Every Share Helps!

It can be done, but make sure you do it right! I'm definitely a fan of family volunteering, but it must be said--taking lil' ones along can prove a tough undertaking.

Some Things To Consider Before Bringing Your Child On A Volunteer Vacation

Does the service organization have a family volunteer plan, and if so, what is their minimum age level? Often, groups have a cutoff of 11 or 12, and there are many reasons for this, including safety issues, type of work, field conditions, and lack of reasonable accommodations and care for small children. Remember, it's a volunteer trip, and everyone who comes is expected to work. Be sure to check with the coordinator BEFORE BOOKING YOUR TRIP to ensure that your child will be welcome and accommodated!

As well, what type of work will you be doing? How much of your day is spent in the field? Let me highlight something a friend sent to me about her experience on a trail building project:

I don’t know quite how it happened, but I sort of ended up being the babysitter, or so it seemed to me. Several people had brought their children to help out, and then just left the kids standing there while they went off on one task or another. So, I gathered them all together, handed them a shovel or a rake, and got them busy throwing big rocks off the side of the trail, shoveling dirt into buckets, and widening the trail in places. They ended up having a good time, I think. Better than just standing around all day...

...One of the guys on our team had brought along his little 4 year old, who just sat there and watched us. At one point, I looked over at him and saw that he was shivering, so I sat down and wrapped my arms around him and just held him for about 15 minutes, till he warmed up again. His father went and got him a better coat, and something to sit on so he wouldn’t have to sit on the cold rocks. I really don’t know why he had a 4 year old up there, but the kid was having a good time before he got cold, so I guess it wasn’t that bad.

At the risk of sounding snippy, childcare is not the volunteer organization's responsibility. It's also not the responsibility of other volunteers. It's yours. As you can tell by Ruth's story, she didn't expect to be the group babysitter, and I don't think the other parents intended that either. It just happened, and nobody seemed to notice once the work got moving. Luckily, she didn't get angry, and she worked well with the children; you might not be so fortunate, however, and end up being called out by an angry participant.

Taking Small Children On A Volunteer Vacation

So you've made up your mind. You still want to take a volunteer vacation with your toddler or kindergartener. There's got to be something available, right?

You've got a couple of options. The first one is something I'll dub as a "field trip." This would include a small, independent group that works day-to-day on an ongoing project. You'll have to provide your own accommodations, transportation, and meals, but you'll still get the full experience of getting down and dirty on a project to benefit the community.

My favorite example is the Muncy Historical Society Dig program. It's a perfect example of this type of volunteer program. She welcomes people of all ages to assist with an ongoing archaeological dig--it's free, dirty, and fun. You'll bring your own lunch and help excavate an area along the Muncy Canal. Over the past few years, they've uncovered a well, several colonial artifacts, and even the cornerstone of a house. Children can help dig, sift, and clean and organize findings.

Another option is a kind of light adventure travel--there are groups who offer excursions with set travel times and activities that may be more suitable for families with small children. These types of tours are more educational and entertainment focused, including such activities as whale watching, snorkeling, hiking, and village tours. You also can opt for volunteer opportunities, where you'll be able to visit children and teach English, plant trees and clear invasive plant species, and more. These trips tend to be on the more expensive side, but if you're set on taking a volunteer trip with a small child, this may be your best bet.

To Wrap Things Up...

I don't recommend taking a child on an less structured vacation, as these tend to be more work-heavy and less accommodating to lil' ones.

Always check with the host group to see how much work you'll be expected to perform. Your child has a much shorter attention span than you do, and is bound to get hot, tired, bored, uncomfortable, and hungry--and while you might be able to keep your own comfort level to yourself, your child won't.

Working with sea turtles or building a trail might sound like a fantastic adventure, but you must be realistic and ALWAYS take the advice of your host group. They know this work better than you do, and if they would rather you not bring a small child with you, it's for a reason. Don't take it personally--they're not judging you, but instead protecting and working in the best interests of everyone involved.

Photo credit: Theodore W. Lee