Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

There's no question many baby boomers want to volunteer and make a difference on their vacations. But not all are ready to go the extra mile - literally. 

About 36 percent of adults over 44 would prefer to volunteer on a vacation in North America. That contrasts with the 26 percent of Generation Y (18 to 24) that would hop on a plane and help out in Africa or Europe, according to a University of California at San Diego poll. 

People in all stages of life want to embark on volunteer vacations, but where they want to go and how long they'd stay depends widely on which generation they belong. 

One week would be the right amount of time for 29 percent of Generation Xers (25 to 44) and 23 percent of boomers. About 45 percent of retirees (over 65) and Generation Y it would be ideal to go for several week, or even an entire summer. 

Longer stays gives volunteers time to connect with other people - not just organizations or governments - in giving service. More than 84 percent said that helping children, families and people in poverty were top on their volunteer list. 

"People are looking to spend their vacations and retirement in meaningful ways that make contributions to others," said Bob Benson, director of the Center for Global Volunteer Service at UC San Diego Extension, the sponsor of the study. 

Volunteering with Kids
For many boomers, the vacation volunteer experience is one they share with the families, said Michelle Gran, co-founder and vice-president of Global Volunteers, a nonprofit group that coordinates social and economic development projects in 21 countries. 

"The boomer folks are volunteering with their adult children or grandchildren," she said, noting at least 35 percent of her group's volunteers are boomers. 

Gran, who had not seen the UC poll, said she hasn't noticed a strong preference among boomer volunteers about where they contribute their time.

"Boomers tend to be drawn (to volunteer work) across the board in the US and internationally," said Gran, 

Finding Opportunities
In response to growing interest in voluntourism, a number of websites and programs have been established to link adults to work projects. For example, Benson, who spent two years in the Peace Corps in the late '90s, helped start the Center for Global Volunteer Service because UC San Diego Extension saw a need for more collaborative, grassroots approach to match US citizens of all ages with volunteer opportunities. 

Meanwhile, Global Volunteers continues to expand its offerings, and now includes trips to places such as South Africa and Vietnam. Each project is determined by the host communities and directed by local leaders, include teaching conversational English or business skills, caring for children, assisting with health care, or building community facilities such as schools. 

"We continue to investigate new opportunities, as well as add volunteer teams," Gran said. 

Costs for such trips can vary. The Global Volunteers sojourn to South Africa, for example, will run $2,095 per person for a one-week program, $2,395 for a two-week program; and $2,695 for a three-week program. But for US residents, those costs are tax deductible as long as certain IRS requirements are met, such as performing a full day of service. 

Also on the web, discount travel agency CheapTickets.com partnered with United Way of America to start a volunteer vacations website. The site features volunteer travel blogs, as well as information on deals on volunteer vacation hotspots. For example, this month, the HIV Alliance in Eugene, Ore. needs volunteers to keep the flowers blooming in its memorial garden. BoomVoyage.com is another site devoted to green and volunteer vacations for boomers. 

Considering a Trip?
Anyone thinking about a volunteer vacation can take advantage of resources from the UC San Diego Extension, which offers online courses to help potential volunteers determine if foreign trips are right for them. An overview of key issues related to both international and domestic volunteer opportunities is "What Kind of Volunteer Service is Best for You?" Another course for those considering global volunteer work is "Global Infectious Diseases."

"Often international volunteers ... have just not been prepared to work in areas impacted by HIV-AIDS," Benson said. "These kinds of situations cause concern and create a lot of stress."

Gran stressed the importance of making sure volunteers align themselves with a reputable, nonprofit organization when choosing a volunteer vacation opportunity.

"Look at the program, goals and track record," she said. "How do they hold up the vision of the local community leaders and assess the outcomes of the program?"

But overall, "anybody can do this," Gran said. "If you have the desire to truly help, that's really the only requirement."