***UPDATE: This trip is full!***
Join us as we volunteer on the trails and historic sites with the Friends Of Virgin Islands, then play in this beautiful wonderland!
Map from https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/maps.htm
Join KTA for another grand adventure, as the Trail Care Program travels outside Pennsylvania! After KTA's trip in January 2025, wherein participants volunteered with the Friends of Virgin Islands (FOVI) for a day, the FOVI staff asked if KTA would like to organize a group to fill one of their service week slots. This chance to volunteer in a national park is open to KTA Trail Care volunteers, as well as the general public. Prior trail maintenance experience is not required. Participants should be aware that the work can be tough and hot, but rewarding. And the second half of the four work days are free time to explore the island, shores, and waters. Explore stunning beaches, exceptional vistas, historic ruins, diverse terrain, and unique ecosystems. Swim or snorkel through sapphire waters and across the coral reefs fringing this natural wonderland. Take in some scenic hikes that offer ample challenge and much reward.
From Harrisburg, we fly to St. Thomas, pick up rental minivans, and cruise by ferry to St. John. From the town of Cruz Bay, we travel to our lodging for the week at Cinnamon Bay, in the northcentral part of the island. The same vehicles serve as our daily shuttle to trailheads and other destinations.
From Harrisburg, we fly to St. Thomas, pick up rental minivans, and cruise by ferry to St. John. From the town of Cruz Bay, we travel to our lodging for the week at Cinnamon Bay, in the northcentral part of the island. The same vehicles serve as our daily shuttle to trailheads and other destinations.
VOLUNTEERING:
FOVI's main objective is to maintain all 27 miles of hiking trails and over 30 historic sites within Virgin Islands National Park. This is physically demanding manual labor! Depending on the work site, you may be asked to cut and haul brush, dig new tread, and/or improve drainages. The common tools used are loppers, hand saws, pick mattocks, mcleods, shovels, and weed whackers. Other projects may include beach cleanups, invasive species removal, nursery management, tree planting, and dry-stone masonry.
Volunteers need to be in good physical health and prepared to work for 5-6 hours in hot and humid conditions. Every participant should have closed-toed shoes, a day pack, sun protection, long pants, and capacity to carry a minimum of 3 liters of water. The Friends will supply all necessary tools, training, gloves, and transportation. Our aim is to accomplish the much-needed volunteer work while staying hydrated and taking frequent shade breaks.
We will work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from approximately 8:00am to 2:00pm.
FOVI's main objective is to maintain all 27 miles of hiking trails and over 30 historic sites within Virgin Islands National Park. This is physically demanding manual labor! Depending on the work site, you may be asked to cut and haul brush, dig new tread, and/or improve drainages. The common tools used are loppers, hand saws, pick mattocks, mcleods, shovels, and weed whackers. Other projects may include beach cleanups, invasive species removal, nursery management, tree planting, and dry-stone masonry.
Volunteers need to be in good physical health and prepared to work for 5-6 hours in hot and humid conditions. Every participant should have closed-toed shoes, a day pack, sun protection, long pants, and capacity to carry a minimum of 3 liters of water. The Friends will supply all necessary tools, training, gloves, and transportation. Our aim is to accomplish the much-needed volunteer work while staying hydrated and taking frequent shade breaks.
We will work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from approximately 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Image from www.cinnamonbayvi.com
FREE TIME:
After 2/3pm on Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri, as well as all day Wednesday and Saturday, participants can savor memorable hikes, sample famous beaches, investigate relics of the island’s past, explore the town of Cruz Bay, enjoy island cuisine, learn from interesting speakers, and relish a little free time to absorb the marvels of this International Biosphere Reserve.
We will, as a group, decide on activities based on where we will be working that day, etc. Evenings, there are free programs at the park.
On Sunday, we should have time to explore Cruz Bay or St. Thomas before our flight home.
After 2/3pm on Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri, as well as all day Wednesday and Saturday, participants can savor memorable hikes, sample famous beaches, investigate relics of the island’s past, explore the town of Cruz Bay, enjoy island cuisine, learn from interesting speakers, and relish a little free time to absorb the marvels of this International Biosphere Reserve.
We will, as a group, decide on activities based on where we will be working that day, etc. Evenings, there are free programs at the park.
On Sunday, we should have time to explore Cruz Bay or St. Thomas before our flight home.
Image from americanhiking.org
LODGING:
Participants will be housed in one of 10 tents in the Friends Volunteer Camp at Cinnamon Bay (a separate entity form the National Park campground there). The volunteer campground is a three-minute walk from the beautiful white sand beach of Cinnamon Bay with excellent swimming and snorkeling (no lifeguard on duty). Each campsite has a Eureka Copper Canyon 12 tent that is big enough that you can stand up and walk around in. Each tent is situated on a raised wooden platform and equipped with 2 cots (no bedding provided). A couple volunteers may be asked to share a tent unless some couples sign up. There are two cold-water showers and two toilets at camp.
There is no cell phone coverage at camp. Limited cell service is available at the east end of the beach. Also, we are allowed to use the guest WIFI at the front desk area of the nearby National Park campground.
Participants will be housed in one of 10 tents in the Friends Volunteer Camp at Cinnamon Bay (a separate entity form the National Park campground there). The volunteer campground is a three-minute walk from the beautiful white sand beach of Cinnamon Bay with excellent swimming and snorkeling (no lifeguard on duty). Each campsite has a Eureka Copper Canyon 12 tent that is big enough that you can stand up and walk around in. Each tent is situated on a raised wooden platform and equipped with 2 cots (no bedding provided). A couple volunteers may be asked to share a tent unless some couples sign up. There are two cold-water showers and two toilets at camp.
There is no cell phone coverage at camp. Limited cell service is available at the east end of the beach. Also, we are allowed to use the guest WIFI at the front desk area of the nearby National Park campground.
Image from dwightbrownink.com
FOOD:
KTA will provide a farewell dinner on Saturday night. All other meals are the responsibility of the participants. We will coordinate, and provide transportation for, some meals out, perhaps at Cinnamon Bay, Coral Bay, etc.. We will stop at a grocery store on the way to camp on the day of our arrival for food purchase. Food prices can be unreasonably high on St. John, so you may want to consider bringing some dry foods with you from the states. We may also plan group dinners.
The campground kitchen is equipped with two Coleman double-burner propane stoves, a propane grill, a refrigerator, a full complement of kitchenware, picnic tables, coolers, drinking water, electric lights, and a cell phone charging station.
The nearby national park campground also sports the Rain Tree Cafe restaurant with a limited menu and hours.
KTA will provide a farewell dinner on Saturday night. All other meals are the responsibility of the participants. We will coordinate, and provide transportation for, some meals out, perhaps at Cinnamon Bay, Coral Bay, etc.. We will stop at a grocery store on the way to camp on the day of our arrival for food purchase. Food prices can be unreasonably high on St. John, so you may want to consider bringing some dry foods with you from the states. We may also plan group dinners.
The campground kitchen is equipped with two Coleman double-burner propane stoves, a propane grill, a refrigerator, a full complement of kitchenware, picnic tables, coolers, drinking water, electric lights, and a cell phone charging station.
The nearby national park campground also sports the Rain Tree Cafe restaurant with a limited menu and hours.
Image from FOVI's Facebook page.
The trip organizer is Jenn Ulmer, KTA's Manager of Trail Maintenance, who has been involved with the Trail Care Program since 2011. Jenn is an avid hiker, intrigued amateur naturalist, craft beer aficionado, and animal lover. She holds a Wilderness Advanced First Aid certification and has led and co-led group trips domestically and abroad. Jenn is ably assisted by KTA Board Member Karen Lutz, who has extensive international travel experience and decades of experience coordinating trail work and volunteers as director of Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Mid-Atlantic Region.
This is a fundraising hiking trip with all net proceeds benefiting Keystone Trails Association. You are not required to be a KTA member to register.
Please contact Jenn Ulmer with any questions: [email protected] / 570-854-8316 (call/text).
This is a fundraising hiking trip with all net proceeds benefiting Keystone Trails Association. You are not required to be a KTA member to register.
Please contact Jenn Ulmer with any questions: [email protected] / 570-854-8316 (call/text).
How to Apply
This trip is limited to 10 participants who will be preliminarily selected by a lottery. To submit your name for the initial drawing, please complete the interest form between July 15-August 12.
On August 13, we will randomly select 10 forms from the interest submissions. Your roommate (if listed) is automatically included if you are selected. Those not selected will be notified that they have been added to a waiting list.
Those drawn will be asked to submit full applications and a $500 deposit (by check only) by Friday, September 19. The remaining balance is due November 26 (60 days before departure).
Failure to submit applications and/or deposits by the deadline, or a review of an application that finds that a person lacks hiking experience or may be a poor fit for the trip will forfeit that individual’s spot. Any deposit made will be refunded and a substitute name will be drawn from the waiting list.
This trip is limited to 10 participants who will be preliminarily selected by a lottery. To submit your name for the initial drawing, please complete the interest form between July 15-August 12.
On August 13, we will randomly select 10 forms from the interest submissions. Your roommate (if listed) is automatically included if you are selected. Those not selected will be notified that they have been added to a waiting list.
Those drawn will be asked to submit full applications and a $500 deposit (by check only) by Friday, September 19. The remaining balance is due November 26 (60 days before departure).
Failure to submit applications and/or deposits by the deadline, or a review of an application that finds that a person lacks hiking experience or may be a poor fit for the trip will forfeit that individual’s spot. Any deposit made will be refunded and a substitute name will be drawn from the waiting list.
Cost:
$1999 per person for General Public
$1749 per person for KTA trail Care volunteers*
*Trail Care Volunteer = has volunteered prior to 7/15/25 during a KTA Trail Care weekend, Crew, Code Orange, or CPC Weekday Trail Care.
Cost includes:
$1999 per person for General Public
$1749 per person for KTA trail Care volunteers*
*Trail Care Volunteer = has volunteered prior to 7/15/25 during a KTA Trail Care weekend, Crew, Code Orange, or CPC Weekday Trail Care.
Cost includes:
- Round-trip airfare from Harrisburg to St. Thomas USVI on Delta with a layover/flight change each way in Atlanta, GA. Group seating is assigned by the airline. One checked bag fee included.
- Accommodation for all seven nights in Volunteer Campground. Includes single/double occupancy tent on a platform with two cots. See Lodging section above for more details.
- Farewell dinner on January 31 (one entree and one drink included)
- Transport (included) will be offered on certain nights to an off-site restaurant (meal on own). Grocery store stops will be included for provisioning.
- All transport – to and from the ferry terminal on St. Thomas, ferries between St Thomas and St. John, daily transport KTA rental minivans/ FOVI van on St. John.
- $100 donation per person to FOVI
- A custom printed UPF 50 long-sleeved shirt to commemorate the experience
- Travel insurance / trip cancellation insurance
- Personal gear (gear list will be sent to you after you register)
- Meals and food not specified in the itinerary
- Any desired snorkel/watercraft rentals, boat trip fees, activity/entrance fees, etc.
- Parking at Harrisburg International Airport
- Lodging near Harrisburg prior to 1/25/26 flight (ETD 6am) or after 2/1/26 flight (ETA 10:40pm) if desired
