Tales of the adventurous early bird

So the Christmas parties are well under way, the pressure is on with deadlines looming and then of course we all have the January exams to look forward to.

And no doubt that at this point in the year, the long summer holidays seem a long way off.

But in fact this is actually the perfect time to start making plans for those summer months...

It’s all very well daydreaming about sunning ourselves on distant beaches, or perhaps trekking through some remote wilderness, but to make these daydreams a reality it is important to start planning ahead well in advance.

Whether it's a summer trip you’re interested in or a longer adventure after graduation there is plenty to be thinking about.

The first step is to decide exactly what it is that you want to get out of your gap/mini gap adventure - do you want paid work or voluntary?

Volunteering projects tend to focus on one of three categories – teaching English, wildlife/environmental conservation or construction.

A good place to start research is the internet.

However, do be careful when simply using Google as there are numerous companies out there that charge an extortionate fee for you having the privilege of volunteering, without them actually providing you with any support.

Bunac offers trips to America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, providing opportunities to work in children’s summer camps as well as casual work, such as waitressing, in the tourist resorts.

They arrange visas and have exclusive rights to their ‘Work Canada’ visa.

Trips can last from 3 to twelve months combining travel as well as a chance to earn some money!

However, the trips fill fast so it is crucial that you secure your place early; ‘Work Canada’ has limited visas so applications need to be in by January 2009.

Global Vision International offers volunteering projects in over 30 countries.

They employ 150 field staff to support the volunteers during their time abroad. [-[quote]-]

Examples of trips include marine conservation in Mexico which costs £1375 for 5 weeks, including all food, accommodation and support.

Departure dates for summer 2009 are in June and July.

If scuba diving isn’t really you then perhaps teaching young children at a school in Ghana appeals more.

This costs £870 for 5 weeks, staying in basic guesthouses.

Flights are not included in the trip prices.

Oyster Worldwide is a much smaller company that offers a more personal service.

A programme called ‘A Summer to Remember’ arranges trips to Nepal, Tanzania and Canada.

These trips provide opportunities to travel and experience a new culture as well as volunteering within the community.

These cost between £1000 and £1500 and must be applied for as soon as possible after Christmas as groups generally meet up in the UK before their departure.

So...having offered a miniscule sample of the opportunities available there is no excuse to be sat behind Tesco checkout all summer!

Get online and decide what takes your fancy most to avoid missing out, then it’s time to start saving those pennies!

And last of all... have a fab summer!