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Attention previous Volunteer Vacations hosts! Please help us improve the Volunteer Vacations program by completing our survey.

PROJECT CREWS HELP MAINTAIN TRAILS

Land managers say that without Volunteer Vacations, some of their backlog of trail maintenance work simply would not get done. Not only that, but managers are thrilled with the exuberance of the volunteers and quality of their work. Ron Morfin with the Bureau of Land Management in the Yuma, AZ said, "The projects were a great example of people from very different backgrounds and different parts of the country coming together to improve and maintain hiking opportunities for everyone."

Any government agency or nonprofit organization can request a project. If you have any questions please contact AHS Volunteer Vacations or call (301) 565-6704, ext. 206.

DETAILS AND LOGISTICS

Participants supply their own camping gear (backpack, sleeping bag, tent, personal items) and are responsible for getting to and from a predetermined pick-up point, generally the closest major airport. Agency hosts are asked to supply:

at least part-time supervision for the volunteers
group cooking supplies including stove, pots, pans, utensils, and fuel
tools
safety equipment
two-way radios and first aid supplies

While not required, we recommend that agency hosts provide food for the volunteers. This can be accomplished by purchasing the food up front or by providing a daily stipend or reimbursement. By doing this your project has a much greater chance of being selected by potential volunteers. If this is not possible, meals can be paid for by the participants through a per person amount. Or learn more about host responsibilities (PDF 55KB).

American Hiking strongly encourages one-week projects since many participants cannot commit to longer periods of time. Trips up to 10 days in length can be accommodated if your project involves travel into the backcountry. Historically, the bulk of vacations are scheduled in the summer, however, you can schedule your vacation for any time during 2007. Often, land managers in hotter climates schedule their trips before April or after September to avoid the stifling summer heat. View a sample project and simple instructions (PDF 118KB).

Request a crew.

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