I wanted to do something different with my summer so when I received an email off a company called BUNAC with information about their Volunteer programmes I signed up immediately.
I spent my summer in American doing volunteer work in national parks. I worked in Arizona and Utah, mainly building fences and walk-overs at the Grand Canyon and in Zion National Park, the most visited national park in the US. It was a fantastic experience. I spent 8 days working on site, camping out under the stars, then would spend the next 6 days before my next project seeing the sights. I was able to meet people from all over the world and even brush up on my German.
If you want an alternative option for your summer then I would definitely recommend doing a volunteer programme with BUNAC. They help you every step of the way and give you continued support while you're out there.
Go for it!