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In this year of “firsts,” an increasing number of people are looking beyond the usual vacations to seek out activities and escapes to contribute in a meaningful way. Whether it’s mentoring and accompanying at-risk teens into the wilderness in Denver or volunteering across the nation on conservancy preserves, Volunteer Vacations Across America by Sheryl Kayne offers interesting places to go with something worthwhile to do when you get there.

Here are just some  of the volunteer vacation opportunities Sheryl outlines in her book:

. Assist in providing vision and dental care to people living in remote areas
. Reintroduce puffins into their natural habitat in the Gulf of Maine
. Offer instruction on fly-fishing retreats for breast cancer survivors
. Clear hiking trails or help with horticultural tasks on Catalina Island in California
. Educate tourists on whale watching tours
. Learn organic farming on a working farm
. Restore historical buildings and landmarks
. Rescue and rehabilitate loggerhead turtles and learn to surf in North Carolina

Most trips highlighted are low in cost, and travelers can choose from a wide variety of trips for interest, age, ability, and budget -from free opportunities where volunteers pay for their own transportation and others offering internships, stipends, and complete vacation packages. Included in the listings is essential information about the trips, sponsoring organizations, and projects, as well as inspirational and illuminating personal stories from volunteers.

An adventurer, writer, and educator, Sheryl  lectures and consults on immersion travel and volunteer vacations. The recipient of numerous awards for writing, she was most recently the writer-in-residence in the Everglades National Park, and a writing fellow at the Helene Wurlitzer foundation in Taos, New Mexico.  For more information visit
www.immersiontraveler.com