Area: Queensland

We run a family business and lead busy, active lives. Married with 2 boys, one 19 & one 11 year old we are looking for a little help around the house and shop. We both Kitesurf as often as possible, with other water activities when we can. Non smokers Noosa is home to kitesurfing in Australia as one of the first places to introduce the sport. Noosa has perfect weather through most of the year, with tropical temperatures and warm water. Surrounded by national parks, Noosa is a top tourist destination for many overseas visitors.

Area: New York State

We are a family of 6 with 4 kids ranging from 10 to 16. We love to learn new things, love to cook new food, and love to hear stories. Do you have a skill that doesn't need very specific or expensive tools? teach us ! Are you really good at any sport ? give us lessons, let us drills or techniques to keep learning at our own pace when you leave. We are thinking to receive guest in February ( winter break ) and from April to September.

Area: West of Ireland.

Our Artfarm is a art dream in progress. It is hoped that in the future it will be a centre for art/film/music/workshops/classes and residencies for anybody with a dream of using their creativity in some way. Some day classes have already been run here including woodcarving and mosaic classes which were a great success. The dream is a work in progress with the ongoing restoration of house, outhouses and haybarn as studio space and organic veg plot slowly expanding. This creative space is in a rural setting in east Galway, 35 miles from Galway city, 15 miles from Roscommon town. It has a minimal footprint ethos with a great respect and love for the space and all its ecosystem. It is hoped that this centre can be a place where the local community both young and old are made welcome and where visiting workshop participants and artists can feel at home. It is hoped this place can be eco rather than ego driven. Anyone with an interest in art and environment is welcome here.

Area: Northland

Hi There, Simon & I run a Surf School and surf tours business as well as an internet business. We live on a beautiful property in Ngunguru, that we have the pleasure of sharing with great friends/family of ours, a Great Dane, Jack Russell & a cat. The property has it's own private beach, and spectacular views out on to the beautiful Tutukaka Coast. The Tutukaka Coast has many lovely beaches, wildlife, great diving with the Poor Knights and much more. It was rated by National Geographic Traveller Magazine in the top 2 coastal destinations worldwide.

Area: Indian Himalayas

We run a small, luxurious retreat for tourists in the Indian Himalayas. The Retreat is 80 Kms north of Shimla, the earstwhile summer capital of British India. Thanedhar is famous for apples, which were introduced by an American gentleman Mr. Samuel Evans Stokes way back in 1916. His family, like the rest of us, is still into apple cultivation. Thanedhar a charming little mountain village, with a small bazaar, which is 1 Km from the retreat . Thanedhar can be easily accessed from Shimla and Chandigarh by regular daily buses. The Retreat is situated in an apple orchard. We also grow cherries and other temperate fruits, but apple is our main crop. The property consists of six bedrooms, two suites, and two independent log cabins . Volunteers will essentially be on hand to interact with guests, who being mostly Indian families, love the opportunity to meet travellers from other countries. Activities include accompanying guests on orchard and forest walks, sitting around the nightly bonfire and sharing meal times. We are looking for volunteers who love the mountains and the outdoors. The volunteers will be entrusted with the duty of a co- host. We are specifically looking for helpers who feel comfortable engaging with guests, sitting for meals with them and showing them the beauty of the area while escorting them on walks. The volunteers will be provided independent accommodation in the family guest room and served meals in the dining room,along with other guests. IMPORTANT INFORMATION - # Please be advised that we are now booked for volunteers April, May, June, July 2012. # Two further openings exist in 2012: ( Aug 1st until Sept 15th) ;( Sept 16th until Oct 31st) . We would consider one volunteer for the entire Aug-Oct three month period. For Apr-Oct 2013: apply October 1st 2012 (and not before)..