Adventure Travel

So you've got the urge to do volunteer work abroad, but you aren't sure if the full-blown, two-year Peace Corps experience is right for you. How about a getaway that combines volunteerism and adventure?

Global Volunteers is one of the oldest nonsectarian organizations to offer short-term "volunteer vacations." Kenny and Jackie Slutsky booked a two-week family trip to Carnitas, a small village in Costa Rica, where their team of 14 volunteers worked alongside a team of 14 locals to build a town recreation center. The work was physically demanding, but the whole family agrees that it's been their best vacation. "It's very rewarding to see something rise out of nothing," says Kenny, "and it was wonderful to see our kids be so nurturing to the local children — and be nurtured by them as well." The trip cost $1,695 per person, not including transportation from their home in Manhattan Beach, Calif. "We were where we could help others who are not as fortunate as we are," says Jackie.

The work opportunities on these vacations are practically limitless. If you're looking for a similar sort of experience, check out Volunteer Vacations (Chicago Review Press, 2003), which lists 275 opportunities worldwide. Or go to www.google.com and put in the key words: volunteer vacations.