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Elderhostel
Service Programs, a subset of Elderhostel, matches seniors (defined
as those 55 or older) with working vacations. Its Web site promises
vacationers the chance to "put your time and energy to work
for worthy causes" ranging from tutoring schoolchildren in
China to building homes in Guatemala to assisting with dolphin research
in Belize. U.S. and Canada trips cost volunteers $115 a day, on
average.
Learning as you go
In addition to service-oriented vacations, Elderhostel
also offers educational tours that include active vacations (combining
a sport with educational opportunities), as well as "intergenerational"
trips for those who want to bring along younger companions. Counting
all its vacation options, Elderhostel annually hosts more than 8,000
programs in over 90 countries.
TraveLearn of Hawley,
Pa., bills itself as the choice "for people who take their minds with them
on vacation." Its vacations resemble more typical vacations: You stay in
hotels, enjoy fine dining, etc. But the company's programs add an educational
component so travelers can learn more about the countries they visit. For example,
Dr. Abdellatif Kriem, professor at Mohammed V University, will lecture on "Moroccan
Traditions and Islam" to TraveLearn clients, while Marvin Rockwell, one of
the original Quaker settlers of Monteverde, Costa Rica, will recount his family's
journey to that country and efforts to build a wildlife sanctuary there.
TraveLearn clients can attend as many or as few lectures
as they want while on the trip. The vacations tend to be a bit more
costly because of the educational component, as well as small group
sizes and higher-end lodging and meals. The company's lowest-priced
trip, a 17-day trek through the Shandong Province in China, costs
$1,295. On the other end of the scale, TraveLearn's "In Harriman's
Wake," a 25-day Alaskan cruise through the Bering Sea, costs
$19,954, if travelers opt for the best cabin.
If you're interested in learning a language while
abroad head to the National
Registration Center for Study Abroad, a clearing house for such
programs based in Milwaukee, Wis. Click on the country you want
to visit (Argentina to Uruguay) or the language you're interested
in (Arabic to Zapotec) and you'll find a series of outings. NRCSA
also categorizes its programs for "budget travelers,"
as well as for "mature adults" or "teens." Although
the primary emphasis of NRCSA is language, it also offers other
learning programs and can connect travelers to opportunities to
stay in the home of a family in the country they choose to visit.
For an even broader selection of classes abroad, consult
ShawGuides.
Its Web site boasts more than 5,700 vacation and career programs
worldwide. You can browse by month, interest or destination. Learn
how to climb mountains in Alaska, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico or
Pakistan. Find the best golf camps here and abroad. Because of the
variety, excursion prices vary widely, but the selection should
give you some maneuverability room if your budget, not destination,
is your prime travel consideration.
Jenny C. McCune is a contributing
editor based in Montana.
Leslie Hunt contributed to
this story.
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