I returned yesterday from a “volunteer vacation,” a week-long backcountry camping trip in which a group of volunteers, led by individuals trained in trail maintenance, work to maintain hiking trails, in this case the Appalachian Trail. I thought I’d briefly describe my experience for those who might be considering such a trip.

My first word of advice is: this is not a vacation. You will have the opportunity to see someplace new, do some primitive camping and hiking in the great outdoors, and get the flavor of the Appalachian Trail, but you will work hard every day. There was at least one member of the volunteer crew who had been misled by the phrase “volunteer vacation” and believed she would do a little work, do a little hiking, and get an inexpensive vacation out of the deal. This was not the case at all. It was a great experience to bond with a group of strangers over the course of six days. However, had I known how intense the physical labor would be and that I would be unable to bathe for the duration of the trip, I would not have gone. These are important topics to ascertain before signing up for a trip like this; for some people not problematic, for others, potentially miserable.

It is a wonderful thing to take a week of one’s time to devote to a good cause, and in a paradoxical way the difficult nature of the experience was a good physical and mental exercise. Just be sure you know what you’re getting into. I will do this kind of travel again if I can find a trip better suited to my age and moderate physical strength; some organizations offer trips limited to certain age brackets, and that might be the key to finding an appropriate trip. I’m happy to answer any specific questions about my experience.

What a great, informative post! How about posting who to contact if you're looking to do this kind of thing?

My trip was through the Appalachian Mountain Club (www.outdoors.org). I didn't list the sponsor in my initial post because the post wasn't entirely positive and I didn't want to create a negative association with a wonderful group. Other groups that organize volunteer work on the trails are the Appalachian Trail Conference (atconf.org) or the American Hiking Society (www.americanhiking.org). Be cautious with the American Hiking Society -- I had a bad experience with them; if you are interested in a volunteer opportunity listed on their web site, check with the sponsoring organization to see if you can book directly through them. This way you will avoid being charged a double fee and you will be sure to get more accurate information.

Thanks for posting Ruth. How old were the youngest volunteers? I'm the Girl Scout, and would like to know if teenage girls participated, and if so, how did they do? I know that most girls complain alot, but did they work hard and finish what they started?
I checked your web site info for Southern Cal., and came up with some great ideas for next year but I sure don't want to recommend a trip that is likely to be a failure... would love to hear your opinion. Thanks again, Mary.

Another group that does a lot of this is Habitat for Humanity. They organize groups to work on building projects all over the world. I have not participated, but I have the impression that it's similar to Ruth's experience-- not at all cushy, but worthwhile.

Glad you caught my post, Mary. There were no teens in my trail crew, but I understand there were two teen groups during the summer. My best advice to you is to talk directly to the organizers to find out how difficult the work is for the teen crews, and what the guidelines are. Thanks for the tip about Habitat for Humanity, Robin; I was thinking when I got back that it would also be nice to do this kind of work in a more urban setting.