Create a New World

Owning a recreational vehicle and choosing to volunteer is an ideal situation:

• You go where help is most needed.
• You bring your family with you.
• You have familiar housing and cooking facilities.
• You have access to a mobile office should you require it.

Depending on the volunteer organization requirements, working and camping “on site” saves housing and local transportation costs.

• Did you know that some organizations may offer you a small stipend or even health insurance?
• Some programs offer additional training, workshops, and handouts.
• A campsite may be provided with hook-ups.

Now that some organizations or agencies are experiencing staffing cutbacks, new opportunities continue to open up for the volunteer who looks forward to traveling, works well with others, wants to share what he/she learns, and is flexible.

Learn to build a cabin, scuba dive for artifacts, study surveying skills, write, photograph, act, sing, perform scientific experiments, and much more. In fact, blending the RVing lifestyle with volunteering is the opportunity to build stronger family bonds, help a community, and enrich your personal learning experiences all at the same time. People (and families) of all ages can volunteer.

Regardless of your age, here are five questions that each person should ask before starting out:

• Where would I like to go?
• What would I like to do?
• What skills do I have?
• Are there any new skills that I would like to learn?
• How much time do I want to commit to volunteering?

If you are a volunteering family, be sure to check the youngest age that the agency will accept for a volunteer position. Are the children allowed to work independently or are the parents required to accompany them?

Here are some well-known and a few little-known volunteering resources:

https://rvlife.com/a-year-to-volunteer/ “A Year to Volunteer” is a 501C3 organization traveling the US providing building and clean-up projects.

https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/travel-and-build/rv-care-a-vanners  This volunteer program invites anyone who travels by recreational vehicle to make Habitat part of your journey, or even your destination.

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/arizona/volunteer-arizona/

Learn how to compost as a volunteer, become an RV Host at a preserve, join the team and help with fence maintenance, infrastructure repair and fire risk reduction.

https://azstateparks.com/park-volunteers Be a campground host, assist Visitor Services with clerical and admin functions, assist with general maintenance or small construction projects.

https://teamrubiconusa.org/ Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.

https://www.amissionofmercy.org/arizona/volunteer/ Volunteer drivers needed to operate their mobile medical unit RV.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/workingtogether/volunteering  At the Forest Service, each volunteer’s talents and skills are matched with their work preferences to obtain a role that satisfies them and best fulfills the mission. Work on a part-time, full-time, or one-time basis.

https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/get-involved/park-host-positions/ Park Hosting positions in Maricopa County, Arizona.

https://www.happyvagabonds.com/work-camping-jobs/volunteer-camp-host-opportunities/ Find workamping jobs here.

https://www.fws.gov/volunteer-opportunity US Fish and Game Wildlife has openings for maintenance, birding hosts, plus many more.

https://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm  The National Park Service offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups as part of the Volunteers-In-Parks program.