By Ed Thompson, Ooh.com

Ooh.com – Search for Things to Do

As the climate change row has escalated in recent years, there’s been a steadily growing demand for activities, courses and experiences which help people reconnect with the natural world and escape the consumerism and commercialism of modernity.

The emergence of websites such as this one is testament to the swelling ranks that care enough about their relationship with their environment to actually take action. Whether information gathering, or physically participating, there has never been a time when we’ve been so widely involved in a collective awakening about our impact on the environment.

There’s also never been so much fun to be had from it. There are now more courses, classes, tours, and travel opportunities for the eco-conscious than ever. Have you always wanted to get some practical experience with sustainable living? Or considered building your own yurt? We’ll here’s how!

Yurt Making Workshop at the Workhouse

“Build your own Yurt, a traditionally low impact dwelling, and work with experienced crafts people, in a stunning setting as part of a ground breaking new project!”

When it comes to hands-on ecotourism, it doesn’t get more practical than learning how to build a yurt. This course includes building and taking away your own “central wheel” the most complex, but crucial central support for the roof of the yurt. You can take this life-skill anywhere you go in the future, so it’s a great course to start re-learning your connection with natural materials and crafts. more…

Green Living Weekend – Blue Rock Station, Ohio, USA

“If you have ever wondered what it might be like to chuck it all, build a straw bale (or Earthship) out in the woods, milk the goats, do a bit of gardening – here is your chance to experience it for a fraction of the cost of telling your boss you’re off in a moment of frustration and walking out the door.”

Our team loves this listing – so much in fact, that we made it one of our $100 winning listings featured on the homepage. Blue Rock Station is a sustainable living homestead that centers around Ohio’s first Earthship – a comfortable home built from tires, cans, bottles, strawbales and other re-used materials. Folks from around the world can attend workshops on topics including natural building, solar cooking, natural gardening, wild foods, and more. more…

Cross-Cultural Earthen Building Project – Dogon Country, Mali, Africa

“An opportunity of a lifetime! Take part in this workshop building a one-room schoolhouse using earthbag construction, working alongside the Dogon villagers who will share with us their languages, music, cuisine, farming, and building techniques.”

Getting involved in volunteering projects can be a genuinely rewarding way to make the most of your annual travel time. Ooh.com’s aim with voluntary ecotourism is to unearth unique, great value trips abroad. On this African village stay, you’ll learn traditional Dogon building techniques by assisting local builders with their work. Tour the country by foot and bus to see Dogon Permaculture in action; visit the spectacular ruins of old Dogon towns and experience the daily life of the Terelli people, an off-grid traditional tribe. more…

Bison and Wildlife Internship Week, Montana, USA

“For the adventurous who would like to explore life as a wildlife biologist on a private wildlife and bison reserve in the Montana wilderness”

If working with animals is something you’ve always wanted to do, this practical wildlife internship at the Wild Echo Bison Reserve in Montana could be just your thing. Projects include building exclosures around important wildlife habitat, habitat manipulation, breeding bird censuses, mammal and bird behavioral studies (bison, yellow bellied marmot/golden eagle interactions, cavity nesting bird feeding studies) and bird and mammal population studies on and near the Reserve. more…

If you share our passion for ecotourism, sustainable living and volunteering, then search the site for something you’d love to do!

Because anyone can list any activity on the site, we’re hoping to see huge diversity and increasing activity in the eco-tourism and volunteering categories. If you offer an ecotourism activity, we’d love you to take a few minutes to list your trips, courses or activities on the site for others to find.

More about Ooh.com

Ooh.com is a free listings and bookings noticeboard. The site allows people anywhere in the world to list and sell any kind of time bookable activity. It takes about 10 minutes to create a great looking listing and start selling an activity. Buyers can pay for activities they want to do using Paypal, Google checkout and all the other normal payment methods like check, transfer and credit card.