Here are some tips to help families select an appropriate volunteer vacation, then make the most of it once all ages are on board.

It's no secret that volunteer vacations have rapidly poured into mainstream travel trends, and students are taking notice. It's an opportunity to see the world, enrich their own lives, serve others, and even give their college resumes a boost.

The term 'volunteer vacation' first inched its way into our vocabulary in 1993 from travel guide author Bill McMillan, and now describes nearly 2,000 non-governmental organizations and for-profit companies who offer travel and service opportunities. Most would-be volunteers are eager to help those less fortunate and assume they'll make a positive impact in their volunteer communities simply by showing up and lending a hand. Unfortunately, only a handful of non-profits offer truly helpful economical and human assistance to the communities they claim to serve. But with so many programs and causes to choose from in the "voluntourism" area, how do students find safe, reputable, and enriching experiences?

Global Volunteers, helping people connect with volunteer projects worldwide, offers some insightful advice including carefully choosing programs that will benefit their host community and avoid any projects that appear exploitive. "Students are idealistic and generous people. However, in their zeal to help, some may join hastily contrived volunteer projects and unintentionally reinforce the "Ugly American" stereotype abroad," warns Global Volunteers co- founder, Michele Gran.

Advice on Selecting Volunteer Vacations

1. Trust local leaders. Help the community through the projects they request, not in the manner you believe is helpful. Don't let your own ideas get in the way of truly serving.

2. Resist the urge to give money or personal gifts directly to local people, as this can generate inequities between community members and make recipients targets of jealousies, and worse. Ethical organizations channel volunteers' contributions through community leaders and local institutions.

3. Remember you're a guest in the local community, even as a volunteer. Observe local customs, adhere to local laws, and respect traditions. Err on the side of caution.

4. Choose volunteer programs that are firmly rooted in the long-term development of the host community and commit sufficient time to truly contribute to development work. Avoid service "add-ons" that are designed to generate revenue for the sending organization and offer minor, if any, assistance to local people.

To ensure volunteers choose reputable programs, Global Volunteers strongly encourages students and volunteers to seek out programs with a minimum of one day of service. Otherwise, it will not conform to IRS requirements, could possibly have unethical intentions, and bring little impact to the community. Bud Philbrook, Global Volunteers co-founder and an attorney states: "Genuine international service with a credible non-profit organization engages volunteers in full-time work projects, five days per week and is tax-deductible for U.S. tax-payers."

Other issues to consider? Make sure the volunteer project doesn't cause the local people and community more effort than the project warrants. Many part-time opportunities feature a day of touring an orphanage or working in the community. Instead of truly putting in the adequate time to help the community, volunteers may be benefiting from their volunteer efforts at the expense of the local people. Philbrook also notes the damage that voluntourism brings to the volunteer vacation effort. Voluntourism puts an emphasis on tourism in a place of service, but can often slow the foundations for true volunteer efforts and progress. 

Volunteer Vacations Resources

Global Volunteers started offering short-term international service programs in 1984 for Americans seeking sustainable volunteer opportunities abroad. Nearly 180 American teams work with local people in teaching English, child care, labor and health-care, and varying projects in 19 countries every year.

Starting July 2008, Global Volunteers launched a new volunteer program in South Africa. Partnering with the impoverished community of Malungeni in the Ngqeleni Disrict, service opportunities are available in education, labor, building, and economic development. Various program dates run from July 12th, 2008 through August of 2009 for one, two, and three-week assignments.

Although the term "volunteer" may imply a free ride for free service, it does come at a price. Global Volunteer's service program fee ranges anywhere from $50 to $3,000 to cover their on-site costs and program materials for work projects, as well as to support the non-profit agencies they work with. The new South African program runs $2,095 for one week. For schedule information or to learn more, visit their site at www.globalvolunteers.org or call 800/487-1074.

The Walt Disney company recently announced that in 2010, they will reward one million people who volunteer in their communities with a free, one-day admission to the parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland in Southern California. Starting Jan. 1, guests can go to www.DisneyParks.com to search for volunteer opportunities through the HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects in which entire families can participate, according to Disney, but no announcement has been made as to whether or not Disney will reward families involved in other types of volunteer activities.