Jane Stanfield

I found my goal in life in 2004 when I came across several articles and a class on volunteer vacations. I had been an active local volunteer for years and I lived abroad for three years during elementary school. The thought of being able to travel and volunteer became my focus and I looked for an opportunity to experience a volunteer vacation.

I did my first international volunteer vacation in 2005 in St. Victor le Coste, France. Then in 2006, I went around the world where I completed 12 volunteer placements in eight countries. Starting in Peru and ending in Romania, my volunteer work included working with orphans, teaching English, an archaeological dig, speaking English and working with seven different species of wildlife. I had such a good time at the archaeological dig, I went back again in 2007.

When I returned to the U.S. I started my business, Where Is She Heading. Through WISH, I speak, teach, coach and write about volunteer vacations. My first book, Mapping Your Volunteer Vacation was published in 2009 and is available on my website and at several independent bookstores in Colorado. I also contributed a chapter in the upcoming book, The Voluntary Traveler, that is scheduled to be released in the fall 2009.

My current plans include a more focused international volunteer trip in 2010 or 2011.