Volunteer Tourism (Voluntourism)

In the Pacific Northwest, voluntourism can take a variety of forms from walking trail maintenance, beach clean up, sea trash removal by kayak, rescuing animal habitats, working on a farm or restoring natural and historic sites. We customize escapes, retreats and explorations that focus on or incorporate volunteering.

From private parties to corporate events and retreats, to tourists and locals alike, regardless of how our escapists choose to contribute their time and energy we can craft an impactful and locally beneficial experience. Our participants or “escapists” always return satiated, their souls well fed after making a lasting difference in the lives and communities they experience in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Many volunteer experiences are free for participants with the only expense being the time sacrifice in some cases this includes accommodation and meals. With EverGreen Escapes, the experience is part of a larger coordinated adventure, trek or tour with a participation cost involved. The cost is often offset by the benefit of the experience - gaining a greater insight into the communities and habitat that escapists visit and the satisfaction of helping others.

Voluntourism involves people from all ages and social classes traveling globally to give aid to communities in need and intimately experience the local culture and EverGreen Escapes is welcoming tourists and locals alike. This combination of exploration with inspiration is growing in popularity, mostly due to an increase in the number and variety of opportunities now available. No longer do locals, travelers, private parties and corporate groups need to stay enmeshed in a foreign land for months to make a difference—they can now impact an entire community over the course of an afternoon, a few days or even longer. Whether it is a project right here in your own community or perhaps by combining a northwest multi-day tour with opportunities to get one’s hands dirty at an organic farm along the way.

Like other regions, the Pacific Northwest is also embracing “voluntourism” and below is a snapshot of northwest volunteer opportunities that we are creating for our explorers with a purpose.

o Seattle Discovery Through Volunteering “Giving back to Nature” – departs every Wednesday- click here!!
----------Many Seattleites cite our region’s natural beauty and proximity to outdoor adventures and experiences as their primary motivations for living here. Even better, you don’t necessarily have to leave the city to “get away from it all.” Take 550-acre Discovery Park located in the Magnolia neighborhood, minutes from downtown. This natural oasis, the largest park in Seattle, boasts over eight miles (13 km) of hiking trails, including a few miles skirting the edge of Puget Sound, and offers views of Mount Rainier, the Olympic mountain range, Mount Baker and Puget Sound. This park is not only a refuge for the urban naturalist it also contains critical habitat for a diverse range of wildlife – Bald Eagles, Voles, Mountain Beavers, Salamanders, River Otters, Saw-whet owls, and much more. Thanks to the work of Seattle Park’s employees and volunteers, Discovery Park habitats continue to improve for the benefit of all - despite the continued threat of invasive species and human impact. Imagine spending the afternoon learning about the local ecology AND being part of the restoration effort! Our Voluntourism experience brings you to Discovery Park or another local nature park where you will meet with restoration stewards and assist them with ongoing efforts to improve the habitat of an urban park. Depending on the season, volunteers will either remove invasive plants that choke out important native plants, plant native plants and trees or conduct a beach cleanup, removing trash that is harmful to wildlife. You will have the opportunity to search for Pacific Northwest birds and marine-life, paired with expert interpretation of local natural history, geology and ecology. This behind-the-scenes look at the heart and lungs of our “Emerald Necklace” provides an example of how the city of Seattle is leading in the way in sustainability!

Click here to see the full description or book our weekly Seattle Discovery Through Volunteering “Giving back to Nature

o “The Conservation Adventure by Day & Luxury by Night” combines regional sightseeing, local food and wine, NW boutique and wilderness lodges with nature based and/or active travel and conservation volunteering team-based projects. Escapists can combine visits to pristine areas and partake in conservation activities. A range of unique and authentic accommodation options and personalized services are available with no more than 10 people on a program.

o Cultural Experiences range from working in Aboriginal communities where volunteers rebuild the forestland habitat to assisting farmers on rural properties as farm hands.

o Giving Back in the Field involves volunteers in data-gathering, tracking, field ecology and other tasks focused on local fish and wildlife communities. We can also arrange for you to assist local university researchers with on-site projects or assist manage a reserve's own biodiversity projects such as bird, marine life, mammal and vegetation monitoring

o The NW Immersion into Organic Farming Program is a form of cultural exchange in which participants live and work with host families on organic farms where they learn about organic growing techniques.


Want more? Click the links below for more information

Voluntourism,org Home Page

International Voluntourism & Community Based Tourism Organizations
Explorers 3 Adventures
Pepy Tours
Crooked Trails
Earthwatch

Washington Trails Association leads local "Volunteer Vacations" that
involve week-long backcountry trail work.  

Earthwatch
http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1147535
http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=2246951
http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.asp?c=dsJSK6PFJnH&b=1147589

Nature Conservancy offers opportunities to volunteer in our region as well.
http://volunteerprogram.createsend.com/viewEmail.aspx?cID=85FDC8462F5513DB&s
ID=8B71A618FED04A3F8A65286C75750186&dID=5CB9CB5A1CE688CE

The Nature Conservancy of Washington asks you to take time to drink in the beauty and wonder of Washington state.

The Nature Conservancy has put together a field guide to their conservation efforts in Washington. This fold-out map highlights the Conservancy's conservation projects around the state, and suggests 15 places you can visit to enjoy Washington's rich natural heritage.

Over the past 40 years, the Conservancy has collaborated to conserve more than 500,000 acres of irreplaceable natural lands in Washington state, including nearly 50,000 acres owned by the Conservancy. From tiny Yellow Island in the San Juans to the wide-open sagebrush lands of the Hanford Reach National Monument, the Conservancy is working with a wide range of people to conserve the astonishing diversity of life – in our state and around the world.

The NOAA and People for Puget Sound offer some marine based Volunteer opportunities as well...
http://www.volunteer.noaa.gov/index.html
http://www.pugetsound.org/index/volunteer