Hi Michael, Cool idea. Sometimes we all need a carrot to really inspire initial participation. I'm an actual customer by the way. Although I usually plan my own trips as an ecotourism buff and TIES member, I must say that your team took the hurt out of doing all the legwork to book my 3 days in Corcovado. I just got back home to Tahoe from a monster roadtrip that took me to the Responsible Tourism conference in Belize and as far as Nicaragua. I had hoped to reach Panama and visit CR again but just got warn out...and ran out of Pesos, Dollars, Cordoba, Quetzales, etc. I love to share my experiences and would be happy to chime in if my expertise is requested. For instance...what's the best place to take a nap or do some yoga at Tikal, Guatemala? (on top of the Castillo overlooking the Main Acropolis of course!)...or how do you climb a coconut tree and open up your prize? (you can email me for a link to a sweet video of the "Coconut Man" in Placencia, Belize for that one :) As a marketing consultant attempting to work full time in Ecotourism, my specialty is North and Central America. My suggestion may be a selfish one, but what about focusing on Latin America...or Central America. Of course, most of us active travelers are happy to hear the occasional off-topic fun stuff...like where to take a cooking class in Spain...but it seems like your customers and many contacts might find it more useful if there is a tighter focus. Aloha, Pete South Lake Tahoe, California, USA

The National Wildlife Federation used to have Family Summits in different parts of the United States. They included five days of classes and outdoor activities for adults and children but encouraged participants to take a half or full day doing some volunteer work in the area that they had arranged for ahead of time, usually planting, picking up trash, or working on a trail. It was voluntary. I think one to two days of volunteering out of a week to ten days would be wonderful. I have heard that it does need to be something that is needed and wanted and would not compete with local workers. Couldn't the people who live there be asked? Were you thinking about an hour each day or an hour total teaching English? My husband has done some volunteer dentistry in Mexico and Guatemala. He needed to be careful not to compete with the dentists that were working in those countries, so they worked in rural areas with the indigenous people. I do remember seeing on Gap's website in the past where people worked on a water project for two to three days and they toured the rest of the time in Guatemala. Is there more of a need in Guatemala and Nicaragua? Safety would be an issue, and it would be helpful for people teaching English to know some Spanish. Actually, it would be a good experience on both sides for older children to help teach also with their parents.

Kathie, We only arrange and operate trips in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. We have good friends who we can recommend in Guatemala, Belize, Mexico and many other countries around the world. Before you begin to put in the work to plan an itinerary, you should decide on the destination. Please let me know if you would like me to help you do that.