Getting Started | Cost | COVID-19 Considerations | Health and Liability Insurance Coverage | Transportation | Lodging | Trip Cancellation Policy | Food | Gear | Age | Trip Ratings | Staff | Giving Back
I have been on the website and read through the awesome trip schedule. Now what?
Thank you for interest in our program! Once you have found your desired trip, click the "Apply Now" button and fill out the online sign-up page. You will be contacted soon by one of our Volunteer staff members. Next, fill out the volunteer application form for your trip and send it to us to reserve your place on the trip. You will hear from someone shortly confirming your spot. Please note that not every application can be accepted due to trip difficulty or availability.
How much does it cost to volunteer with the Grand Canyon Trust?
We do not charge for food, transportation, or housing, but in order to volunteer with the Grand Canyon Trust, we ask that you join our organization as a member at the $50 level or higher. Your membership will be good for one year, and you can volunteer as many times as you like during that time period without renewing your membership. Please contact us if you are a student or cannot afford to pay the $50 membership and we'll figure out a solution.
Please note: Current members in good standing are automatically eligible to apply for and attend volunteer trips.
The Grand Canyon Trust is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and your tax-deductible membership helps support our entire organization.
Our top priority is the safety and comfort of our trip participants. Safety measures that will be taken on trips will be communicated in pre-trip emails. If we feel that a trip cannot be safely conducted due to public health conditions, we will cancel the trip with as much notice as possible. For the safety of all trip participants, we require everyone to be fully vaccinated prior to attending, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved. Volunteers or participants in need of an exemption from the vaccine requirement due to a medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, must submit a request for accommodation to volunteernow@grandcanyontrust.org. Reasonable accommodations will be granted where they do not cause the Grand Canyon Trust an undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.
Does the Trust provide insurance coverage while I am volunteering?
Volunteers are asked to have and show proof of their own medical insurance coverage. In the event of injury or illness requiring evacuation, the cost of evacuation and treatment will be the responsibility of the participant.
What transportation does the Trust provide?
In some instances, we can provide transportation to and from the project area from our base in Flagstaff on a first-come, first-served basis, and we encourage volunteers to carpool. It is your responsibility to get to the Flagstaff office or meet us at the project site. Please contact the Volunteer Program with transportation inquiries for a specific trip.
What if I am flying? What are the different options to get to Flagstaff?
If flying into Phoenix, you can prearrange a shuttle from the airport, take the Greyhound, or rent a car/van to get to downtown Flagstaff. You can also fly directly into Flagstaff, but tickets will typically cost significantly more.
Where will I stay the night before the work week?
Often, out of town volunteers will arrive the evening before the trip and look for a place to stay. You may camp in various areas around Flagstaff, reserve a room in a hotel, or look into the Grand Canyon International Hostel, a favorite of many of our volunteers and located in the heart of downtown Flagstaff.
Where do we stay while working on the project?
The accomodations vary from project to project. Sometimes, we stay in rustic cabins with running water (such as Kane Ranch), while other times, we'll be backcountry camping. Each trip description tells you the specific accommodations so you can plan accordingly.
What if I sign up for a trip and have to cancel?
If you need to cancel your participation, the sooner you inform us, the better chance we have to fill your spot. The Grand Canyon Trust reserves the right to cancel any trip due to conditions such as pandemics, inclement/dangerous weather, or low enrollment. In the event of a trip cancellation, we will notify you as far in advance as possible. The Grand Canyon Trust is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by participants (e.g. equipment, gear, non-refundable airfare, etc). The Trust reserves the right to disqualify a participant(s) at any time during a trip if he/she poses a risk to their own or the group's health, well-being or safety. Please do not book non-refundable travel until you have received confirmation of your acceptance for the trip. Participants are encouraged to consider trip cancellation insurance, which protects you against financial loss if you must cancel or interrupt a trip because of illness or injury to yourself, a family member, or traveling companion.
Is food provided on the trip?
The Volunteer Program staff know how to cook, and love to eat good food! We love to share menu ideas, and we provide three meals a day and snacks during the trip, unless otherwise noted.
What if I have special dietary needs?
The application has a section on food preferences, allergies, and special needs. We take your needs seriously and can adapt our menu accordingly. If a dietary need is extremely specialized, you may need to provide some fixings. You will find we do a tasty and amazing job keeping you full and happy.
What is provided by the Trust? What do I need to have?
You provide your own camping gear and equipment. We have some gear that we can loan to individuals. Check out the Gear Pack List for what you'll need for a great trip.
Is there an age requirement to participate in a project? What requirements are there for experience?
In order to join a project on your own, you must be 18 or older. If you are younger than 18, you must be accompanied by an adult. You don't need experience in the project focus area, but we highly suggest that you are physically and mentally willing, able, and responsible to do the work for which you are signing up. The projects listed on this website are rated by difficulty to ensure that you end up on the right trip, creating a safe and effective work atmosphere for all involved.
Easy — Short walks on relatively even terrain, work project with minimal bending and lifting, usually day trips only.
Moderate — Shorter trips, tent/car camping or rustic ranch facility 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.
Strenuous — More intense projects on both established trails and off-trail, car-camping, or rustic ranch facility trips with long day hikes and demanding physical work. Trips may also include overnight backpacking. The work projects may include heavy lifting, bending, shoveling, picking, and/or hand sawing. These trips are for energetic, fit people who are comfortable camping in remote areas.
Challenging — Longer backpacks, involving off-trail hiking, sometimes with significant elevation changes. Backpack weight averages 40-50 lbs. The work projects may include heavy lifting, bending, shoveling, picking, and/or hand sawing. These trips are very challenging and require excellent aerobic conditioning, past experience in outdoor settings and familiarity with backcountry camping.
I have never done a trip in the backcountry before. What if someone gets sick or injured? What qualifications do your leaders have?
Our staff members are professional outdoor leaders who not only are knowledgeable about the projects and work areas, but also are certified Wilderness First Responders. This means each leader has gone through rigorous training to become skilled in outdoor medicine practices and good risk management decision-making. We also are trained in "Leave No Trace" and practice these environmental ethics on each trip.
What if I can't participate on a project, but would like to contribute to conservation across the plateau?
Thank you! If you can't make a trip, you can become a member, sign a petition, or tell a friend about us. There are many ways to get involved to help with the sustainability of our organization and our program.
