Tuesday February 01, 2005
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AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - "Volunteer Vacations," the idea of spending vacation time working for a greater good in lieu of baking on a beach, is an idea that has come into vogue in recent years. Do a Web search on "Volunteer Vacations," you'll come up with more than 612,000 ideas for national and international travel that not only provides a getaway, but does a lot more. These trips offer a wide variety of opportunities for people to use their skills and interests to benefit important causes while exploring remote locations that may not be accessible to the general public. By sharing a volunteer experience, people are able to affect change in a very personal way.
Why are more people than ever volunteering? Recent studies show that volunteering plays a role in increasing one's overall sense of well-being, alleviating chronic pain, and even reducing depression, according to the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 64.5 million people performed some kind of volunteer work during a one-year period September 2003 to September 2004. Each volunteer donated an average of 52 hours in activities like fundraising, coaching, teaching, serving food, providing information, and general labor.
A travel adventure that "feeds the soul" and "renews the spirit" according to some promoters, volunteer vacation opportunities are available these days coast to coast - from working at a state park, assisting staff and rangers, working on a trail crew, or lending your knowledge as a natural history interpreter; to a Native American reservation where learning about a culture and a region of the United States is part of the experience.
Nowhere, however, is there a more exciting opportunity awaiting volunteers than on Catalina Island, one of the California Channel Islands, according to Matthew Sutton who coordinates such an experience for the Catalina Island Conservancy, called, aptly, "Volunteer Vacations." Volunteer vacationers are a portion of the organization's overall volunteer crew that get to have a particularly exciting experience since they camp in nature but with sufficient amenities to be comfortable.
"Our volunteer vacationers get to do projects to renew and protect wildlands and coves of Catalina Island, and at night, enjoy a quality, three or four-course dinner at a volunteer camp overlooking the ocean," says Sutton. "There are not many camping vacation destinations you can go to that are scenic, as reasonably priced, and that enable you to walk away at the end of a week feeling like you really made a positive difference in the world."
Volunteers Get Off the Beaten Track - The Conservancy's program offers outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to work in stunning backcountry locations with landscape and vistas that the general public may never see. Most of the Islands million-plus visitors each year travel to Avalon, the Island's main city, and see the interior only from tour buses that travel from that city to the Conservancy's Airport-In-The-Sky. The Conservancy's volunteer vacationers, on the other hand, travel through the Island's expansive wildlands to help Conservancy experts conduct projects involving scientific research, horticulture, plant monitoring, trail building, beach clean-up, non-native plant removal, fence removal, nursery improvements, or facility maintenance, to name a few.
"Most participants volunteer because they want to do something they love," says Sutton, adding that volunteer vacationers also get the opportunity to meet the Conservancy's animal ambassadors, such as Tachi (an endangered Catalina Island fox) and Pimu (a bald eagle).
In return, the program seems to generate Volunteer Vacation alums who love the program on Catalina. It is known by many of those who participated as a Cadillac among volunteer possibilities, both for having fun and for learning about conservation.
"The Conservancy's Volunteer Vacations provide a wonderful opportunity," exclaims returning vacationer Carol McMillan. "I enjoyed experiences I will always remember, while doing something worthwhile. What more could one wish for?"
"We learned about the geological history of the island, about the native plant and animal life and about the non-native species and what theºConservancy's goals are," wrote Gus and Kathy Hernandez, a married couple who participated in the program. "Fence removal was our favorite project, hard work, but rewarding."
Most vacationers enjoy the mixture of leisure, work, education, and socialization offered by volunteer vacations, according to Karen Berkheimer, director of visitor and volunteer services for the Catalina-focused land trust.
"They come for the fun and fellowship and to feel good about how they spend their precious vacation time," Berkheimer said. "It's a win-win-win, really, for the volunteers, the Conservancy, and of course for the Island."
Volunteers Provide Needed People-Power - Besides the adventure offered to volunteers, many of these programs play an important role in helping non-profit organizations achieve their missions. For example, The American Hiking Society based in Washington, D.C., organizes volunteer vacations for people willing to do hard rugged labor for various national and state park systems.
On Catalina Island, volunteers for the Conservancy put in an average 38 hours of service each year, providing critical peoplepower. "The Conservancy's mission is to be a steward of its lands through a balance of conservation, education, and recreation, a hefty job with a staff of just about 50 people looking after 42,000 acres," notes Berkheimer. "We just couldn't do it without volunteers help."
"We have received great responses over the years about the wonderful experience our volunteer vacationers have on the Island," Berkheimer continues. "Most participants comment that they enjoy the mixture of work, some of which is challenging, and love the fact that they are working on important projects for research, conservation, or recreational access."
Volunteer Vacations on Catalina: The Details - The Conservancy has limited spots available for volunteer vacations in 2005. Vacations begin on Monday and end on Friday and include 3.5 days of service, project training, a naturalist activity such as a moderate, interpretive hike, and opportunities to work closely with conservation staff. Homemade dinners and desserts are prepared and served daily by local volunteers.
Volunteer Vacation opportunities are available in the spring, summer and fall: May 2-6, May 16-20, June 6-10, June 20-24, August 22-26, September 12-16, and September 26-30. The cost is $130/person, which includes accommodations for four nights, four dinners, on-island transportation, project training, work supplies, and a naturalist activity. Transportation to the island is not included. Additional information about volunteer opportunities is provided at the Conservancy web site: www.catalinaconservancy.org. The volunteer department can be reached at volunteers@catalinaconservancy.org or 310-510-2595 extension 109 or 102.
Many volunteer vacation participants extend their visit to Catalina Island and enjoy staying in Avalon, traveling to Two Harbors, or camping at some of the local campgrounds. Many opportunities exist to further explore the natural beauty of the island.
For more information about EcoTours, the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, or Conservancy education programs, visit www.catalinaconservancy.org or contact the Conservancy at 310-510-2595 ext. 100. |
