give back to the community you visit

For travelers seeking an authentic experience, Tacoma + Pierce County, Wash. offers a way to give vacationers a fulfilling experience.

Voluntourism is the act of volunteering while visiting and provides travelers with personalized experiences while giving back to the community they're visiting. The Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau (TRCVB) is ready to help plan voluntourism activities

TRCVB offers four types of voluntourism activities to appeal to a variety of interests: making a difference, cultural immersion, seeking camaraderie and educational experiences.

Choose from a variety of activities and experiences:

  • Clean up Chambers Creek Properties (932 total acres)

  • Remove invasive species from the shoreline around Commencement Bay (experienced kayakers are able to clean up the water from their kayak)

  • Learn to blow glass with students of Hilltop Artists

  • Assist on trail maintenance and litter pickup with MetroParks Tacoma

  • Paint a historic train or label and sort historic photos for the DuPont Historical Society

  • Restore the historic vessel, the Shenandoah at the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor

Each type of voluntourism activity enhances visitor's travel experiences by making a difference, gaining a new appreciation for a local culture, seeing the destination in a new way and the opportunity to learn. Voluntourism activities are available year round and are open to groups of all sizes, ranging from very easy to very challenging.

For more information on voluntourism activities and how to become a voluntourist in Tacoma + Pierce County, visit TravelTacoma.com/Voluntourism.