St. Paul, MN (March 21) – The nonprofit organization Global Volunteers invites you to try something new as you ponder family summer vacation choices this year.

A short-term volunteer service program – either in the United States or abroad – allows families to combine worthwhile community service with cultural exploration and personal growth, while having fun in the process.

“My children gained so much from volunteering in Ecuador,” said Lori Golden of Potomac, Md. “Not only did they learn about another culture and the value of service, but they also learned how to interact as part of a team. They were exposed to volunteers from all over the United States, from all age groups and backgrounds. And they enjoyed being treated on equal footing as team members. It was a real awakening.”

Founded in 1984, Global Volunteers offers the following “cool” service opportunities this summer. The tax-deductible fees listed cover all meals, lodging, ground transportation, project expenses and the services of an experienced team leader. Discounts available for families, students, internet users. To learn more, call 800-487-1074.

United States
Fayette County, West Virginia: Help build new homes and repair old ones in distressed coal-mining communities of Appalachia. Work with young adults in an alternative trades-education program. July 28-Aug. 4, Aug. 4-11. $795.

Blackfeet Reservation, Montana: Lend a helping hand and learn Blackfeet culture while volunteering in Browning, Mt., just outside of Glacier National Park. Projects include landscaping, construction, child care and meals-on-wheels delivery. July 14-21, July 21-28, July 28-Aug. 4, Aug. 11-18. $795.

Pelican Rapids, Minnesota: In this picturesque Minnesota town, you and your family can teach conversational English to children and adults from immigrant families. July 28-Aug. 4. $795.

Latin America
Costa Rica: In the pristine Monteverde Cloud Forest region, you can help preserve the eco-friendly way of life in small villages by lending a hand on several construction, repair and painting projects. June 23-July 7, July 7-21, July 21-Aug. 4, Aug. 4-18, Aug. 18-Sept. 1. $2,295 for two weeks.

Ecuador: Care for at-risk children or help build and repair a daycare center in Quito. June 23-July 7, July 7-21, July 28-Aug. 11, Aug. 11-25. $2,295 for two weeks. The July 7-21 team is the 100th team to this site and will feature several special events.
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Family volunteering
Brazil: Befriend and help children of poverty, including young cancer patients, in the northeastern coastal city of Salvador. June 16-30, June 10-July 14, July 14-28, Aug. 4-18. $2,295 for two weeks.

Peru: Provide hugs and companionship while teaching English to children at South America’s largest orphanage in Lima, Peru. June 2-16, June 30-July 14, July 28-Aug. 11, Aug. 11-25. $2,295 for weeks.

Europe
Greece: Teach conversational English to village youths at informal summer language camps on the scenic island of Crete. June 30-July 14, July 21-Aug. 4, Aug. 4-18. $2,495 for two weeks.

Poland: Meet and befriend Polish youths at an informal summer language camp in the countryside just outside of the eastern city of Siedlce. Freetime options include Krakow, Warsaw and World War II historic sites (at volunteers’ expense). June 23-July 7, July 7-21, July 21-Aug. 4, Aug. 4-18. $2,295 for two weeks.

Ireland: Help on labor projects at a unique peace and reconciliation center in the Wicklow Mountains outside of Dublin and meet young adult volunteers from around the world. June 30-July 14, Aug. 4-18. $2,095 for two weeks.

Romania: Provide hugs and care to at-risk babies and toddlers at a “failure to thrive” clinic near the eastern city of Barlad. June 30-July 21, July 21-Aug. 11. $2,595 for three weeks (one- and two-week options available).

Asia and South Pacific
Australia: Help on labor projects in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg in Queensland. June 23-July 21. $2,095 for three weeks.

Cook Islands: Befriend and tutor children and help on labor projects on the island of Rarotonga. June 9-30, June 30-July 21, Aug. 4-25. $2,495 for three weeks. Two-week option available.

China: Teach conversational English in Kunming, the “City of Eternal Spring,” in southern Yunnan province. June 23-July 14, July 14-Aug. 4. $2,295 for three weeks. Two-week option available.

No experience is necessary to volunteer and one- and two-week options are available at most sites. The fees listed do not include airfare. However, all costs, including airfare, are tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers.

Founded in St. Paul, Minn., in 1984, Global Volunteers is a nonprofit, nonsectarian international development organization that offers short-term volunteer opportunities on human and economic development projects in 19 countries. The website is www.globalvolunteers.org ; for more information, call 800-487-1074 or send an email to: email@globalvolunteers.org .