Every Share Helps!

Since a lot of this website focuses on international volunteerism, I’ll change things up today and focus on US based volunteering.

Let’s say you live in Pennsylvania and you have an affinity for Appalachia. Through some research, you found a few service programs working in that region. To help narrow down your choice, you’ll want to ask the volunteer groups some questions before settling on a final decision (note these can apply to international projects as well).

How much does the placement cost, and what does this cover?

This payment basically covers the same things global volunteer fees do, such as supplies, staff salaries, and other expenses.

Volunteer organizations tend to be straightforward—and often have a page on their website—about volunteer fees. Remember to ask whether this also covers expenses such as transportation to and from the project site, your housing, and your food. This helps you figure out how much you’ll need in addition to the base fee.

A good number of volunteer programs in the US focus on environmental conservation, construction, and trail building and maintenance. This means participants often camp out, or at least will spend a good portion of their trip hiking through front- and backcountry sites. Be sure to ask your volunteer group what you’ll be expected to provide, such as work gloves or a tent.

Where exactly is this placement?

Appalachia stretches from New York to Mississippi, so it’s good to know exactly where you’re placed. How’s the weather for that time of year? Will you be in the wilderness or in a more developed area? Knowing this will help you pick your preferred destination—and pack accordingly.

What kind of work will I do?

As with most US based volunteer travel programs, many service trips to Appalachia focus on construction, environment, and trails. Depending on where and when you’re placed, the exact type of work can vary greatly—you might clear brush, create signage, assist with GPS mapping, repair damaged structures, and build entirely new ones.

Most volunteer programs also require their participants to help with everyday tasks, such as cooking and cleaning; be sure you know how your own expectations match with those of the organization. And as with any volunteer project, be flexible.

What kind of schedule do volunteers have?

Volunteer schedules also vary greatly depending on the season, number of participants, staff support, and need. This might be particularly important to you on an individual level; figure out whether you want to emphasize “volunteer” or “vacation.”

Even trail building projects in Appalachia can vary in terms of volunteer schedules—some have short working hours and a home base where volunteers may rest at the end of the day, explore any nearby towns, go out to eat, take in a movie, and more. Others might incorporate backcountry camping and long work hours with little to no outside contact or excursions until the end of the volunteers’ stay.

Speak with you prospective service group to see how your typical day or week looks. Knowing this, rather than forming assumptions, will save you from disappointment later.

Do you have alumni I can connect with?

Previous volunteers can provide personal insight for how the organization works. Connect with them on the organization’s Facebook page if it has one, and post messages on travel forums, Twitter, and other sites. Ask the group whether there are volunteers who’d be willing to speak with you—many service organizations keep listservs, forums, or other means of communication between prospective volunteers and alumni.

Wrap-up

And that about does it for today! Stay tuned for the next post: Five things to ask your volunteer agency after booking your trip.

And by the way—here are a few organizations working in Appalachia for anyone who’s interested:

• Appalachia Service Project
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Christian Appalachian Project
• Photo credits: Visions Service Adventures and pfly.