Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "manual work" projects in United States

Volunteers will work on one or more construction projects at the retreat center, which might include trail construction and other outdoor projects; building a shed, tent pad or deck; and laying tile, paint, and other interior finishing work. We will work a morning and afternoon shift each day, leaving the evening free for personal time or activities. We will also take a recreation trip on one or two days. Training and tools provided for all the projects.You will be accompanied by a small number of our residential staff.The people involved cover a wide range of abilities and communication styles, and you should expect LGBT and questioning people, those with other less common identities and those with traumatic histories.

Sleeping is on the floor in the unfinished staff house. There is no gender segregation. If you want more privacy you can bring or arrange (in advance) to borrow a tent.

Running water, electricity, very limited internet, clothes washing machine, stove and wood-stove. There is an outdoor solar shower.

At 9,000 feet (2800 m) elevation, be prepared for a lot of rest the first day or two.

Volunteers will cook meals together. Vegetarian food provided.Warnings! There are wildcats and bears in the area so this site needs to be kept free of meat odors. Also fire danger can be very high so we do not allow anything making a spark or flame. (One exception is smoking, but only in the designated safe area.)

Ocate Cliffs is 8 miles from the village of Ocate, NM, in the very remote Sangre de Cristos mountain range.On the mesa top there are hiking trails and lots of views of the New Mexico mountains and plains. We'll also rely on you to come up with evening games and discussion topics. On our travel day we will choose between a wilderness hike, Eagle Nest Lake, or the alpaca ranch in Mora.

Because of the remote mountaintop location, you will need to bring everything you need for two weeks without the benefit of a city. During the out-trip day we'll visit a grocery store in a small town, but don't expect that they will have your medications, specialized phone accessories, or anything beyond the basics.

18-99

Ocate, nm

English

ABQ: Albuquerque International Sunport (Albuquerque, United States)This project is suitable for disabled volunteersVegetarian food will be available

No experience is necessary as new volunteers are teamed up with experienced volunteers for hands on learning. Volunteer opportunities range from field excavations to laboratory processing of artifacts. This year we will be investigating the Bockmier pre-contact site, dated between 1200-1250 AD. This appears to be an ancestral Iroquois village but also contains components from other time periods. This is an archaeological field school where volunteers will learn site layout, excavation techniques, soil sampling, plan and profile mapping and processing artifacts (projectile points, pottery, tools etc.).

00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. The work is done in a friendly and supportive environment. Please understand that this is hard physical labor and includes digging with a trowel or shovel, screening soil and carrying buckets of dirt. Each person will work at their own pace according to their physical condition.The temperature can be quite hot or cool and rainy. BRING work gloves, work shoes and clothing, including a warm coat or sweatshirt, sun hat, rain coat, long sleeve shirts and pants as there will be mosquitoes. The work site can be dirty and muddy so multiple sets of work clothes are a good idea. Sunscreen and bug spray will be provided.

American and international volunteers will stay in apartments, which are a short drive away from the dig site. Separate rooms will be available for female and male volunteers. BRING sleeping bag or your own bedding. All food and meals will be provided for volunteers. We will cook meals together or eat out at local restaurants. Vegetarian options will be available. Be sure to tell the other volunteers and the co-leader if you have any special diet needs.

Location: The town of Allegany is located in a rural part of New York State. The area is a mixture of small towns, forests and farms. The dig site is in a field that is currently used as an organic vegetable farm in a beautiful setting beside the Allegheny River.Volunteers will attend the very special Seneca Nation Pow Wow, an amazing Native American festival where a wide range of activities will be held. This is an opportunity to take an in depth look at Native American culture. Ample time is provided for trips to local parks, a Native American museum and local points of interest.There will be many opportunities to enjoy beauty and nature and there will be formal and informal discussions about topics of interest to the group. Bring music, games or other activities to share.

Volunteers must obtain health and accident insurance for the duration of your travel and stay in the US. This insurance must cover you for all medical eventualities. You must bring your insurance card or receipts with you. If you cannot prove that you have insurance on arrival, you will not be allowed to take part in our workcamps. Some travel related insurance carriers are World Nomads, HTH Worldwide, and Global Rescue LLC

18-99

Allegany, new york

English

JFK: John F Kennedy Intl (New York, United States)Vegetarian food will be available

Volunteers will be working on a variety of projects, including trail improvement work (shoveling, raking, using a wheelbarrow, etc.), some habitat management (removal of destructive plants) along with occasional general park maintenance. The group will also assist in preparing for and running a weekend park festival. Since volunteers will be working during the festival, we will take a couple days off in the middle of the week to give volunteers get some free time. Much of work will involve some level of hard physical labor. The group will be immersed in a small town in an international group that will work with park staff and other volunteers.

Accommodations will be at the local Trinity church with that will have facilities for cooking. Sleeping will be in two big rooms on rustic "cots." Showers will be available at a different location. Be sure to bring your mattress pad and sleeping bag!Be sure to tell the other volunteers if you have any special diet needs.

Location: Montpelier is the capitol of Vermont with a population of 8,500, making it the smallest capitol in the U.S. Montpelier is located in the center of the state and is surrounded by mountains and rural farmland. The city has a variety of coffee shops and restaurants, two movie theaters and a few venues to enjoy live music.During free time volunteers will have access to local parks and recreation areas. The summer weather is usually good for visiting some wild and beautiful swimming areas. This workcamp is known for hard work and adventurous play since the park staff here enjoys hiking, canoeing, and other activities and is willing to lead the group in those types of activities. There will be time for interaction with the local community so please bring information about your country, hobbies, and life to share.

You must send your arrival details to vfp@vfp.org so we can arrange to meet you. Please include your arrival information in your confirmation form. Volunteers cannot be accommodated before the start of this project; no early arrivals. Please arrive to Montpelier, Vermont on the day the project starts.You should fly into New York City or Boston.

You can take the Amtrak train or the Greyhound Bus to Montpelier.

You can take the Megabus (cheapest if you plan ahead) or Greyhound Bus to Montpelier. It is about a 4 hour trip.Please see helpful websites below for links to buses and trains.

18-99

Montpelier, vermont

English

BOS: General Edward Lawrence Logan Intl (Boston, United States)Vegetarian food will be available

You will live in a beautiful rural area of woods and lakes. Work will consist of rotating through camps with children and several non-profit organizations where you will be helping with facility maintenance, like painting a studio for the local Arts Center, plus meeting with community organizations like Rotary International (bring a flag to swap if you know a Rotarian in your country). Your flexibility will be much appreciated and you will meet many different elements of our community. Volunteers must speak English. Must enjoy working with children and youth and be able to maintain appropriate adult-student boundaries.

Volunteers will stay in the local high school. Beds and linens provided. Because the accommodations are at a school there can be no tobacco or alcohol on site, even if you are of legal age

Address: PO Box 351 20 Main St Newport, NH 03733

The organizers are experienced workcamp hosts in rural western New Hampshire, town population 6000.

There will be several opportunities to experience the beauty of New Hampshire's lakes and mountains plus one all-day field trip with the students. In addition Volunteers will meet with the local, Rotary Club and other elements of the Newport community.Newport is a small community without clubs or a nightlife so plan to spend evenings with your international group and various community hosts.

18-99

Newport nh

English

BOS: General Edward Lawrence Logan Intl (Boston, United States)Vegetarian food will be available

The work is hard, heavy physical labor, including, building wooden bridges, moving large stones with hand tools, and digging ditches with shovels. You will get muddy, we work in the rain! We will work full days, about 7 hours of labor. We will work a few days then take a day off for fun, and then work a few days and take another day off. Why are we working so hard? We are building a network of bicycle/pedestrian paths that will eventually go 90 miles across the entire state of Vermont. The path will connect small towns, their schools, and the wild natural areas in between with a safe, healthy alternative to driving in cars. These small towns are not wealthy, and cannot afford to build this path themselves (like larger cities can afford to.) So we are building it with volunteers. Many local people are already helping out on their weekends, and we look forward to meeting and working with you as well!

Volunteers will camp in tents. Tents are provided. During the work day there is no electricity, no running water, no flushing toilets. At the campsite there is a shared bath house with toilets and showers. (Showers are coin operated, bring money for showers.) No alcohol is allowed at the housing. 11 PM curfew. Food is provided, cooking is communal. We are happy to accommodate dietary needs or preferences, like vegetarian.

The work camp is located in A public forest, in northeastern Vermont (east of Montpelier).During recreation time we will decide as a group what folks would enjoy doing. Options include exploring State Forest - riding bikes, hiking up mountains, swimming in lakes; and also driving to attractions in nearby towns like Montpelier, capitol of Vermont.Bring music, games or other activities to share.

18-99

Montpelier, vt

English

BOS: General Edward Lawrence Logan Intl (Boston, United States)Vegetarian food will be available

The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is located on the beautiful seacoast of southern Maine. Your work will include improving trails and wildlife habitat at the Reserve as well as grounds and maintenance projects on our historic buildings. This entails getting dirty and working hard. The major project for the camp will be helping prepare for and staff a large weekend Nature Crafts Festival fund-raising event. Work involves set-up and take-down, assisting other volunteers and staff with food, parking, recycling, and many other jobs. For the two days of the festival, you will be working long days.

Volunteers will stay in a modern dormitory with comfortable beds, well-equipped kitchen, large dining table and common area. Rooms are generous in size and volunteers will most likely share their room with other members of the Volunteers for Peace group. Volunteers will cook meals as a group. Bring some recipes from home to share, and let us know if you have any dietary needs.

Wells, Maine is a popular tourist destination in the summer, when the small town's population roughly triples in size. There are public beaches within walking distance and bicycles are available. The Reserve's educational programs are available to volunteers. The Reserve has a private beach and many nature trails. The local Shoreline Trolley runs until early September (usually through the Labor Day holiday) and connects Wells with the nearby towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. There will be many opportunities to enjoy beauty and nature, along with informal discussions about topics of interest to the group. Bring music, games or other activities to share.

21-99

Wells, maine

English

BOS: General Edward Lawrence Logan Intl (Boston, United States)Vegetarian food will be available