Vacations Gone Good.

The sun beats down on your golden skin and only the occasional ocean breeze interrupts the hot, sticky air. You’ve been here before…oh that’s right, last summer when you vacationed in the same spot. And the summer before that. How about spicing it up a bit—and working over vacation. Um, what?

But what if you could actually have fun working? What if this summer, you and your family planned an entirely new kind of vacation and volunteered together? Many programs accept teenagers and some allow kids as young as 5 or 6.

Go to Thevolunteerfamily.org for a list of organizations that coordinate volunteering abroad. If you prefer to stay close to home, check out Habitat for Humanity and type in your zip code to find an affiliate near you. You must be 16 or over to work on a build site, but younger members of the family can get involved.

C’mon, admit it—this is the kind of vacation you would really never forget. And guess what? Because of your kind heart, many others will remember your effort, too.