be helpful to anyone who is interested in Volunteer Vacations but unsure where to start. I especially liked the section with first-hand experienced in journal form from past volunteers. Going through this book with my son is proving to be a good eye opener and an excellent resource to help him find the sort of experience that will be best suited to his interests and comfort level.

This book is very informative and easy to navigate. I was able to ready it over a 2 day period on my spare time and breakdown the vacations that would best suit what I am looking to do.