While it didn't have a trendy name back when Strawther first started going on these trips, a growing number of people, particularly families, are embracing what's been dubbed "voluntourism" as a way to see the world and make a difference in people's lives, says Doug Cutchins, co-author of the guidebook "Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others." Rather than lounge by the pool sipping colorful drinks, Cutchins says more people—impacted by high-profile disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Indonesian Tsunami—are traveling both in the U.S. and abroad to help the less fortunate and to teach their children important values and lessons, Cutchins says.
