Going on vacation? volunteer: Q&A with Doug Cutchins, social commitment

Traveling often comes with baggage—and not the beloved Tumi variety, but rather the wow-I’m-exploiting-the-locals-and-helping-to-destroy-the-local-environment kind. There are ways to offset the damage a bit, such as choosing green hotels over hulking old-school resorts, and making sure to buy crafts and food from local proprietors. But if you’re super concerned, you might consider “voluntourism”—volunteering to make a difference in whatever community you vacation in.