The Friends’ Summer Trail Crew is a 6 week program running from June 27 to August 5, 2022 that provides a professional job opportunity to Virgin Island high school students (ages 15 to 18) interested in conservation. This is an opportunity for students to gain professional experience, develop leadership skills, work outdoors as part of a team, and learn about Virgin Islands National Park. The crew works in the park on St. John under the supervision of the Friends’ Trails Coordinator.
This summer job focuses on the maintenance of hiking trails and historic sites in the park and potential duties include digging, sawing, pruning, hauling and other physical tasks. Every Friday is a paid vacation day that includes activities like kayaking, a boat excursion, and learning about traditional uses of local plants and the park archeology program.
One of the goals of the Friends Trail Crew program is to help the participants gain an appreciation and passion for the natural world, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Friends of Virgin Islands National Park believes that the Summer Trail Crew Program provides a vital link between the National Park and the local community by providing an avenue in which area youth can engage in the park in a positive and meaningful way. It’s common for crew members to return for consecutive years.
Applications for the 2022 program are closed.
For more information contact Mark Gestwicki at mgestwicki@friendsvinp.org or (340) 779-4940
The Friends Summer Trail Crew is made possible with the generous support of the National Park Foundation.