What are good ways for me to volunteer envronmentally, that possibly involve global travel?

Question

I'm only 15 but i've heard of church groups going on trips to South America to do peace work, and i want to do something like that, but not involving Christianity...

Answer 1

The trips you are talking about are "volunteer vacations." They are focused on giving youth a "feel good" experience, and sometimes even an educational one. These short-term placement agencies require you to pay your own way entirely (flights, in-country transportation, health insurance, accommodation, food, security, translators, training, staff to create the service opportunities and then to supervise and support you in your service, liaisons with the police and local officials, etc.). This is so that no resources, funding, etc. are taken away from the local people.

There is a listing of the more-than-30 member organizations of the International Volunteers Program Association (IVPA) that is a good place to find reputable volunteer-for-a-fee programs -- programs where you don't need to have much experience in order to participate, and the placements are just for a few weeks or months:

http://www.volunteerinternational.org/

If you want to think about volunteering internationally in a long-term position where you *don't* pay, you need to start acquiring the skills and experience needed in the developing world. You need to volunteer locally regarding environmental issues and work your way up to leadership roles, acquire a degree that would give you expertise needed in the developing world, be able to work in a language other than English, etc. Here's a web site with more advice on how you can start acquiring this expertise now:

http://www.coyotecommunications.com/volu...

Answer 2

peace corps at 22 after graduating college