To help foster an awareness of helping others out, enroll your child in a community service camp. These camps are aimed at instilling a sense of completion in giving back to the community, whether helping out at a local fooSee More »

To help foster an awareness of helping others out, enroll your child in a community service camp. These camps are aimed at instilling a sense of completion in giving back to the community, whether helping out at a local food bank or helping an impoverished village get back on its feet. These camps often involve travel to places like Costa Rica and Machu Picchu in Peru. They sometimes are offered in conjunction with academic programs and may count towards high school or college credits, for example. Kids enjoy giving back and helping less fortunate people, with the focus on immersion in local culture.

Levels of Expertise: Because older children are better suited to these away camps and have a greater sense of community involvement, volunteer work camps are typically targeted at ages 13 to 19 or older.

What to Pack: It depends on where the camp is located and what type of work students will be doing, but a general rule of thumb is to bring comfortable clothing for warm days and cool nights. Usually, tools and helmets are provided at community home building sites, for instance.

Highlights: Community service camps often sponsor fun activities like sailing, swimming, zip lining, kayaking, wakeboarding, rock climbing and biking.