Mark Hardgrove: Public Land Manager, Volunteer, and Amazing Person. Mark is an example of how to retire to something meaningful. The saying goes that you shouldn’t retire from something, but rather that you should retire to something. We are eternally grateful that Mark Hardgrove retired to ConservationVIP. He is a great example of how someone…
A heartfelt gift from Peruvian friends is a reminder that our impact reaches beyond the hours we spend on the volunteer projects themselves. On our Machu Picchu Volunteer Trip, we visit the village of Chinchero and love to spend time with the artisans of Qori Puskay women’s weaving center. The center was founded by Guillermina…
Across the United States and the world, our land calls to us. There is a help wanted sign written in footprints on trails and woven by invasive species as they overtake native plants. The sign is there amongst white toilet paper flags blowing in the breeze just off trail, and it says Help Wanted. There…
My first introduction to ConservationVIP® came during the summer of 2015 when an acquaintance at REI Adventures suggested I check out their volunteer conservation trips. So, I did, and I liked what I saw regarding the mission and vision on the website, but I noticed there were no trips to countries within Africa. So, I…
I’m not known for creative writing. Instead, my creative skills lay in photography, and combining photos and music into videos to tell a story. I joined ConservationVIP’s volunteer trip to Costa Rica last September, and I want to share my video blog with you. Along the Way is a round trip visual tour from the…
Thanks to very generous donors to our Scholarship Program, ConservationVIP® was able to offer a scholarship to Daniel Humphrey so he could participate in our June 2023 Alaska Volunteer Trip. Here he reflects on his experience: “Gratitude to the Great Sky who holds billions of stars – and goes yet beyond that – beyond all…