Archive for the ‘New Orleans’ Tag
Volunteer Vacation in New Orleans
Comments (1)New Orleans, LA
New Orleans is my favorite city outside of Chicago and a great destination for people interested in a volunteer vacation. The best volunteer vacations are in areas that have great need for volunteers and that have unique cultures with opportunities for exploration and social activities. 
NOLA’s locally brewed Abita tastes better after a day of volunteering in the hot Louisiana sun!
New Orleans is the place to go to make a difference and have a great time. The added bonus is that spending money out as a tourist is another way to give back to the community. Things are getting better and the city is coming back, but the Crescent City is still far from recovered.
Here’s are some resources to help with planning a rewarding and relaxing Volunteer Vacation in New Orleans:
Where to Volunteer: Find Projects and Housing…
Camp Hope (housing)
Revised 11/14/2009 Visit here for additional volunteer housing options.
Social/Culture Activities
Preservation Hall
This is a long night (8pm-11pm), so avoid pairing with another activity. Get there early to ensure getting in and getting good seats. Bring in a beverage as they don’t sell any inside. Prepare the participants for the hot, sweaty, crowded conditions. This was amazing and a highlight of the trip for both sessions! If you call ahead (and talk to Debbie) you can get the special recovery volunteer rate of $5. The first session we were able to cut the line because we called ahead, but we weren’t allowed to with the second group because Debbie wasn’t there, so don’t take the chance and GO EARLY (7pm is a good time).
St. Augustine’s Church 1210 Gov. Nicholls St., 504-525-5934
This is an African American Catholic church just outside the French Quarter. Its significance is that it is the first church to welcome slaves as members of the congregation. The mass is also traditional in format, but not in style with the use of gospel singers and a very welcoming warm environment for guests. This was not a huge hit with our teen participants, but we feel it was still a worthwhile activity to try in the future. Next time, I would pre-load it more as a cultural activity and not a religious one. I would also maybe have them vote as a group if they even want to go. During the Satcmo Festival they host a jazz mass and subsequent second line parade down to Frenchman street, which we missed out on.
French Quarter
The participants can’t get enough of the French Quarter. Upon arrival give them the low down on how to behave in public and remind them of the expectations and dangers of being in this area (drunken people, cars, etc.).
IMAX
Located on the river and Canal. This is a short 45minute movie. It was good to see at the end of the trip because it wraps up the experience and the participants can recognize all the places that they show in the film. They have a recovery volunteer rate of $3.50/person.
Shopping
Pre-load that they should purchase souvenirs when they see them because there may not be an opportunity to return to a particular store AND encourage them to seek authentic culture outside of cheesy souverneir shops. We did this with the 2nd session and were rewarded with participants who wanted to see a cooler more authentic side of New Orleans. You’ll also have to tell them in advance that it is not appropriate to purchase t-shirts with inappropriate messages or go into the many pipe and smoke shops. It was best to split up to avoid the awkwardness of overwhelming small shops. We recommend Decatur to Frenchman Street for great vintage shops, Royal for art galleries, and of course the Voodoo shops!
Café DuMonde
This is a MUST and worth multiple visits. It is more enjoyable at night when it is cooler out and not as crowded. The participants will need $3-$7 for beignets and a café au lait.
Audubon Zoo
This was a HUGE hit with the participants. The zoo is BEAUTIFUL and small enough to navigate in one day. They let you bring a bag lunch and there is also an air conditioned cafeteria. The animals were all out and lively despite the heat.
The Zoo is adjacent to Audubon Park in the Garden District. Take a drive down St. Charles to see the beautiful houses and street cars. They have recovery volunteer rates of $3.25/person. You must make a reservation between normal business hours, if you plan to go on the weekend just call Friday afternoon.
Swamp Tour
This is a MUST. There is no other place like this and it was so cool to see the wild alligators up close. We used Honey Island Swamp Tours and had a great experience. Go in the morning when it is cooler out and bring a lunch to enjoy after on their picnic tables. The site for the tour is an hour from Metairie. We paid a group rate of $17/person.
Zephyr’s Game
This was a ton of fun for the participants. It was also relaxing for the leaders! On Monday’s home games are $3/person for groups. They have a higher group rates the other nights.
We wish we had time to check out…
St. Charles Street Car
$1.25/ride, goes along a beautiful historic area past huge southern mansions and Loyola University New Orleans, and Tulane University.
Magazine Street
Nice cool area with boutiques and quaint restaurants. This is a refreshing alternative to shopping in the French Quarter.
Audubon Aquarium
Located in the same building as the IMAX. It seems nice and a good thing to do if it is too hot to be outside.
Audubon Insectarium
This is located in the French Quarter on Canal. There was a lot of press for it and it we heard good things. This would be good to do in conjunction with the IMAX or French Quarter visit or to do on a hot day because it is inside.
White Linen Night-First Saturday in August
White Linen Night is an annual summer pre-art season celebration along Julia St. (300-700 blocks), throughout the New Orleans Warehouse/Arts District, and at the Contemporary Arts Center. You’ll find art openings at nearly 20 galleries with contemporary works by local, national and international artists. Plus, live music and admission is free 6-9PM
