Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Volunteers in the Public and Nonprofi t Sectors 141

Exercise 5.1: Voluntourism

Earthwatch Institute ( http://www.earthwatch.org ) is a nonprofit that sends

volunteers to science - based conservation and cultural projects in fi fty - fi ve

countries to protect threatened habitats, species, and cultures. Expeditions

are two - week contributions of participants ’ time, money, support, and

spirit to professional, peer - reviewed scientifi c research. Research priorities

are based on climate change, endangered species and resources, marine

biology and ocean conservation, and threatened traditional cultures. Par-

ticipants contribute to their room and board, research permits, scientifi c

equipment, off - site staff to coordinate logistics and safety, carbon offsets

to neutralize the researchers ’ footprints, and more. Part of the contribu-

tion may be tax deductible. Some of the excursions for 2008 were trips

to Africa, Australia, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, South

America, and North America. One of the Africa excursions has Earth-

watch teams mapping the locations, movements, and associations of two

zebra species in northern Kenya ’ s Samburu region.

Questions

1. Are there volunteer opportunities in your community where volunteers
   are already willing or might be willing to pay for the opportunity to
   volunteer? Describe them.


2. What strategies would you use to implement a program to recruit
   volunteers willing to pay for the privilege of volunteering?