Ecotourism jobs span a broad range of fields, including business, management, finance, science, arts and communication, and the social sciences. Indeed, there are ways to apply just about any skill in the quest to save the planet. Sites like Treehugger.com (owned by the Discovery network) offer comprehensive job boards in ecotourism and other “green collar” jobs.

Perhaps the most direct way to get into ecotourism is to specialize in the sciences. Chemistry, biology, and environmental science are all in high demand among green companies. Graduates from these fields can make a living doing research for private and public agencies, helping them find ways to preserve endangered sites and maintain wildlife populations.

If you’re more attracted to hospitality jobs, ecotourism also offers ample opportunities. With the right training, you can work for hotels, restaurants, airlines, and other travel firms with an environmental thrust. You can also occupy information desks and help people plan sustainable vacations. If you love to travel, this field may be your best bet. A degree in tourism or management can come in handy.

Management and business professionals often end up at the helm of operations, or even running the outfit themselves. If you work well with a team and are able to make smart decisions, you can launch and head your own ecotourism projects, promoting local sites or traveling to other destinations. If your skills lie more on the creative side, you can go into environmental journalism, public relations, or marketing, where communication skills and a bit of creative flair are valuable.

Ecotourism is a broad discipline, and its rapid growth over the years is proof that it’s here to stay. And that’s a good thing, because it opens doors for people who would otherwise enter an already crowded job market. Whether you’re just starting or looking to change career paths, you’re sure to find a wealth of opportunities in ecotourism. As an added perk, you get to travel, meet interesting people, and make the world a better place while you’re at it.

Most major international charities have a strong presence in LA, but there are also small outfits catering to various communities. While not all of them need help throughout the year, it won’t hurt to offer an extra hand if you have some free time. Start by looking up causes you’re interested in, and calling up relevant charities in your area. Find out what kind of work they do and how you can pitch in, depending on your skills and experience.

Some types of volunteer work don’t require any particular experience. These are usually menial tasks like sorting clothes or serving food at a soup kitchen. If you want to take on more responsibility, you can look into administrative, managerial, or marketing positions. You may need to be more experienced and undergo some form of training. The same goes for research, although you may get a recommendation from your school or company. Front-line work, such as manning information booths, may also call for previous work in the field.

If you’re just visiting or don’t want to commit to charity work just yet, consider helping out at seasonal events. Los Angeles hosts music festivals, art shows, and other cultural events throughout the year, and many will be more than happy to take you on board. You can help usher attendees or set up stages, or if you have the skills, you can help organize and promote the event. Most of them are supported by the government and provide excellent professional experience.

One advantage to doing volunteer work is that you get to meet people who share your interests. Many first-timers start out with just a passing interest and end up working with volunteer Los Angeles groups as a career. Some use it as a springboard for other career paths, such as medicine, education, or research. Others just do it for the company. No matter what your reason is, you’re sure to touch other people’s lives just as they’ve touched yours.

Working as a soup kitchen volunteer isn’t as groundbreaking as delivering vaccines to African children, nor is it as professionally rewarding. But its appeal lies in helping people in the most basic of ways—giving them food and water where they would otherwise go hungry. It may not seem obvious, but even in the United States—the world’s epitome of wealth and excess—more than 30 million people go hungry every day. The sheer dedication of volunteers, in soup kitchens and elsewhere, is what keeps these people going and gives them a chance at rebuilding their lives.

Soup is usually served because it’s easy to make in large batches, and because it can take a large variety of ingredients according to the season. Most soup kitchens also serve bread, and are even called “bread lines” in some areas. The meals can be served for free or at a low price, and ingredients are often sourced from local food banks. Soup kitchens are most active during the winter holiday season, where more people are seeking shelter and warm food.

Volunteers for soup kitchens usually come from local organizations, such as anti-poverty groups or churches. If you’re already part of such a group, ask around to see if they’re affiliated with soup kitchens or food banks. Otherwise, you can contact soup kitchens themselves and ask how you can volunteer. It’s a lot of work, so they’re usually happy to have a helping hand. Your tasks may include basic kitchen work and cleaning, but you may be expected to serve food and help usher people around as well.

It may not be the most glamorous of pastimes, but becoming a soup kitchen volunteer can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your free time. Besides helping your community, you also get to meet interesting people and gain valuable life experience. Next time you have a day or two to spare, spend a few hours in a soup kitchen and help brighten someone else’s day.

Nursing volunteers are part of the solution to this problem. Nurses, whether active, retired, or in training, can offer hands-on assistance in impoverished clinics and help them provide better, more efficient service. Some nurses go into volunteer work while taking a break in their career, as it gives them a change of environment while allowing them to continue practicing. It’s a great way to gather experience, gain new skills, meet new people, and develop a whole new appreciation for your field.

Some organizations don’t require you to have a nursing license or a certain amount of experience, although these are always useful. As long as you have the skills and a desire to learn, you can join a nursing volunteer abroad program. Of course, positions with more responsibility will require more skills, so you may have to start with simple tasks and learn on the job. Each organization has its own rules, however, so look for one where your training and experience will be most valuable.

Most volunteer nurses help by spending one-on-one time with patients and their families, offering moral and emotional support, and assisting with movement, feeding, and personal hygiene. They are usually supervised by a charge nurse or head nurse, and may have to do a few administrative tasks such as keeping patient files and taking shifts at reception desks.

Your tasks as a nursing volunteer can vary throughout the day and week, and plans are often interrupted by emergency situations. Often, these require cooperation from several doctors and nurses. This is why resourcefulness, teamwork, and the ability to think on your feet are essential to performing well as a volunteer nurse.

You can volunteer as a nurse for as little as a week or over a year. Most organizations, however, recommend staying for at least a couple of weeks to get a real feel of how a volunteer-run clinic works. Many nurses end up working for charities after spending time as volunteers, inspired by the ability to help those in need. No matter what your decision is, the time you spend as a nursing volunteer abroad is always time well spent.

Volunteer Australia opportunities vary widely from area to area. Most major cities have widespread environmental projects that could use an extra hand year-round, and smaller towns are often home to healthcare and education charities offering services that residents could not access otherwise. Australians are also big animal lovers, and there are government and private animal shelters in all capitals and major suburbs.

As the coastal areas are prone to natural disasters, they are usually open to volunteers for emergency preparedness and disaster relief projects. The Queensland floods attracted lots of volunteers to help distribute resources to affected families and provide emergency care to those who were hurt. If you’re in good shape, have a background or interest in healthcare, or just have excellent people skills, this could be a good opportunity for you.

The country also has a strong environmental thrust, being home to some of the greatest land and marine wonders in the world. For most of the year, the government and various non-profits have projects in place to help preserve the country’s natural heritage and spread awareness. There are also more hands-on projects such as tree planting and shore cleanups. Whether you want to do manual work or do research and administrative support, there’s always room for volunteers in the environment circle.

If you’re visiting Australia over your break, see if there are any seasonal events you can participate in. There’s usually one going on any time of the year, and the bigger ones often need people to serve as ushers or be part of the maintenance crew. Music festivals are especially popular. Not only are you helping enhance the experience for locals and fellow visitors; you also get to meet new people.

Volunteering is one of the best ways to spend your time, whether it’s a few days or a few months—and Australia simply has a way of inspiring people to lend a helping hand. Make your next visit matter and find a volunteer project—it can change someone’s life as much as it can change yours.

Start by choosing a cause you care about—volunteering is all about passion, after all. Websites like NYCservice.com allow you sift through thousands of volunteer NYC opportunities according to causes, such as education, healthcare, environment, and emergency preparedness. Groups come in all sizes and all do their part to help—you can work with a large international organization or a local charity, depending on where your skills fit best.

That’s the next thing you have to consider: what you actually have to offer. While the requirements for volunteer work aren’t as rigid—some people use it as a way to rack up experience for a future career—it still pays to choose a field that suits your skills. If you have good interpersonal skills and are good at one or two school subjects, you can sign up to a tutoring center. If you’re good with your hands and have a knack for art, a neighborhood improvement project may be best for you. New opportunities are turning up all year, so there’s never a shortage of options.

If you’re traveling to New York to volunteer, keep in mind that you’ll probably have to handle your own expenses. Very few charities, if any, will offer you a free trip—if they could, then it would be much simpler to work with locals. Make sure to arrange for a visa if you need it, travel insurance, and funding for the duration of your stay. If lodging is provided, get it down in writing and see what’s included (water, gas, utilities) so you can budget accordingly.

Volunteering isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind when we think of our free time, but it’s one of the best ways to spend a break. Whether it’s one week or six months, the time you spend helping others is valuable, not just to people in need but to others around you. Next time you have time off or are planning a trip to the Big Apple, make it a little more meaningful by squeezing in some volunteer work.

Environmental groups are perhaps the most visible in the city, as like most metropolitan areas it has leaned towards sustainable living in recent years. Activities range from tree planting and other manual work to planning, organization, and management. Naturally you can expect to spend a lot of time outdoors and get around quite a bit, sometimes visiting neighboring cities to promote the cause.

Closely related are animal-rights groups, which offer opportunities year-round. Some of the tasks here may be specialized and require some training and experience. For instance, if you want to work directly with animals, a background in veterinary science or similar volunteer work may come in handy. Otherwise, you can provide support in other ways such as organizing paperwork, writing up letters and reports, and taking phone calls.

If you’re more of a people person, you may want to consider working in healthcare or education. These groups usually help low-income families or abuse victims, providing them with food, lodging, and treatment for illness and injuries. You may also find book giveaways and tutoring sessions for children, and counseling services for teens and adults.

There are also seasonal events, which cater largely to people of specific interests. In particular, the London Olympics in 2012 is boosting interest among volunteering London residents. While an interest in sports is a plus, some of the jobs are open to all, such as ushering and maintenance. As an added perk, you may also get discount access to some of the games and visit all the different venues.

As with most volunteer travel programs, you may have to pay for your own trip, as well as travel insurance and visas. Coordinating with a larger group can help you deal with the paperwork and arrange for lodging, which is usually provided. On the whole, it should cost about as much as a regular vacation. But even if it sets you back a good amount, there’s no price tag on being able to help others, meeting new people, and gaining valuable professional and personal experiences.

Natural disasters aside, countries like Haiti have always needed a helping hand, whether it’s caring for the sick or teaching kids who can’t afford to go to school. Volunteer Haiti programs cover everything from education and healthcare to environment, animal rights, women and children’s welfare, and disaster assistance. You can choose to work in fields you specialize in, or try something new and learn on the job.

In most cases you can choose the duration of your stay, although many volunteers decide to stay longer than initially planned. Some even decide to make a career out of charity work after finishing a volunteer Haiti program. To get the most of your experience, it’s best to stay at least a week. That’s the length of a typical vacation, but unlike your usual beach getaway, it leaves you with that happy feeling that you’ve helped change someone’s life.

Start by looking up charities in your area that may be of help, or local chapters of large organizations like the Red Cross. Most of them will have information on volunteer openings and requirements, as well as travel details. You may have to pay for your own trip and travel insurance, but chances are the organization will provide lodging and a bit of training.

You usually have to be at least 18 to be able to volunteer abroad. Depending on the task, you may have to meet other requirements, such as physical strength if you’ll be doing manual work and some hospital experience if you want to work in healthcare. People skills and a grasp of French, the local language, can also come in handy. What’s great about volunteering is that you get valuable experience to help you professionally, whether you choose to stay in charity or work elsewhere afterwards.

Volunteer opportunities are always subject to change because of the country’s political instability and proneness to natural disasters. Make sure any information you get is recent, and that the projects you want to help out on are still active. It’s not uncommon for an initiative to be aborted because of political or environmental pressures. Stay on the safe side by getting your information over the phone or in person, and getting everything in writing.

Charity sector jobs may not be at par with corporate jobs in terms of pay, but they offer a world of other benefits. For one thing, there’s less competition as the groups tend to be smaller, and jobs are more results-oriented than profit-oriented. This takes a lot of the pressure away from the work and makes for a more relaxing work environment. You may even get to travel more than a typical cubicle employee, as help needs to get around all the time. Indeed, many young graduates pick jobs in charity sector precisely because of the travel possibilities.

A common concern among charity workers is professional growth. The organizational structure in most charities is horizontal, meaning people perform different tasks but are more or less on the same level. You may be given more responsibility, but not necessarily more authority. This contrasts with the typical company in which everyone has a boss, who in turn answers to a higher boss, and so on. This works well if you’re more comfortable working with a team rather than managing one.

There are dozens of charities in every city, from small local outfits to international organizations. The key is to find something whose cause you care about and whose views you share. After all, working in charity is largely about passion. If you love animals, you’d do well in an animal-rights group or an animal shelter, even if your job involves mostly paperwork. Just knowing that you’re contributing to a meaningful cause makes the job even more enjoyable, and makes you a valuable member of the team.

The most important thing about charity work is that it’s always for a good cause. Charities are founded and run by people who want to make a difference, and helping them is your way of giving them a hand. Few other people can say that they’ve helped make the world a better place, even if it was one week of work. Whether or not you make charity your career—and whether you do paid or volunteer work—it’s the kind of experience you’ll take with you long after you’ve left.

Charity trips can take you to all sorts of places: you could be teaching African preschoolers this year, helping at a Mexican clinic the following year, and saving manatees in Southeast Asia the next. You never leave without making a difference in your destination, and every new place in turn makes an indelible mark on you. As an added perk, it counts as professional experience, meaning you can use it to beef up your résumé and make contacts for future work.

Most volunteer vacations last one to four weeks, a typical summer or holiday break in most developed countries. In that span of time you can meet new people, pick up a new language, learn a new culture, and help improve the lives of others. Often, team members form a sort of family, and stay friends throughout their lives. Whether it’s the location, the experience, or the nature of the work, charities have a way of connecting people that no corporate workplace or classroom can.

People usually have to pay for their own charity trips, although agencies can arrange for a fixed fee and take care of everything else. This is because non-profit agencies still spend money on recruiting and coordination, as well as all the government paperwork. You can expect to spend as little as $50 for a small local gig, or upwards of $3,000 for volunteer work abroad, mostly depending on the type of accommodation provided. Some of the money may also be directly donated to the cause. That being said, some projects do reward you with a stipend, usually if it lasts more than a month.

In any case, it’s always money well spent. Experience is priceless, after all—and you can’t put a dollar value on what a free book can do for a kid with no access to a school, or what a short talk on family planning can do for an underfed village. The benefits of a charity trip are always mutual. You always leave knowing you wouldn’t have traded it for anything else.