They're tax-deductible vacations, at least if the organizing group is a 501(c)(3). I've done a (paid) volunteer vacation with the American Hiking Society[1], b

They're tax-deductible vacations, at least if the organizing group is a 501(c)(3). I've done a (paid) volunteer vacation with the American Hiking Society[1], building a new section of the Continental Divide Trail in the Gila National Forest of NM. We paid for airfare and then a small "donation" fee that went almost entirely to food for the volunteers. It was a way to participate in a well-organized endeavor in a beautiful place while doing something I already enjoy doing back home (trail work), under the tutelage of a Forest Service crew. Not sure if all such paid volunteer trips are worthwhile, but at least the hiking society ones are reasonable; they're low-overhead and they handle logistics. 1. http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/ http://www.americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacations/