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What kind of visa is needed?
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Volunteers travel on the US Visa Waiver programme. Subject to meeting the terms and conditions of entry participants will be granted a total, non-extendable stay of 90 days on arrival in to America. Check that you qualify using the US Embassy Visa Wizard.
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Why is the 8 week programme more expensive than the 10 or 12 week programme?
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The programme is geared to 10 or 12 weeks projects. Whilst it is possible to cater for those who wish to volunteer for only 8 weeks, the on-site administration and logistics are more complicated. Our local partner therefore makes an additional charge to short-term participants to cover these extra overheads.
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Who will I volunteer with?
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Our American partner recruits volunteers within the USA and internationally. You can expect to be volunteering within a very international group. The common language is English.
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Will I be placed with my friend/partner?
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Where possible we will do our best to place you with your friend or partner. However, this is not always possible and cannot be guaranteed. If you are travelling with a friend you should be prepared to work on different projects and have different days off.
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Do I need any previous conservation experience?
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Volunteers do not need any conservation experience. The only requirements are a sense of adventure, a desire to make a difference, and a willingness to remain flexible and positive through ever changing project work, locations, and weather conditions.
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Are there any physical requirements?
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Projects will be outdoors in all types of weather. Extensive hiking is often involved, sometimes in extreme conditions such as elevations above 9,000 feet (c3,000 meters), 100 degree heat, freezing temperatures, steep terrain, rainstorms, high winds, etc. While it is not necessary to be superhuman, volunteers should be generally fit, comfortable with living outdoors and flexible enough to enjoy the challenges presented by fickle weather conditions. There is no upper age limit for volunteers although a reasonable level of fitness is definitely a necessity. Due to the high elevations and the rigor of the tasks involved, this programme is not recommended for individuals with respiratory problems such as asthma. If you are in any doubt about your ability to take part in this programme, consult your doctor for advice.
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Can I select which project I work on?
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Project needs change frequently. Therefore projects are allocated on arrival and will change every 2 to 4 weeks to ensure volunteers get a varied experience.
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How many days per week are the projects?
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Projects typically last for 4 days a week, up to 10 hours a day. This schedule allows for 3 days off per week for exploration of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (approximately 4 hours away by bus), Lake Mead, Lake Powell, San Francisco, relaxation and participation in cultural events. Some projects involve a great deal of travel, in which case volunteers will participate for 8 consecutive days and then enjoy 6 days off before the next project. There may occasionally be projects that last from 3-6 weeks, where you will enjoy your days off in a location other than Flagstaff or Santa Cruz. ACE, BUNAC’s US partner will help organise outings, lead group hikes and organise cultural and educational events in order to help participants make the most of their time off.
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What are the accommodation arrangements during projects?
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Most projects are in remote locations and virtually all involve camping. Volunteers should bring warm sleeping bags and sleeping mats to use during projects. Some projects have developed campgrounds with warm showers while many are in remote locations without any facilities. Camping equipment is provided and BUNAC will send a comprehensive packing list following your acceptance to the programme.
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What are the accommodation arrangements between projects?
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On days when volunteers are not taking part in projects they stay in either student apartments or one of the volunteer houses in Flagstaff. Housing is communal, with dormitory style bedrooms and shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. There are storage facilities for luggage that isn’t needed on projects and there is also a safe in the office for passports, tickets and other small valuables.
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Is food provided?
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Food is provided at each project. Volunteers shop and cook with their teams, taking turns preparing meals for the group. On their days off, volunteers are responsible for buying and preparing their own food. There are self catering facilities in the accommodations and there are plenty of affordable diners and restaurants in town.
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Can I choose my projects?
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No. Projects are dependent on among other things, the weather, nesting and migrating seasons of native wildlife, and immediate needs of project partners; they are therefore allocated on arrival. Volunteers will be rotated every 2 - 4 weeks to provide a variety of experiences. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the availability of any one project or location.
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Are all of the projects outdoors?
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Yes, all volunteer projects are outdoors and the weather can be unpredictable at any time of the year. Project descriptions are always subject to change.
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Can I leave my programme early?
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When you join Volunteer USA your full stay will be structured around the needs of the numerous national parks. Our partners are contracted to achieve specific goals within very strict deadlines. If you leave early your team will be short staffed and it may not be possible to complete the work in the time allocated by the park. This will impact very badly on the programme. Under exceptional circumstances it may be appropriate for you to leave early. However, we ask that you consider your participation very carefully. When choosing the 12 week programme please think seriously about any additional travel that you may like to do. The 10 week programme will give you longer to explore other parts of the USA.
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Can I travel after the programme?
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Yes, within the restrictions of the visa. The visa waiver programme allows a maximum stay of 90 days. The 12 week (84 days) programme is arranged so that participants complete their last project and then have between 3 and 6 days off taking them up to the total 12 week programme period. This will allow between 9 and 12 days in total for travel. The 8 week and 10 week programmes provide a greater opportunity for travel. Most volunteers will also travel during their days off whilst on the programme.
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Can I stay in America more than 90 days?
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If you want to stay in America for longer than 90 days you will need to apply for a specific US Tourist Visa prior to travel. This will require attendance at the US Embassy and will therefore add time and expense to the processing of your application. If this applies to you, please contact BUNAC.
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How much spending money should I take?
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We recommend that you anticipate spending £175 per month whilst you are volunteering. However, if you intend to travel during your days off or on completion of your programme (hiring a car for a road trip for example) we recommend that you take extra.
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What is the legal drinking age in America?
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You must be 21 years old or over if you want to drink alcohol in America and you will need to show your passport each time you enter a bar to confirm your age. If you are under 21 you will not be permitted in any bar regardless of whether you will be drinking alcohol. Alcohol is prohibited whilst on project and within the Flagstaff and Santa Cruz accommodations.
However, there are many alternative recreational activities for those under 21 including bowling, cinema, restaurants, cafes. All of the accommodations include common areas with TV, CD and DVD.
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Can I transfer to another job in America?
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No. The Visa Waiver is only appropriate when undertaking volunteer projects through a recognised partner. For alternative opportunities in America please refer to BUNAC’s Work America, Summer Camp USA and KAMP USA programmes.
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