Five free (or almost free) vacations

(Photo: Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation)

Losing sleep worrying about the economic downturn? You could use a vacation -- but who can afford to travel at a time like this? Just about anyone, if you take our advice and try a volunteer vacation.

The following five vacations offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the relaxation and rejuvenation you crave, at little or no cost. OK, so you do have to work a little -- but a hard day's work for a good cause will have you sleeping like a baby at night.

In the coming months you could find yourself fielding calls from organizations asking for donations, while you obsess about making ends meet. While businesses suffer during economic downturns, not-for-profit organizations that rely on donations are affected disproportionately.

Volunteering is a great way to support a group you believe in for little or no money. Even if you're out of work and struggling to find a new job (4.4 million Americans have lost jobs since the recession began) a volunteer vacation is an affordable way to spend your time resting, regrouping -- and giving back.

Volunteer vacations are available all over the country. Start planning by thinking about what's important to you and your family. If you love a local campground or hiking trail, volunteer to preserve and restore it -- and save money on a flight. If you can afford to fly, take comfort knowing that many trips will pay for food and lodging -- so you'll still save a bundle. You may even save enough to purchase credits to offset the carbon emissions from your flight -- making it an even greener vacation.

Here's a list of some great organizations that offer volunteer vacations.

Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation

Cost: Free!

Meals and lodging: Meals included; volunteers provide their own camping gear.

Age: All ages welcome. (In fact, the youngest volunteer to date was 8 years old and the oldest was 89.)

Explore the wilds of Western Montana while helping to preserve and maintain the trails of the 1-million-acre Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, which the Forest Service calls, "the kind of wilderness most people can only imagine: Rugged peaks, alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, grassy meadows embellished with shimmering streams, a towering coniferous forest, and big river valleys."

Colorado Trail Foundation

Cost: Weekend trips $25; full week trips $50.

Meals and lodging: Included.

Age: 16 or older

The Colorado Trail was built by volunteers in the mid 1980s, and every summer volunteers come back to the Rockies to remove downed trees, fix signs and markers, educate trail users, and generally keep the trails open for everyone to enjoy. The 500-mile trail is an adventurer's dream, winding through eight rugged mountain ranges that top out above 13,000 feet. If you've ever wondered what the view from 2.5 miles up looks like, here's your chance.

American Hiking Society

Cost: $275 for an annual membership, which includes one volunteer vacation, subscriptions to Backpacker and Hiker magazines, and discounts on gear.

Meals and lodging: Included.

Age: 13 or older.

Forests trails need your help all over the country, and with the American Hiking Society hosting trips in 30 states, this is a great way to vacation close to home ... or travel to a particularly beautiful vacation spot like the Virgin Islands, San Francisco, Hawaii, or Alaska! Recent natural disasters have also left many trails in desperate need of repair in the southern states. Volunteers can expect to clear invasive species, build and maintain trails and bridges ... and remember the experience forever.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

Cost: Membership is $20 for one person, $30 for two

Meals and lodging: Lodging is included, and meals are often included -- fresh from the organic farm.

Age: 18 or older (many farms also welcome children, if accompanied by an adult).

The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) program gives you the opportunity to work at an organic farm in exchange for room and board. Don't worry if your farming experience is limited to visiting your local farmers' market; this program encourages the exchange of agricultural knowledge, so no previous farm experience is necessary.

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Cost: Free!

Meals and lodging: Included.

Age: All ages welcome.

The Pacific Crest Trail traverses various terrains -- deserts, snow covered landscapes and old-growth forests -- and various states -- California, Oregon, and Washington. There's something for every volunteer vacationer. You'll be rebuilding trails and building new structures.

Happy travels!

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