Highlights

• Conservation work on an amazing island location, 1 hour from Los Angeles
• Camping, never far from the beach
• 12 day projects

Help protect the Island’s amazing natural beauty and enjoy some of its recreational offerings at the same time

How you can help

• Protect native plant community
• Help with trail maintenance
• Build or repair fences
• Help protect local endangered species.

Why your help is needed

Catalina Island is home to more than 60 plants, animal and insect species found nowhere else in the world, but it is visited by more than one million people annually. More than sixty thousand school children each year visit camps on the Island alone. The programme works closely with two key Island stakeholders, the Catalina Island Conservancy and Catalina Island Camps with the aim to maintain the islands natural environments whilst providing access to its visitors.

Volunteers will stay on one of a number of camp sites depending on their project and will receive all meals. Each day they will travel to/from the project site, but as the Island is only small, travel times are short. The island is in constant need of conservation work, however, initiatives are often underfunded, making volunteer help highly valued. Volunteers work in small groups along with an experienced project supervisor.

The work can be physically demanding, days are relatively long (around 8 hours) and volunteers should be prepared for extreme weather conditions, but the camaraderie and sense of achievement is immeasurable, and the location provides a truly memorable experience! You will still have time in the evenings and weekends to explore the island.

The project gives wild-at-heart volunteers who are up for a challenge and love the Great Outdoors the opportunity to discover this unique and wonderful island eco system.

This programme is ideal if you are looking for a short volunteering break or as part of a longer visit to North America.

How long can I go for? Projects last 12 days (including your arrival and departure days). You could sign up to more than one project and use the break in between to travel. There is a discount for the 2nd and 3rd programmes.

Working hours: Up to 10 hours a day.

Eligibility: British/Irish, 18 - 50, eligible for the US Visa Waiver Programme
Volunteers should be physically fit, willing to work long hours in extreme temperatures, work well in a team, live in basic accommodation and be happy to get their hands dirty!