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Virgin Islands National Park 2, USVI – Volunteer Vacation 2024

November 24 @ 5:00 pm - December 1 @ 10:00 am

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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 scope of work includes trails maintenance, clearing of historical sites, native tree planting projects, invasive species removal, and trash/debris removal. Common tools on the crew are loppers, weed whackers, hand saws and shovels. Volunteers will need to be physically capable of hiking 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. The maximum elevation gain is around 800ft.

During this trip, Virgin Islands National Park’s average high temperature is 87°, and average low temperature is 75°.

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.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Taíno peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, their deep and sacred connection to these lands, and those who continue to steward these lands today. We offer this land acknowledgement as the first of many steps to stand as an ally and amplify Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to join us through continued efforts to support Indigenous communities and learn more about the history of the lands on which we live, work and recreate.

Click here for a PDF of trip details.

Register

Host

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park

Accommodations

Car Camping Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Volunteers must be physically capable of hiking 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. The maximum elevation gain is around 800ft.

Project Rating

Moderate

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

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

The volunteer campground is 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 sleeping bags or linens, towels, and personal toiletries.

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, however carpooling and rideshare can be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.Volunteers should arrange to 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