This trip was fantastic. I highly recommend this experience and could not be more pleased with how it all went. The USVI was a beautiful and comfortable place to work and I left feeling like I had done a great thing. The trip guides were excellent and every single day went smoothly due to their hard work. The gear list was spot-on and I was completely prepared for the trip because of it.

This trip is a great mix of work and fun along with being a a welcome escape to warm weather in February. We got to learn about the history of the islands when we uncovered colonial sugar plantation ruins. It was cool to have some local students join us the last day. We loved the variety of extra activities like joining a bird- watching hike one morning, snorkeling at a gorgeous beach after work and hitting open mike night at nearby bar. Oh yeah, and Mark & Susan really are great as everyone says. 😁

Yet another successful venture with Mark and Susan our Team leads. St. John is a magical place that needs volunteers to maintain its charm. Team of volunteers (10) including Mark and Susan were wonderful to work with. I'm hopeful that the work done on the trails will continue and be enjoyed by residents was well as vacationers. I highly recommend this trip.

Feel your life stressors melt away with some old fashioned
” hard work “ in the heat .
Perfectly blended with fascinating history while being on this breathtaking Island filled with hikes , crystal blueWaters, ,fun and so much more ……

Our group leaders Susan and Mark blended this trip with all the ingredients for what I would say was fulfilling , fun with a humble living experience.
So happy I had this unique experience . A few words about our trip leaders and our Group .
🌎Mark -Group Leader
A man who lives life to the fullest . A great
Example to all of us .
His vast knowledge of the islands history coupled the amazing stories
were always shared with his tranquil demeanor and good sense of humor . The breakfast he cooked was delicious especially the warm rolls ..Yummy
🌎Susan- Group Leader
A+++ in every way !!! Susan reminds me of Julie Andrews in first scene singing the Sound of music on top of the hill 🎶🎼.
The nourishing meals that she cooked for all of us
to her cutting down trees with a tiny hand saw while making it all look so easy
being out there with us and loving every moment.
Always with a smile on her face keeping us in line😉 , healthy and happily motivated!!
🌎Frank - Trail Lead
Led us on the trail and ruins projects with Confidence, patients, humor and kindness . He always taught us something unique about either the history and/or about different plant /tree species along the way . Really made it fun and enjoyable!!!

Our group ~We worked together every day. We respected each other and we helped each other.
We were a true team!!!
Each of the volunteer crew members were unique in their own way. I won’t change a minute of the experiences we had together.
After days work we would sit camp some nights and all you would hear is laughter and share the days stories .
On this little trip
where less is more surrounded by the beauty of this island and educated with all the history that you could almost touch and feel is because of this program !!!

At times I truly felt like I was on Gilligan’s Island .

The only way you can experience this in
your” own way “
IS:
if you want to go , need to go …make it happen!! That’s what I did .
I don’t have a single regret only gratitude.

Gabrielle 🌊

 

This was my first trip with conservation VIP and it was absolutely phenomenal. Our leaders, Susan and Mark were outstanding, and so very knowledgeable and well connected. The accommodations were very nice and we had the opportunity to dive into the local culture and experience the community of St. John’s. We worked hard each day on the trails or the ruins in the US Virgin Islands National Park, but it was very rewarding as you would uncover history every second you worked. We ran into many people who were very appreciative of the work the volunteers did. The trip was very well organized, details to get here and what to bring, how to prepare were very clear. I came as a single person but I left having a family. There was a perfect blend of hard work, good food and activities to experience the local culture so as I leave the islands I feel like not only have I learned so very much, I feel a bit of a deep connection here. I will travel with Conservation VIP again. Wendy

all of my ConservationVIP trips so far have been amazing and thoughtfully crafted, each with its own unique vibe. the Virgin Islands National Park trip is truly a hidden gem. St. John is absolutely stunning, rich in history, and home to some unique flora and fauna found almost nowhere else.
2024 was a challenging year for the NPS due to various climate events and heavy rainfall. one of our major projects was clearing noxious invasive plants and overgrowth from the trails. hikers passing by were incredibly appreciative and frequently stopped to thank us for our work.
mark and susan, our trip leaders, are an outstanding team. they are perceptive, creative, impeccably organized, and, on top of that, fantastic chefs! the week's agenda struck a perfect balance between work, relaxation, and fun.
a big thank you also goes to Frank, our "Friends of NPS Trail Coordinator". his knowledge and insights were invaluable as we worked on the trails.
if you are considering this trip, keep in mind that some of the trails can be steep and muddy. the weather is typically warm and humid, so it's a good idea to spend some time getting in shape beforehand. checking the CVIP gear list and reading recent trip reports may also help you decide is this adventure is right for you.

Conservation VIP provides you benefits to volunteering for the Virgin Islands National Park that fall short with other organizations. I know, from experience. First and foremost the trip leaders, Susan and Mark, are the best you’ll encounter. Susan lead our merry band of volunteers to achieve a successful and meaningful VI trip (as she has done for past VI trips I have been on with her). She is organized, communicative, direct and sincere, as well as kind, caring and cheerful throughout the trip (she prepares our breakfasts and dinners each day!). Mark was the Superintendent of the park for 5 years until he retired in 2012. His knowledge and experience with the park and St John island makes my volunteering time and “down time” more enjoyable and satisfying. He makes sure you get the most out of your time on St John. As for the volunteer work, it is not always easy… you may be hiking a bit to work sites, it will be hot, it will be humid, you will sweat… trail maintenance involves brushing back vegetation with loppers and weed whackers. Other types of work can be quite enjoyable, such as revegetating sections of beach that have been damaged by storms. The start and stop times for work of each day are adjusted by the leaders, based on the weather and energy of the volunteer group. All the work is important, since the park has little or no staff to maintain its 20+ trails. The sleeping quarters is a campus of large 12’x12’ tents on 16’x16’ platforms with overhead tarps protecting the tents from rain… inside, cots are provided to sleep on. The campus includes a building with 2 showers and 2 flush toilets! The campus is just a 5 minute walk to the nearby Cinnamon Bay beach… the perfect place to swim after your volunteer day! It’s what I do! Above all, the work and fun you have with your fellow volunteers will generate new friends you’ll likely see on future CVIP trips. I get positive energy from doing the volunteer work, and even more so from the friendships I made on this and other past CVIP trips.

You can't understate the beauty of this place, what a cellular pleasure it is to just be here. I felt fully involved, learning, sweating, teaching, sharing meals and stories with these wild world travelers. I had a great time. I'm someone who can't just sit on a beach and laze; I need something to do: widening overgrown trail, birding, dancing, sailing --all possible here. Come humble, leave refreshed.