I’ve always thought that lists of FAQs were a marketing gimmick. Now, after almost three months on the road and describing the Do Good Adventure road trip to dozens of people, I now know that there really can be frequently asked questions. So, in case you were wondering, here are some of the questions I’ve been asked most often, along with the answers.
How did you come up with the idea of Do Good Adventure? The idea evolved over the past couple of years. From the time I started high school, I planned to take a gap year after high school. I thought about the fact that, despite many teens being actively involved in their communities, teens often still have a bad reputation and decided that I wanted to spend my year working with teens who are active in their communities and visiting teen friendly organizations across the United States. As I looked around at exiting gap year programs, I learned that most domestic programs are based in a single city. I recruited my mom as my travel companion and Do Good Adventure was born.
How did you find your partnering organizations? The process was very organic. We started with a rough time frame and list of cities to visit. Then I started researching and asking around. I learned about many of the organizations I visited through word of mouth from volunteers, organizational staff and industry professionals. Searchable databases such as Guidestar and Charity Navigator were invaluable as well.
Did you set up the organizations in advance? Absolutely! Before I left home in September, I had contacted and confirmed dates with all of the organizations I would visit before Thanksgiving. I am now identifying the organizations I will visit for the remainder of the road trip.
What is next for Do Good Adventure? The trip will resume during mid-January and continue till mid-March. Unlike the autumn travel during which we drove more than 9,000 miles, this leg will be a combination of driving and flying. In addition, this year I will move into the teen volunteerism advocacy phase of Do Good Adventure. I have lined up a few speaking opportunities and am actively seeking others. I will also look for other avenues to tell the story, such as through the media. I am in awe of our incredible country, and of the many people who are working to make it an even better place. I look forward to sharing that message with as wide an audience as possible.
Next fall, I will go to college. I’m not sure what form Do Good Adventure will take then, but I look forward to integrating this year’s adventures into my college experience.