The lure of devoting your leisure time to a worthwhile cause is something that can excite the most seasoned traveler. The selfless thought however, is harder to manifest when your options are limited.

Most programs that offer free room and board while engaging in meaningful work often require a full year of labor in an undeveloped area. If you’re looking for two or three weeks, it might be harder to find. There are a large number of volunteer vacations that are actually commercial programs designed to show profit; hardly the noble act you had in mind. Some of these types of vacations even turn out to be more expensive than those month long commitments.

One website that only considers serious volunteer vacations is called VolunTourism. This organization pairs travel with services at www.VolunTourism.org. Another sponsored research expedition is through Earthwatch Institute. They have recruited Americans for the past 40 years to perform valuable work by assisting real-life scientists in ground-breaking projects. You can learn more information at www.EarthWatch.org.

Tune in to The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer, Sundays noon – 2pm on WOR710 and call in to ask any other questions you have!