volunteervacations.americanhiking.orgVolunteer Vacations - American Hiking Society - Adventure Service Trips

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Share the Experience We are building a nation of kick-butt trail stewards and invite you to join. Work side-by-side with fellow do-gooders by day, and share stories around the campfire by night. Connect with Nature Breath in the mountain air. Listen to the crackle of leaves underfoot. Gaze in wonder at breathtaking vistas. Experience nature up close, and return from vacation appreciating the outdoors in a new way. Find a Trip Find the Perfect Volunteer Vacation for You From the tropical coves of the US Virgin Islands to the glacial fjords of Alaska Find a Trip What Are Volunteer Vacations? Our nation’s trails need your help! Join American Hiking Society for a week of building & maintaining trails in exciting & diverse locations across the country. Volunteer Vacations foster public land stewardship and provide volunteers the opportunity to give back to the trails they love, meet new people, and have a great time doing it! Crews consist of 6-15 volunteers accompanied by a crew leader. Volunteer Vacations involve backpacking or day hiking and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. Tools and supervision are provided by the host agency or organization. Experience nature up close. Travel to new destinations. Meet other outdoor enthusiasts. Take a vacation that nourishes your body & your spirit. Get Out. Give Back. Volunteering 101 Ryan Nelson Project Guide Wesley Trimble Trip Resources Wesley Trimble Crew Leaders Meet Our Leaders Become a Leader Sondra Morison Host a Trail Crew Host Information Mike Pittsley Find a Trip Volunteering 101 Ryan Nelson Volunteer Vacations Information 2020 Registration Fees Expand $300: American Hiking Society Members, First Trip per Calendar Year $365: Non-Member, First Trip per Calendar Year (Includes 1-year membership with AHS) $250: Additional Trips per Calendar Year $225: Youth Registration, Under 18 Years of Age (Must be accompanied by legal guardian on trip) ***The registration fee and travel associated with your volunteer trip is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We offer a group rate ($250/person) for 4+ participants that sign up at the same time (all must be current AHS members). ***Many companies will provide paid time off for volunteer work, match your volunteer registration fee, and even match travel expenses incurred to volunteer. See if your company has a Matching Program Registration Fees Include Expand Food during the week (with the exception of meals out) Entrance to park/forest, backcountry permits, campground fees, cabin or lodging fees (These fees could run upwards of $100 for a typical week in a U.S. National Park/Forest) Use of tools and safety equipment Group supervision, logistics planning, and meal planning from experienced Crew Leaders Exclusive American Hiking Society Volunteer LONG-sleeved shirt If you are a non-member signing up for the first time, you also get the full benefits of membership . * American Hiking is a non-profit organization. In addition to the inclusions listed above, the registration fee helps offset the costs associated with coordinating the logistics and marketing of more than 50 different projects in 30 states every year. Our Volunteers Expand Our volunteers come from all walks of life and from across the country. Age ranges from 15 to 80. Volunteers under the age of 18 are welcome on certain trips if accompanied by a legal guardian. Each trip lists the minimum age allowed on the project details page. While each trip usually has a couple or two, or friends traveling together, many participants travel alone. If you have never done trail maintenance before, we welcome you! While we do ask that volunteers are in good physical condition, prior trail maintenance experience is not necessary on any of our trips. There is a wide variety of tasks on each trip and there is always something for everyone to do. (We do strongly recommend prior backpacking experience for trips designated with backpacking to a remote location.) If you are interested in our Alternative Break Program, please visit our Alternative Break page. Choosing the Right Trip Expand Volunteer Vacations are rated to help you find a project that suits your needs and physical ability. While trips do not require prior trail maintenance experience, all of our projects require participants to be in good physical condition and will involve 30-40 hours of physical labor during the week. Projects are rated from ‘easy’ to ‘very strenuous’. Please read the project descriptions carefully, honestly assess your physical capabilities, and choose one that fits your experience level and current health. Read more information about our project ratings and how to choose a trip that is right for you in our Project Guide . Travel Expand The start date listed for each project is the travel/meeting date. The meeting time will generally be in the late afternoon of the start date to allow morning and early afternoon travel. The project work will begin the following day. For backpacking trips, the crew will generally camp at the trailhead or other temporary accommodations for the first night, and then hike into basecamp the following morning. The end date listed for each project is used as a camp cleanup/travel day. Generally, no work will be done on this date. Volunteers are responsible for all travel costs to and from the site. Many hosts offer an airport pickup. When we confirm the project, we will provide you with the travel instructions including airport pickup and departure times and the designated meeting place. Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until you have received a project confirmation. If the project is canceled due to low attendance or unforeseen circumstances, American Hiking cannot be held responsible for loss of funds due to canceled or changed travel itineraries. If the host cannot provide an airport pickup, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to get to the site. We provide a list of participants in the confirmation email and you might coordinate with some of your fellow crew members to carpool. Airport shuttles, renting a car, or driving your personal vehicle are all options if the host cannot provide an airport pickup. *Travel expenses for public service projects are considered charitable contributions and may be tax deductible. Food Expand Food is included in your registration fee for all Volunteer Vacations. The American Hiking crew leader or project host will coordinate the menu for the week based on the dietary restrictions/preferences you list on your registration forms. If possible, the crew leader will shop in advance of the trip for groceries. Dietary Restrictions/Needs: We will try to accommodate dietary restrictions and needs within reason. Please be sure to list any dietary restrictions on your registration form and reiterate them to the crew leader. If your needs are extensive or expensive, you may be asked to bring some of your own food. We ask that all volunteers be flexible. Group Meals...