It's a shiny new calendar year. Its pages stretch out in front of you like an endless flood of possibilities. What will you do with all your time to make this year memorable?

If you're an international student or a globetrotter, why not resolve to give back to the communities that host you? Volunteer travel offers the ideal way to say thank you for the gift of adventure. Additionally, volunteering while traveling enables you to forge new friendships that last long after you return stateside. Here are several ideas to get you started. 

1. Plant a Tree 

Are you a tree hugger? If so, good for you! The world needs more people like you as we strive to combat climate change. Why not put your ecological consciousness to work by planting a tree abroad?

You can find many reforestation programs in various regions of the globe, whether you prefer the heat of Subsaharan Africa or the chilly slopes of a Nordic mountain. When you leave, you'll know you left a piece of you to grow on and mark the spot where you made a difference. Your gift will provide lifegiving oxygen to countless residents. 

2. Donate Pill Bottles 

If you're fortunate enough to enjoy access to quality health care, you're luckier than many around the globe. People in developing nations often need to carry their pills wrapped in paper scraps, sometimes over considerable distances. If their medication dissolves or they lose it before they can take it, they find themselves out of luck. It takes only a nominal effort to prepare your old prescription bottles for donation, and doing so can make a lifesaving difference for a mother carrying home needed pills for an ill child.

3. Maintain a Trail

Do you enjoy hiking when you travel abroad? The trails that wind through your favorite forests don't maintain themselves. While some regions employ rangers to manage recreational trails, others rely on teams of volunteers. These groups often recruit through notices in local papers or by posting signs at the trailhead — pay attention and take advantage.

4. Aid in Refugee Relief Efforts

Some places in the world experience such turmoil that residents flee with nothing but the clothes on their backs, thus becoming refugees. Many of these individuals become ineligible for public health care due to their status as foreigners. Organizations such as Anera's Medicine-in-Kind program need volunteers to help administer necessary treatments to these individuals. If you study the health care field, opportunities such as this allow you to develop your skills while doing good. 

5. Choose Local Vendors Wisely 

Your overseas volunteer efforts don't necessarily need to emulate Mother Teresa. You can make a difference in the regions you visit by patronizing local vendors. Choose shops and restaurants with an underlying social mission to employ less-fortunate residents or partake in community cleanups. 

6. Consider Volun-Tourism 

If you haven't yet booked your next excursion, why not consider making the entire trek a volunteer journey? A host of volunteer tourism organizations recruit team members to join them in their endeavors. Unlike volunteering at home, you'll fully immerse yourself in the host culture. While you'll likely have to pay a fee, as well as carry money for incidentals, you can save considerable cash while still exploring the world.

7. Partner With Your Hotel 

Did you know the place that provides your lodging may also connect you with volunteer opportunities on your trip? If you haven't yet arranged for accommodation, consider a resort that offers this amenity. Whether you want to help a shelter dog or embark on conservation efforts, your lodging can hook you up with resources. 

8. Participate in a Beach Cleanup 

Will you spend a bit of your journey abroad by lounging on the beach with an umbrella drink in hand? If so, you hardly want to look at piles of rubbish cluttering your ocean view. Why not get involved in a coastal cleanup effort? Many local regions have groups that meet regularly, or you can participate in the International Coastal Cleanup if your trip corresponds with the date.

9. Mentor Youth 

Do you adore working with children? You can find both volunteer-level and paid work opportunities abroad as an English language teacher or an au pair. If you're fascinated with the Jewish culture, for example, you can even take part in the social activities of the kibbutz while helping youth celebrate festivals and holy days. 

10. Join a Language Exchange 

How are your Italian- or Spanish-speaking skills? If you want to build additional fluency in your chosen tongue, why not participate in foreign language exchange and help an English learner, too. You may get to meet your new friend on your journey, and your correspondence can continue long after you return home. 

11. Consider the Peace Corps 

Finally, if you're a dedicated do-gooder, why not apply to join the Peace Corps and travel the world performing acts of altruism? You can apply to specific projects lasting a year or more, or you can stick to shorter opportunities. Either way, you'll get a tremendous sense of pride and score a valuable addition to your resume. 

Incorporate Volunteer Travel in Your New Year Plans 

If you're an international student or traveler, why not incorporate acts of service into your plans for the new year? Be more than a tourist — through volunteering, you can leave every place you visit a little brighter for the people who call it home.

About the Author

Alyssa Abel is an education and study abroad blogger with a passion for travel. Follow her @alyssaabelblog on Twitter or read her blog, Syllabusy.