Build Houses

• That craving you've had to put a hammer and a saw to work can be fulfilled when you take your volunteer working vacation through Habitat for Humanity. Though you might've heard about the homes they've built after disasters like Hurricane Katrina, Habitat also has a Global Village program that'll take you to destinations like Bangkok, Kenya, Fiji, Portugal and Macedonia. Besides providing your sweaty manual labor, you'll also take a few days to discover the country you'll be working in. The cost for Global Village trips range from $1,200 to $3,200, and can last two weeks or more. (Visit Habitat.org; see References.)
  
  

Care for the Environment

• The Sierra Club is the largest environmental organization in the United States. When you take a volunteer vacation with them you might choose to de-brush miles of trail, re-vegetate eroded land or build bridges over wetlands. And if you really want to get adventurous, they have Caribbean volunteer vacations where you'll uncover sugar plantations and perform trail maintenance. Sierra Club volunteer vacations typically last six to seven days, and cost $495 to $1,200+. (Visit Sierraclub.org; see Resources.)
  
  

Archaeology Digs

• If you've ever watched Indiana Jones and wished longingly to dig up your own pieces of the ancient past, Passport in Time may be what you're looking for. This U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service sponsored program specializes in archaeology excavation, identification and archiving or artifacts and history gathering. You'll be working side-by-side with professional archaeologists. They provide both short term trips (three days), and projects that last an entire season. Although there's no cost to participate with Passport in Time, you must pay for your own travel expenses, and there is an application process that you'll have to go through. (Visit Passportintime.com; see Resources.)
  
  

Share Your Experience

• When your retirement picture doesn't include shuffleboard, golf or pruning azaleas, Experience Corps might be more your speed. They place 55+ year olds into schools and community centers to become mentors for children in need. You might provide tutoring, offer homework help, organize a book drive or assist teachers in the classroom. Each city has different time commitments, ranging from four to 15 hours a week. Either way, you're asked to stay on board for at least a year. There's no monetary cost to participate in Experience Corps. (Visit Experiencecorps.org; see Resources.)
  
  

Considerations

• Even though you're working for the greater good, you'll still want to make sure that your volunteer working vacation doesn't take you so far out of your comfort zone that you don't enjoy the experience. Be sure to ask about accommodations. Some trips will put you up in a hotel, others a hostel or a tent. Inquire about the types of volunteers they typically work with. Some programs attract a fresh-out-of-college crowd, and others see a more mature group. Finally find out about orientation. If you need direction, choose a company that provides in-depth training before you embark on your adventure.