Giving Back to the Planet With Wilderness Volunteers

Did you know that last year nearly 327 MILLION people from all corners of the globe visited America’s National Parks? I believe that’s because the United States (via the National Parks System) has set aside some of the most spectacular natural and historical locations on the planet and they’re right in your backyard. With recent budget cuts, our parks and wilderness areas are starting to show signs of disrepair. Giving back to our parks through volunteer service is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and do our part for the planet.

I recently discovered a volunteer organization that provides a variety of opportunities for giving back to the parks and wilderness areas in the U.S., while enjoying an adventure too! Wilderness Volunteers (WV) donates thousands of volunteer hours to our public lands, worth over $500,000!

Our mission is providing opportunities for everyone to participate in the hands-on stewardship of public lands. Working in cooperation with the National Forest and Park Service, the BLM and the US Fish & Wildlife Agency, you’ll be inspired and invigorated when you see how much a group can accomplish in a few days.

wilderness volunteers

How Long is Each Project?

Each project is 7 days. This doesn’t include travel time to get to the project’s starting location (trailhead or trip meeting spot). You must provide your own transportation to and from the project. It’s not included in the cost and not provided by the Wilderness Volunteers organization. Their trip season typically runs from March through October.

Who Can Participate?

If you’re physically fit you can participate. Projects are rated by physical difficulty, but there are rarely any “easy” projects. The lowest rating is “Active”, which is defined as: “Shorter backpacks, car-camping or lodge/dormitory living with long day hikes often on uneven ground. Work projects requiring lifting, bending and working several hours each day with tools. These trips are for people in good shape ready for a full day of activity.” More difficult trips are rated as “Strenuous” and “Challenging”. You can find out more about the ratings here.

The minimum age is 18 years old, but all ages above that are welcome, as long as you can do the work that needs to be done. Teens age 16 and up can participate if a parent or guardian is there as well. The average age is about 45 with a range of 18 to 75+.

How Much Does it Cost and What’s Included?

Wilderness Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the goal of the project is to cover the actual trip costs of those giving back through volunteering. They’re not trying to make a profit. The 2020 Project Fee is only $375! Wow.

All project guidance and oversight is included. All food including meals and snacks are provided. They offer a wide variety of destinations with a range of service projects. Transportation to and from the project is up to you.

Where are the Projects Located?

WV generally announces the projects for the following year in the fall. You can search for projects on a U.S. Map by location or search by date.

Depending on the extent of the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they hope to be going to places like Zion National Park in Utah, and Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. Two projects are planned in Alaska at Denali National Park and Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, plus many other destinations around the U.S.  It looks like the more unique destinations fill up pretty quickly so check out the list here and see if there are any projects that you’d be interested in helping with.

2020 COVID-19 Update

WV is monitoring the situation in the midst of the ever-changing requirements for social distancing due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. As of the publish date of this post current plans are going forward for the projects listed on their website. They’ve temporarily revised their cancellation policy to help you make and adjust plans with more confidence. Check for a link on their home page for the latest details.

Giving Back by Working With Your Hands

Wilderness Volunteers don’t charge the agencies for the volunteer work and the various parks and agencies supply tools and supervision for the projects. As a participant, you would provide their own backpacking or camping gear (a list specific to each trip will be mailed with registration confirmation). Bring along a sense of adventure, and a willingness to contribute time and energy to the project.

It’s incredible how much work a group of helpful volunteers can do in a week’s time! All trips are led by volunteer leaders. Trips are one week long and partial attendance is not accepted. Each project is limited to 12 or fewer participants which provides a perfect size group to feel comfortable and still be manageable. Are you wondering if you’d be up for the task physically?  Here are more details about who can volunteer.

Participants share camp chores. Most trips include extra time to explore and enjoy the area in which they are based. Wilderness Volunteers teach and follow “Leave No Trace®” outdoor living skills and ethics.

Most of all, with the help of folks like you giving back, Wilderness Volunteers are making a difference in addressing the backlog of maintenance on public land in cooperation with partner agencies. Thank you to all who are participating in keeping America beautiful for our next generation of explorers.

If you enjoy meaningful travel, you might also like this post about “Lifelong Learning Opportunities Through Travel”.