But almost always they have one thing in common: a passion for animals and the environment. Volunteers visitiing from out of state come in different forms: eco-tourists and short-term vacationers interns and young people on school break retirees and seasonal residents. The need for volunteers is great as threats to wildlife and the environment loom: centers and agencies see the impacts on animals from car and boat strikes, toxic algae blooms, habitat encroachments, and fish hooks. Seifert – who volunteers her time at the Marathon Wild Bird Center in the Florida Keys – is among countless visitors to the Sunshine State who combine volunteer work with escapes from colder climates and vacations at Florida’s beaches, theme parks and natural landscapes.Īnimal or nature lovers wanting to make a meaningful contribution during an otherwise self-indulgent vacation often volunteer – from feeding or cleaning up after rescued pelicans, raptors, dolphins and other wildlife to diving in the ocean to help restore coral reefs. No matter that those friends had wings, beaks and webbed feet – or that she soon would be cleaning up their poop – Seifert was ecstatic to be headed south for the visit. The snow was up to her knees and freezing rain was falling outside her home in Montreal as Pat Seifert packed the last of her bags on a recent winter day for her trip to see friends in Florida. Voluntourism: Making a Difference on Your Florida Vacation
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