Play hooky with a purpose: Use your PTO to volunteer!
Nothing like ditching the office on a Monday afternoon to volunteer with a river keeper group!
Volunteering? In this economy?
Yes, volunteering for wildlife in wild places is exactly what we need to be doing!
Most of us are working more hours but for less spending power than ever before.
Previous generations could afford vacations, but most of us can't.
The economic regulations that ensured stability for our parents are gone.
Most businesses are reducing their employee wellbeing programs.
But we still want that quality of life.
We want to have adventures… but cannot justify the expense.
We want our lives to mean more than padding investor wallets… but our employers axed the community programs.
We want to meet new people and build friendships… but cannot justify the time.
This doesn't look to be changing for a while, but we still need to find a way to thrive.
Here at Fish & Wildlife Volunteers, we found a way through:
Take one day of your PTO, play hooky, and go volunteer outdoors.
On a weekday.
In an ecosystem you love.
With folks you don't know, but who share a common love for wildlife and wild places.
You never know how many people in your community share your passions until you volunteer together! This photo is from a trail project our members joined in, just outside of Bozeman, MT.
In the US, workers leave nearly 1/3 of their paid time off, unused.*
It is your time. You earned it!
Take one day (heck, a half day) of that and get out volunteering.
We know that giving back to the wild places we love is good for our minds and bodies.
So is taking a work day off.
So is spending a day outside.
So is meeting people with common passions.
A crew of volunteers helping install a water collection system for wildlife in the Nevada desert, just outside of Las Vegas. Many of the volunteers that day came from business members of ours.
Volunteering is also less likely to put your job at risk with your employer.
(To be clear, taking PTO shouldn't get you in trouble in the first place. That's YOUR earned time... but that's a topic for another organization to tackle.)
Instead of your employer saying, "Oh, they took a 'personal day'? There must be something wrong with them...", they'll say, "Oh, they took PTO to volunteer? Whoa..."
Unless they're complete tyrants... and that includes you, oh self-employed self-abusing workaholic business owners.
This could be you, testing trout genetics, on any given weekday… if you play hooky and use some PTO for a self-care volunteer day!
Here are some key "Do's" and "Do Not’s" to make the most of your day or half day of PTO volunteering:
DO:
Plan it for a weekday. You are playing hooky after all! Also, many of the coolest and most accessible volunteer days are now happening on weekdays due to the budget cuts conservation and wildlife groups are facing. You can do some real extra valuable volunteering if you show up on a weekday project!
Pick a volunteer project that feeds your passions and curiosity. Your brain needs happy chemicals. Feed it.
Pick a project that does not need a lot of gas money or special gear that you do not already own. (Many groups will provide carpooling or special gear, so be sure to ask!)
Volunteer with people or a group you are unfamiliar with. You need to meet people! (And there is nothing wrong with colluding with a friend or two to join you.)
Pack yourself a sweet treat as a reward. (We have business members who make all kinds of treats and snacks, if you need inspo.)
Read the "What to bring / expect" instructions from the group leading project. You are playing hooky, but don’t show up unprepared.
Use our Fish & Wildlife Volunteers Group Directory, or reach out to us, to find new groups and projects to volunteer with. And if you find an awesome group that you think we should be partnered with, let us know!
Take lots of photos and videos of your day, just like a vacation. Print one off for you to see at work and post the rest to inspire others to follow your lead in the fun. (Don’t forget to tag us so we can share in your fun!)
DO NOT:
Expect this to fix your whole life. We are fixing one day. But that's what progress is; one day at a time.
Pick a project that is similar to what you do for work. You will not fully relax and could actually put yourself at higher risk of burnout. IE: If you work in an office, don't volunteer at a phone bank - go outside. If you are an executive, don't lead a work crew - take a back seat for the day.
Pick a project that is too physically or mentally taxing for where you are at, right now. You want just enough challenge to be exciting, but not so much that you are beat up or feel like a drag on the project.
Volunteer with a group that feels... off. You deserve to feel and be safe on any volunteer project, but especially if you are spending PTO to be there. This is an extra consideration for women and volunteers who are LGBTQ+ and BIPOC. We can help you find groups that not only take care of ecosystems, but also volunteer well-being.
Forget to take pictures!
BONUS “DO”: Pull your kids out of school for a day of volunteering as a family. Of all the things that teachers put up with kids playing hooky for, they’ll actually like this! River, beach and trail cleanups like this one are great volunteer activities for kids.
So play hooky!
Use your PTO!
Pack a sweet treat as a reward!
Meet new and interesting people!
Get to know your local ecosystems and community better!
Get away from your emails and screens and join us outside volunteering!
*According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2026