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Virgin Islands National Park, USVI Week 1 – Volunteer Vacations 2023

November 19, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - November 25, 2023 @ 10:00 am

Trip Navigation

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 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. Volunteers need to be in good physical health and prepared to work from 8am to 2pm in hot and humid conditions. Every participant should have close toed shoes, a day pack, sun protection, long pants, a mask, and capacity to carry a minimum of 3 liters of water. The Friends of Virgin Island National Park will supply all necessary tools, training, gloves, and transportation.

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 Taino and Kalinago (Island Carib) 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.

Location

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

Host

National Park Service

Accommodations

Primitive Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Day hiking up to 4 miles each work day.

Project Rating

Difficult

Minimum Volunteer Age

16

Maximum Group Size

13

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 to Cinnamon Bay's beautiful white sand beach with excellent swimming and snorkeling. The campground is equipped with propane stoves, propane grills, refrigerator, kitchenware, picnic tables, and bins for food storage, drinking water, a shower, toilets, and kitchen sink. Each volunteer will be given a cot and assigned a shared large 12 person tent. Please note that there is no cell phone coverage at camp. Cell service is available at the east end of the beach.

Travel

Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, USVI is the closest airport. 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. Group pickup is provided from the ferry terminal at Cruz Bay. Transportation from camp to the work site is provided throughout the week.
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