Tap Into Your Inner Indiana Jones

Ever wish you could spend your time studying cheetahs in Namibia, dolphins offshore of Brazil, or stone age archeology in France? Now you can - for a fee, of course. For around $2,000 to $3,000 (not including travel to the rendezvous point), the Earthwatch Institute will send you on your choice of dozens of scientific research expeditions that could use a research assistant or two. Earthwatch emphasizes that these are volunteer opportunities, not tours, meaning that you're actually going to have to do some work while you're out there. Most of the tasks are simple, like counting bugs or interviewing farmers, while some expeditions may require scuba training or a high level of physical fitness. Over 4,000 volunteers participate in the program each year. You can find a schedule of expeditions at the EI website.