volunteering programms

“Has anybody of you been participating in a volunteering programm?

I am looking into volunteering programms where one can participate at scientific research projects. I have found a web site where they have really cool projects, but apart from the work force and time you spent you have to make a financial 'contribution'. For example "Alaskan Fur Seals" 10 days --> $3246. Or "Mammals of Nova Scotia" 14 days --> $2746. There are other cool projects on the British Isles and elsewhere in the world. I sure don't mind making a finacial contribution, to cover costs, but what do you guys think? Are these prices reasonable?”

“Um you sure that isn't the job with the baseball bat...?”

“I've personally never killed a seal before, but that seems like a reasonable price for it's fur.”

“Noooo, it's not about clubbing them. I think it's about counting them and maybe bagging samples of their poop, or so.”

“http://www.passportintime.com/ is another great one.”

“Thanks Gem. I will definetly look into it.
Did you do any volunteering on such projects?”

“Forget those Neanderthals, Euro.

Or are they Cro Magnons?”

“Although it's not quite picking up penguin poop, note that in the USA especially in the Eastern part, most trail maintenance is done on a volunteer basis.

There are a few organizations set up to create week-long trips from it.

Costs vary from low to nonexistent. Here are a couple of examples:

American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations, http://www.americanhiking.org/events/vv/index.html

Appalachian Trail Conservancy volunteer Trail Crews, http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.733147/

Keystone Trails Association (Pennsylvania, USA) also has three week-long volunteer Trail Crews in June each year. For the sixth year I will be leading one of them. Cost is free (lodging and food included), if you can get there with your tent The KTA web site is in a rebuilding phase but hopefully before too long more specific information will be posted again: http://www.kta-hike.org/OntheTrails/TrailCareandTrailCrew/tabid/58/Default.aspx In the meantime e-mail tioga AT hike-mst D0T org if you have a real interest.
last edited: 1/08/08 9:54:54 AM”

“Are you sure this is not merely ecotourism couched as a Volunteer Vacation? Everything I've seen that is real volunteerism has made it a point to keep the cost of participation super super cheap. 3K ain't cheap.

Without any further info to go on the prices make me think that this is someone's for profit business and not real volunteerism.”

“I did volunteer at the Kaiser Farm Dig. It was fun and the other volunteers where great. Didn't volunteer for a while now tho. need to get back into it.

I checked passport in time, and they don't have a lot going right now. I guess it's a season related thing. Over the summer there volunteer ops for almost every state.
last edited: 1/08/08 10:24:58 AM”

“Passport in time is the real deal.
If I were to do anything like this it would be through them or a trail club.”

“Those sound like some really great opportunities and a great way to meet some interesting people as well! :-) For those who have done some of the volunteering-- how strenuous is the trail maintenance work? Do they really have opportunities for people in all different types of physical shape?”

“The Appalachian Trail Club has local(state) chapters that do maintenance trips in the east.

You could coordinate some of that with one of the infamous Trail Talk Trips.

For example:
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trips/trip/1400.php”

“I think those Neanderthals are kind of cool. An archaelogical project would be very interesting.

As far as I can tell earthwatch.org looks pretty credible, just a tad expensive maybe. Their projects are open to volunteers form other countries as well and not just for citizens only. 3K ain't cheap. Maybe I could get it cheaper, if I would just travel myself to the fur seals, sit down and count 'em all day long, without any project?”

“Ah Earthwatch. Gothca, they are pretty well known for the whole volunteer vacation thing.
Charity Navigator rates them as "good"
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3639”

“"I think those Neanderthals are kind of cool."

Maybe, but you will need more than a bat to crack those thick skulls.”

“that not nice”

“Sure..............but it be funny!”

“Unless he bled for five days and didn't die and he was a woman. THEN it wouldn't be funny.”

“mmmm...I think for those Neanderthal you either use a large brush or a little stone hammer, not a bat. I think Neanderthals themself prefered large clubs, or upper thighs of a mammoth.”

“Pinkbubelz - Yes, there are opportunities for those in all colors, shapes, and sizes -- at least on my KTA Trail Crew. One of the perennial social butterflies on that crew is an expatriate Michigander too.”

“Our Neanderthals seem to prefer the jaw bone of an ass.”

“I also could be interested in volunteering for trail maintenance, but I am a lone woman traveler and you folks somewhat scared the crap out of me with all the 'backcountry safety' talk.”

“Interesting... Thinkbubelz & I like to go on hiking trips (combined with car-camping / city stuff as well) for our annual vacations. I have the summers off, so this might be an interesting way to meet some new friends and to do something out of the ordinary... The low cost of the trips is very tempting, and I don't mind doing something that will be for the benefit of everyone and the nature around us.... may have to take a look and see what's available and maybe I can even convince a friend or 2 to join us....”