Did you know that even if you have young children, it is still possible to volunteer on your luxury family vacation? If so, do you wonder what the best destinations for young families to make a difference are?
We typically say that from 5 years old, children can get involved, especially in our wildlife conservation projects. They can even lend a hand on some of our building projects – under close supervision!
And even if your children are under 5, they can focus on playing with the local children and get insights into their lives; which will remain with them in later life, imbuing them with compassion and empathy.
To help you decide, here are our Top 5 Best Destinations for Volunteering With Young Kids
- Costa Rica – help at a wildlife rescue center: prepare meals for rescued or injured monkeys, parrots, sloths and more, feed them, create enrichments to stimulate the animals and assist the vet on his daily rounds, soaking up so many facts about these animals as you go.
You can combine this with:
- Chocolate making class
- Zip lining (min. weights apply)
- Nature walks
- Safari
- Kayaking
- Volcanoes
- Rafting (min. ages apply)
- Beach relaxation
- Snorkeling
Discover more about Costa Rica here.
2. Belize – help build an eco-stove for a Mayan family; these stoves are awesome because:
- They replace open flames so reduce the incidents of burns, especially with young children running around.
- They have a chimney so remove respiratory problems such as asthma
- They are much more energy efficient
Children of any age can get involved in the stoves as it is all done by hand using clay, but for really young ones, they can focus on playing with the local children
You can combine this with:
- Chocolate making
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Mayan ruins
- Wildlife safari
- Beach relaxation
Discover more about Belize here.
3. Thailand/Sri Lanka/India – elephant conservation: preparing meals, feeding, walking with and watching these gentle giants bathe and socialize (no riding takes place, due to the torture elephants have to endure in order to be “broken” and made rideable)
You can combine this with:
- Beach relaxation
- Cultural immersion
- Temples
- City tours
- Wildlife safari (tigers in India, leopards in Sri Lanka)
- Whale watching (Sri Lanka)
- Cooking classes
- Zip lining (min. weights apply)
Discover more about Thailand here.
Discover more about India here.
Discover more about Sri Lanka here.
4. Australia – bond together as you conduct survey counts of kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, weed eradication, prevent erosion and assist researchers. All in the incredibly beautiful Blue Mountains
You can combine this with:
- Beach relaxation
- Snorkeling
- Horse riding
- Walking
- Biking
- City tours
- Theme parks
- Cultural immersion
Discover more about Australia here.
5. New Zealand – Penguins are ever-popular for children, and you can build predator-proof nest boxes for penguins to protect them from dogs, cats, rats, stoats and ferrets.
You can blend this with:
- Maori cultural immersion
- Geysers, boiling mud and hot thermal pools
- Gentle hikes and bike rides
- Wildlife watching (kiwi, penguins, albatross, dolphins, whales and more)
- Sailing
- Kayaking/SUP
- Beaches
- Helicopter flights to otherwise inaccessible locations, such as live volcanoes, glaciers, and fjords
- Discover more about New Zealand here.
Get in touch with our preferred travel specialist, Bonnie Sherman at Bonnie Sherman Travel; she will create your perfect itinerary, tailor-made to your family’s exact preferences. Email Bonnie (bonnie.sherman@protravelinc.com) or call her at 619 482 2223.
