It was a wonderful experience. The islands are always nice to visit, especially in the winter, but the company and activities enhanced the trip greatly. The accommodations were more than comfortable since we all had tents by ourselves. Our trail work was gratifying especially after viewing our accomplishments each afternoon. Thanks to our leaders for all the hard work accommodating the various diets. As with most volunteer trips, our group was a joy to be with.

My wife Susan sent in a review that takes up the main features of the Virgin Islands project. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the group cruised through the week sociably, but with room for alone time as well. Leaders Mark and Susan were organized, friendly and kept things moving. Their years of experience with local personnel showed in the welcome receptions and camaraderie. The volunteer work and camping were a pleasant and sociable alternative to the usual hotel stay and our group got along really well. My old back didn’t give me any trouble ! Q
We did the November ‘22 Galapagos trip and the group of people was similarly pleasant, everyone contributing, good leadership.
I’m looking ahead to more of these trips.
We came in to St Thomas a day ahead of meeting the group. We also stayed 3 more days afterward in Cruz Bay with more time to explore the island. I recommend this. We stayed at SeaGrape Vista.

The Conservation VIP trip was incredible. My whole world has opened up to a new way of vacationing & giving back. The Trip Leaders, Mark & Susan were phenomenal, so well organized and kept our entire team well fed, and in happy spirits. The fellow volunteers on this team were wonderful, kind, intelligent people. It was inspiring to work side-by-side with them on a daily basis. Waking up everyday on the beautiful Cinnamon Bay campgrounds, eating a nice hearty breakfast and then hiking the break-taking hillside trails of the island was rewarding. Our team worked on trail maintenance and cleaning up the old sugar plantation ruins in paradise. St. John's national park is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We spent our afternoons beach side, swimming and snorkelling with sea turtles and schools of fishes amongst the coral. Nights were spent under the stars by the campfire, with hearty meals and great company. I highly recommend that you do a trip with Conservation VIP. They have a special program.

This was a great way to visit and experience Virgin Island National Park. This wouldn’t have been my first choice, but trip leader Mark convinced my husband and I that this is a “must do” trip. It certainly is a “first class” volunteer trip.
The trip was culturally interesting as we learned about sugar, plantations, rum, and the human cost of trying to grow sugar in a dry environment that was not really suited to sugar agriculture. The interaction with the natural world from vegetation, both native and invasive was educational and fascinating. The natural world spanned from native to invasive pests. There were beautiful flowers and trees that are invasive and need to be controlled. The same can be said for donkeys and goats and other small flora and fauna. The guides were ready to answer the gamut of questions that were asked.
Camp Volunteer was the best deal on the Islands. We had tents that are on platforms and covered with a rain fly. There was some rain but we were dry and comfortable. The tents are equipped with “army cots” that were made more comfortable with a camping pad and pillow. I brought a light weight stuffable Rumpl blanket for the middle of the night chill. Be prepared to use the well equipped bathrooms (running water, flush toilets and a shower, no hot water) that are on the edge of camp. Our group leaders, Mark and Susan were organized, kept the group moving forward, cooked a tasty nutritious variety of food and were all around great people.
This trip worked well with campers/volunteers who had never met each other, had a variety of skill/fitness levels, and differing levels of “camping.”
There is a beautiful beach to relax and play on a very short walk from camp. Mark and Susan arranged a variety of activities from snorkeling, sailing, and a trip to town. I can’t say enough good things about this trip, Just Do It!

The title I gave this trip is an inside joke for participants who played Susan's game, "Code Names", one evening. They'll get it. For everyone else, "spot on" still holds true: this expedition was a perfect combination of doing meaningful work in a treasured location, together w/ down time for fun in the sun (snorkeling, beachcombing, scuba if you chose, capped w/ a scheduled catamaran cruise on the last afternoon.) Kudos to leaders Susan and Mark for embracing each and every individual, for creating an energized group dynamic, and for tending to every detail. They're great cooks too - wow, did we eat well! I am forever humbled by the opportunity of choosing to work on plantation and sugar mill grounds tended to once by those who had no such choice. Thank you, Conservation VIP. This was my 2nd trip w/ you, and will most certainly not be my last. 🙂

The December 2022 USVI working “adventure” was a wonderful and memorable experience! The group leaders (Mark, Susan and Norman) are adept professionals that know how to make this experience fun and rewarding! Our group of volunteers were assisted by a group of Friends of The Park and accomplished trail clearing and sugar cane plantation maintenance. Some of our daily “fun” activities included beach time, a sunset catamaran ride and local expert informative talks. We would highly recommend this adventure that met or exceeded all of our expectations!

An absolutely marvelous trip. While the USVI trip is a working vacation, it was a perfect mix of work for the National Park with free time and fun activities. The work varied by location, from trail maintenance (cutting back brush overgrowth) to removing plants invading the historic buildings. No experience necessary - there was enough variety in the work for every capability! Beyond beach time at the end of the work day, we enjoyed a sunset catamaran trip, a tour of the historic sugarcane processing buildings, a birdwatching hike, and a night ranger led constellation talk - basically all the ingredients of a true vacation! The National Park established tent area was comfortable and secluded for our group. The leaders were completely knowledgable and extremely helpful. And the volunteer team was cohesive, companionable, and new friends! Definitely recommend this trip!

This was my second trip to USVI with Conservation VIP. While the accommodations were the same, and the beaches white as snow and water shades of turquoise and the work was similar it was still an entirely different experience! More amazing and like minded people with different dynamics and fun. The leaders were amazing and food delish. 😁