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Virgin Islands National Park, USVI (Week 2)

November 8, 2026 - November 14, 2026

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Dive into St. John’s 3,000 years of human history! Go beyond Virgin Islands National Park’s stunning white-sand beaches. Hike to historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island. Visit the Indigenous Taino’s ancient petroglyphs. Snorkel coral reefs to discover hidden marine life. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is a national park, making it a unique destination for visitors!

The volunteer trail crew’s work will include clearing invasive plants and trail corridor maintenance on trails and ruins. Common tools on the crew are loppers, weed whackers, hand saws and shovels.

Weather: Typical weather for this area during this season has highs of around 84–88°F and lows of 75–78°F. November is one of the wetter months in the Virgin Islands, so expect humid conditions with frequent passing showers or thunderstorms mixed with sunshine.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

Sample Schedule:

Day 1: Arrival

Typically meet in the afternoon for check in, introductions, orientation, and camp setup. (Time/place TBD)

Day 2: Work Day

Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack lunches, and be on the trail between 8 AM and 9 AM

Lunch and plenty of other breaks will be included.

Wrap up the work day in the late afternoon and head back to camp and enjoy a few hours of daylight for free time.

Reconvene at a chosen time for dinner.

After dinner has been cleaned up, evenings offer plenty of  time to relax, sit around the campfire and get to know your fellow crew members, or enjoy more free time.

Day 3: Work Day

Day 4: Rest Day (Specific Day on Trip Will Be Confirmed By Host)

Your choice! Explore the area, take a recreational hike,  tour local attractions, or hang out at camp. Group excursions can be planned or set-out on your own.

Day 5: Work Day

Day 6: Work Day

Day 7: Departure

Pack up and clean up, celebrate your accomplishments, wish each other a fond farewell, and depart. Please note: This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to the group.

Land Acknowledgement: AHS acknowledges that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Taíno peoples, past and present. We honor the land, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded it for generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This land acknowledgement is a first step in our commitment to uplift Indigenous voices, and we invite the American Hiking Society community to continue learning about and supporting the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.

Register

Host

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park

Accommodations

Car Camping Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Volunteers will hike up to 5 miles on uneven terrain while carrying 20 lbs and performing manual labor in hot and humid conditions for up to 6 hours a day. Maximum elevation changes the crew will experience is up to 1200 ft. Crew will be transported in the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park van to and from the worksites. The roads in the Park are generally paved, however some worksites are down unpaved roads. We may drive 1-10+ miles a day, depending on the worksite.

Project Rating

Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

16

Maximum Group Size

14

Area and Attractions

Virgin Islands National Park's diverse beaches, coral reefs, historic ruins, and hiking trails provide endless hours of exploration and enjoyment, as well as inspiration and opportunities for solitude and reflection. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities on the land and in the water, including swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving; sailing, kayaking and windsurfing; and camping, hiking, bird watching and archaeology. Enjoy the crystal blue waters on one of the many day-sail charter or snorkeling tours, or for a terrestrial experience try a 2- hour island safari tour, all offered by private operators.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will stay at a campground a three-minute walk from the beautiful white sand beach of Cinnamon Bay with excellent swimming and snorkeling (no lifeguard on duty). Each volunteer will be given a Eureka Copper Canyon 12 tent that is big enough to stand up and walk around in. They are situated on raised wooden platforms and equipped with 2 cots (no bedding provided).The campground kitchen is equipped with two Coleman double-burner propane stoves, a propane grill, a refrigerator, a full complement of kitchenware, picnic tables, coolers, drinking water, electric lights, and a cell phone charging station. There are two cold-water showers and two toilets at camp. There is WIFI and a convenience store as the Cinnamon Bay Campground restaurant (a separate facility from ours that volunteers are welcome to use). Volunteers need to bring their own sheets, bedding or sleeping bag; towels; and personal cup, bowl, mug, and eating utensils. Each volunteer will be given a Eureka Copper Canyon 12 tent that is big enough to stand up and walk around in.

Travel

Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI is the closest major airport. Airport pick up and drop off is not available for volunteers. Volunteers should fly into St. Thomas, and take a shared taxi to Red Hook ferry terminal, then take the ferry to Cruz Bay. Volunteers will need to visit the white gazebo in Powell Park when the ferry arrives. The gazebo is the taxi stand, and the workers there will direct volunteers into safari cabs. Cabs are around $11 one way plus luggage. Transportation from camp to the work site is provided throughout the week.

Location

Virgin Islands National Park
Cinnamon Bay Campground, St. John, USVI 00830 United States Minor Outlying Islands + Google Map