I come from one of the most traffic-choked cities in America — a place where an hour-long commute is considered normal and monthly tolls quietly siphon hundreds of dollars from family budgets. Brake lights stretch endlessly. Engines idle. Patience thins.

So when the opportunity arose to join the inaugural ConservationVIP Amazon program in Ecuador, the decision felt almost comically simple. Trade congestion for canopy? Asphalt for river? Yes. Without hesitation.

In June, I exchanged turnpikes and overpasses for the dark, glassy tributaries of the Amazon Basin. For eleven days, my commute became a narrow canoe slicing through the flooded forests of the Cuyaben0 Wildlife Reserve — a 2,000-square-mile protected region in northeastern Ecuador. Reaching it requires commitment: a flight from Quito, a long bus ride across oil roads and rural towns, then three more hours by motorized canoe. Civilization fades incrementally until the only soundtrack is birdsong and the lapping river.

One quickly learns that the Amazon is not simply a river. It is an ecosystem that breathes. During peak inundation, waters swell outward for miles, swallowing entire forests. What appear to be low shrubs and tangled hedges are, in fact, the submerged crowns of 40-foot trees. Months later, in the dry season, those same trees tower above firm ground where villagers gather fruit and forage for mushrooms. The geography itself transforms. The landscape is less static terrain than living pulse.

Wildlife Encounters in the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve

And it is alive in every sense. The Amazon contains more biodiversity than anywhere else on Earth. Each morning, we pushed off from our remote eco-lodge, our canoe guided by local boatmen who read the river with uncanny intuition. A ripple might signal a submerged log capable of snapping an engine shaft. A faint serpentine wrinkle on the surface could indicate a 20-foot anaconda. A subtle wake might reveal giant river otters slipping between banks — which we were fortunate enough to witness. Then there were the dolphins.

The Amazonian pink river dolphin surfaces almost shyly, a blush-colored arc breaking through brown water. Among the basin’s most threatened mammals, they are both ethereal and prehistoric, appearing suddenly before dissolving back into opacity. We saw several — fleeting, extraordinary.

For me, though, the monkeys were my zenith. As an anthropologist, primates have long held my fascination, and Cuyabeno did not disappoint. The reserve is home to ten species. We encountered howlers whose deep, resonant calls reverberated like distant thunder; nimble spider monkeys launching themselves impossibly between branches; curious capuchins peering down at us from the canopy. The woolly monkey — nearly 20 pounds and disarmingly expressive — seemed contemplative at our presence. At the opposite extreme, the pygmy marmoset, weighing just four ounces, clung delicately to tree bark, the smallest primate on Earth and nearly weightless against the vast forest.

Supporting Conservation with Local Rangers

But this was not merely a wildlife excursion. I had come to contribute. Accompanied by six other ConservationVIP travelers, we and three leaders, we committed our time and muscles to help conserve this special place. We committed our hearts to build new relationships among local families.

ConservationVIP partners with Ecuadorian park rangers responsible for safeguarding Cuyabeno’s fragile ecosystems. Rangers monitor wildlife populations, land use, and resource extraction, often navigating dense forest on foot in punishing humidity. Over several days, we cleared and widened critical trail systems, improving access for biodiversity surveys and patrols. Armed with pruning devices, GPS units, and bright marking tape, we established 50-meter transects — deliberate interventions in the forest designed to strengthen long-term ecological data collection.

The labor was sweaty and humbling. The forest does not yield easily. Yet every cleared meter represented safer passage for those who protect this place year-round. Conservation here is not abstract policy; it is physical, daily commitment.

The forest repaid our effort generously. Hoatzins — affectionately dubbed “stinky turkeys” for their fermenting digestive systems — flapped awkwardly along riverbanks. Scarlet macaws streaked overhead in brilliant flashes of red. Toucans, oropendolas, potoos, manakins, and motmots created a layered soundscape so dense it felt orchestrated. Even the most disciplined travelers struggled to focus solely on trail projects. The logbooks of our birding fanatics filled rapidly; ‘life-lists’ exploded.

Community and Collaboration Along the Amazon

Later in the week, longer river journeys brought us to the small villages of Puerto Bolívar and Tarabeaya. Here, conservation intertwines with community. We arrived bearing donated school supplies and practical gifts for young mothers, but what unfolded was less charity and more collaboration. Alongside local families and children, we cleared clutter from modest schoolhouses, swept floors, patched walls, and applied fresh coats of paint inside and out.

Under equatorial sun, laughter replaced self-consciousness and linguistic-awkwardness as everyone — travelers and villagers alike — ended up streaked in bright colors. The lodge prepared meals we shared communally, and leftovers were distributed among families. By day’s end, refreshed classrooms stood as tangible symbols of partnership rather than patronage.

Travel often risks becoming passive, consumptive — landscapes observed, photos captured, departures swift. This was different. Our presence, our effort left something constructive behind.

A Final Encounter: The Harpy Eagle

On our final afternoon, the canoe ride back to the lodge carried quieter energy. We reflected on sore muscles, improbable wildlife sightings, and the simple absurdity of how completely paint had covered our clothing. The river moved steadily beneath us. Some of us closed our eyes, lulled by the engine’s vibration.

Then our guide inhaled sharply.

High along the riverbank canopy, nearly 20 meters above us, perched a harpy eagle. Massive, regal, unmistakable. The largest and most powerful eagle in the world, it surveyed its territory with a composure bordering on mythic. The boat rocked as binoculars were passed frantically from hand to hand.

For a suspended moment, we studied it — and it seemed to study us back.

Of all the Amazon’s extraordinary creatures, the harpy is perhaps its most iconic. That we encountered it on the final stretch of our final commute felt almost scripted, a cinematic farewell from the forest itself.

How This Amazon Conservation Trip Changed My Perspective

30 minutes later, we arrived at the lodge where refreshing showers and a final meal awaited. The next week, I would return to traffic lights and toll booths.

But something fundamental had shifted. My commute, once defined by congestion and impatience, had been recalibrated by river currents, canopy shadows, and new friends. What once meant endurance now suggested purpose. What once felt obligatory now carried possibility.

Home — yes. But never entirely leaving.

Ready to experience the Amazon as a steward, not a tourist?

Learn more about our Costa Rica Pacuare Volunteer Trip and how you can contribute to protecting one of the world’s most extraordinary ecosystems.

About the Author: Mark Seifert serves on the ConservationVIP Board and is an anthropologist whose career spans university leadership, environmental field education, and cultural advising in rural regions around the world. He and his wife, Julie, are based near Boston and travel often—when their two border collies allow it. Learn more about Mark on our People Page.

A Conservation Leader’s Connection to Pacuare Reserve

The first time I journeyed to the Pacuare Reserve Costa Rica, I connected deeply with this amazing place and the local people caring for it. Imagine a trip where you can contribute to conserving endangered sea turtles, preserving a rare heron nesting area and collecting information on primates deep in a Costa Rican coastal rainforest. The Pacuare Reserve Costa Rica Volunteer Trip run by ConservationVIP provides all those opportunities and more. As a ConservationVIP trip leader, and a retired U.S. Forest Service employee whose dedication has always centered on protecting public lands, I find this place embodies everything that inspired my career.

My passion has always been conserving public lands with an emphasis on wilderness preservation and community involvement. I am proud to have served as a U.S. Forest Service employee and to have been acknowledged as a leader in wilderness management. My last assignment was as the deputy Regional Forester for the Southwest Region, and I also served as the Deputy to the Under Secretary of Agriculture in Washington D.C. I worked in National Forests across the country, including Coastal South Carolina and the Florida Everglades, which are both important coastal ecosystems like Pacuare.

Why Pacuare Reserve Matters for Wildlife Conservation

Pacuare Reserve in Costa Rica is the fifth most important nesting beach in the world for the endangered leatherback sea turtle—a massive creature that can weigh over 2,200 pounds and be from 4 to 8 feet in length. This makes Pacuare Reserve an important site for leatherback conservation in Costa Rica. Changing climate conditions have contributed to the need for conserving this ancient and unique sea turtle species. Warming air and sea temperatures affect sea turtle hatchlings as the temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. As temperatures rise, females will predominate. This can disrupt normal reproduction rates which adds further pressure to the species.

Sea turtles also tend to return to the same coast where they were hatched to lay their eggs. Rising sea levels can increase beach erosion causing turtles to struggle to find suitable nesting habitat on their home beaches. We can help! And while we can’t immediately reverse beach erosion, we can assure preservation of the next generation of leatherback sea turtles by protecting the nests.

Protecting the Leatherback Sea Turtle

My management philosophy for conservation of National Forests was to emphasize the need for community and volunteer participation in conserving their lands. My message to the public has always been that the Forest Service does not own any land, the Forest Managers are stewards of the land for the public whom they work for. In my roles for the Forest Service, I led numerous volunteer projects in National Forests, as well as establishing the largest and most successful community based public lands interpretive association within the National Forest System. The common thread with ConservationVIP – what each of us contributes matters.

ConservationVIP’s volunteer projects on the Pacuare Reserve Costa Rica Volunteer Trip provide opportunities for travelers to assist researchers in collecting turtle eggs as they are laid and then transporting them to a safe hatchery designed to improve hatching success. Human presence, poaching and other impacts, including a changing climate, all contribute to the need for these efforts. Travelers also help improve facilities for the staff and researchers, enhancing long-term conservation efforts.

Wildlife Encounters in the Costa Rican Rainforest

In addition to leatherback sea turtle habitat, Pacuare Reserve is the only known nesting site for the vulnerable Agami Heron along the Caribbean coast. The Reserve provides a sheltered and secluded nesting area for the reclusive heron. Volunteer projects support researchers protecting this beautiful bird. Travelers have also supported primate researchers who collect population data on local species. In addition, we continue ConservationVIP’s volunteer projects to help the Resplendent Quetzal on our return trip to San Jose, Costa Rica. These hands-on experiences reflect the same spirit of stewardship I championed throughout my Forest Service career.

A Lifelong Commitment to Stewardship

As a ConservationVIP trip leader, I team up with our local Costa Rican Guide, Marco Urena, to provide an interesting and rewarding experience for our travelers, and for myself. They say that you should retire to something. My passion for conservation has continued from the Forest Service to my volunteer efforts with ConservationVIP both as a trip leader and board member. I have led biodiversity focused trips in Costa Rica to both the Pacific and Caribbean coastal areas, as well as, assisting with our trips to restore and reforest portions of lands in Scotland. These trips have provided me with the opportunity to keep my fingers involved in and carrying on a passion for conserving important areas around the world and volunteering with travelers and local partners who have a similar passion.

Journeying to the Pacuare Reserve

To access Pacuare Reserve, travelers embark from the capital of San Jose, Costa Rica, to a remote boat landing, then board a small boat to wind their way through a lush tropical forest to reach the Reserve entrance. Lodging facilities and a central kitchen area provide ample shelter and nourishment for staff and travelers. Research staff provide our travelers with several lectures and hands on project demonstrations. They also highlight the importance of our contributions and their gratitude. The area’s biodiversity is unmatched, and each trip reminds me of why I’ve devoted my life to conservation. I look forward to bringing new travelers to experience this remarkable place; maybe you will join me.

Join Us in Conservation

Learn more about joining an upcoming ConservationVIP Volunteer Trip to Costa Rica.

“This was my first volunteer experience and it has inspired me to do more trips. Pacuare was amazing. Riding up river to the research station, being greeted by howler monkeys, watching sloths lounging in the trees, walking the moonlit beach at night to look for and tend to leatherback turtles, immersing ourselves in the life of the reserve, building a beachfront structure for staff to use – I couldn’t believe I was actually experiencing all this. The highlands were equally enchanting – from the quetzals to the views and the ever present hummingbirds. Magical. And finally, Marco and Jose were phenomenally knowledgeable and eager to share their expertise.” Abby, Pacuare Reserve Trip Review, 2025

Jim Upchurch is a retired Forest Service employee, a farmer, a member of ConservationVIP’s Board, and a volunteer trip leader. Learn more about Jim on our People Page.

Mark Hardgrove: Public Land Manager, Volunteer, and Amazing Person. Mark is an example of how to retire to something meaningful.

The saying goes that you shouldn’t retire from something, but rather that you should retire to something. We are eternally grateful that Mark Hardgrove retired to ConservationVIP. He is a great example of how someone can choose to retire to something meaningful. Mark is a doer. He speaks quietly and gets a lot accomplished. Mark understands that public lands need help, and he embraces the chance to help them.

Mark has been making a difference at ConservationVIP for 12 years now and there are not words to fairly describe his impact. He is a volunteer Board Member, Board Secretary, Director of Field Operations, Program Manager for Galapagos, US Virgin Islands, and Amazon destinations, Trip Leader, mentor, friend, hero, and much more. All you need to do is scan the Trip Reviews on our website to see the many people Mark has impacted.

“I traveled to Italy with our [ConservationVIP] leader Mark, so I knew how awesome he was going into the trip: congenial, calm, caring, yet always on task in making sure everyone was happy and all details were covered.” Jane, Galapagos Trip Review, 2023

It is not just trip participants that Mark impacts, it is all of us. Susan Murray is a volunteer Trip Leader who retired to ConservationVIP and leads ConservationVIP trips to Alaska, Torres del Paine, and the US Virgin Islands. Susan had this to say about volunteering with Mark as a trip leader: “I am fortunate to co-lead several trips with Mark. He’s organized, proactive, thoughtful, and incredibly patient. His quiet sense of humor lifts the entire group and brings a sense of ease to even the busiest days. On the USVI trips, where leaders also take on cooking duties, Mark’s calm presence and steady humor make everything feel manageable and even fun. He keeps things simple, stays grounded, and always seems to find a path forward that works for everyone. I’ve learned a lot from him and am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading alongside him.”

“He keeps things simple, stays grounded, and always seems to find a path forward that works for everyone.”

Why Volunteer in Public Lands After a Public Lands Career?

We asked Mark why he decided to volunteer in the Public Lands realm after retiring from a career in Public Lands?

“My journey through life started when I joined the National Park Service after high school.  The joy and passion were mutual as I loved taking care of our National Parks and I loved interacting with volunteers and partners to further our mutual interests.  My first 20 years I served in 8 National Parks in Facility Management and my second 20 years I served in 7 National Parks as Park Manager or what the NPS calls Superintendents.  I was proud to manage the US Virgin Islands National Parks on St. John and St. Thomas and the Marine Protected areas that protected the park’s, reefs and provided access to our local fisherfolks.

A few months after I retired the glow wore off and I joined Conservation Volunteers International Program. After being whisked off to join the Trip Leadership team, joining them in Torres del Paine for my first experience. It changed my life, I transitioned from feeling mildly depressed into “I have found my new love”. Suddenly, I realized I was not old or retired I was excited, engaged and passionate about our leadership team, our mission and the impact our volunteers had on these special places. At 70 years young I look forward to each program, each place, each partner as we bring hope to the professionals tasked to protect but that do not have the capacity to implement. Bringing volunteers and developing long term volunteer programs connects communities with special places in a way Park Managers thought possible.”

“Suddenly, I realized I was not old or retired I was excited, engaged and passionate about our leadership team, our mission and the impact our volunteers had on these special places.”

Why Volunteer with ConservationVIP?

We also asked why he choose to volunteer with ConservationVIP?

“ConservationVIP had sent out a short notice seeking trail crew leaders. Thinking back on my career the most fun I ever had at work was when I served as Roads/Trails/Grounds Maintenance Foreman. It sounded exciting and after a week or so I received a call from the President inviting me to join the Board of Directors. I have been all in since December 2013. After working for the NPS for so long it has been a joy to work with such professional Directors and Trip Leaders. ConservationVIP is a non-profit with partnerships for conservation at every turn. When ConservationVIP was created, they actually chose me.”

Thank you, Mark Hardgrove!

Our Board Chair and CEO, Chris Braunlich, also retired to ConservationVIP. She had this to say about Mark: “In my humble opinion, Mark deserves every bit of praise.

Mark has so many wonderful qualities, it is difficult to list them in just a few words. He generously donates his time to support public lands, which says volumes about his good heart. Because he has been a public lands manager, he can connect with other land managers to learn about their needs and figure out how our volunteers can help. He is also an extraordinarily good trip leader. Trip leadership requires organizational skills to manage the group and the project. It also requires an ability to connect with people to help them have a good experience. Trip leading is never easy, yet Mark is so multitalented that the people he leads think it is easy. The clearest evidence of his outstanding ability is that he has led more trips to more destinations than any of our trip leaders; across these diverse destinations and trips, he consistently earns the highest praise from people on his trips. In sum, I greatly admire him, and I respect his advice.”

P.S. If you are lucky enough to meet Mark, you will discover that for a talented person, he is remarkably modest. He prefers doing to talking. In a group, he is often the quiet one. If you want to learn from him, it’s up to you to ask him for his opinion.”

Thank you for your service, Mark – to our country, to our organization, and to our world!

Have you traveled with Mark? Leave a comment below! Did you retire from a Public Lands career? Consider following Mark’s trail and retiring to ConservationVIP! Get Involved! Would you like to have a life changing experience on a conservation service trip with Mark? Join us to Travel with Purpose.

A heartfelt gift from Peruvian friends is a reminder that our impact reaches beyond the hours we spend on the volunteer projects themselves.

On our Machu Picchu Volunteer Trip, we visit the village of Chinchero and love to spend time with the artisans of Qori Puskay women’s weaving center. The center was founded by Guillermina Huarhua who is a skilled artisan from the Andes who is working to preserve and honor her Incan culture and traditions. The Chinchero textiles created by the women of the Qori Puskay are beautiful works of art in the Andean tradition. Visiting the center is one of the experiences that helps volunteers begin to understand the local culture and our projects. On our November 2024 Trip, volunteer leader Millie Flores-Roman was in for a surprise. As Millie recalls:

“I thought it would be a regular visit, but Juliana and Guillermina had other plans. Guillermina called for the volunteers to make an announcement, and Juliana proceeded to present me with an oil painting of me. Although the painting took me by surprise, her words moved me more. Juliana said she was trying to figure out how to show her appreciation for the help provided not only by ConservationVIP by continuing to support them for many years, but also for the support I provided during the difficult times of the pandemic. I helped them develop their online sales through a website, marketing ideas through WhatsApp, and continuing to encourage them when she calls me with a question.”

“Since I first met the Ccorimanya family, headed by Guillermina and her daughter Juliana, I became very fond of them. They have continued to excel, and what I admire the most is that with the bit of free time they have left after all their work, they also devote themselves to guiding and empowering other women to seek development. Juliana is almost ready to graduate in Computer Engineering and has just begun a second degree in fine arts at the Diego Quispe University in Cuzco. They deserve all my respect.”

Machu Picchu is one of the greatest cultural heritage sites in the world. The spirit of the people who built this amazing site lives on in wonderful people like Guillermina and Juliana. We are incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to volunteer and contribute to Machu Picchu and this community. Thank you for having us.

Millie Flores-Roman is one of our Public Lands heroes. She served in the U.S. National Park Service for 28 years. She is a historian and World Heritage cultural resource specialist. You can learn more about Millie on our People Page. Did you retire from a Public Lands career? Are you looking for your next chapter? Join us. Get Involved! Would you like to have a life changing experience on a conservation service trip to Machu Picchu? Join us to Travel with Purpose to Machu Picchu!

We originally shared this story as part of our 2024 Impact Report.

How do we measure a person’s impact on an organization, on fellow volunteers, on communities, on the land? It can’t be done with just numbers.

We first featured this story about Garry Oye in our 2024 Impact Report. Then in mid 2025, Garry decided that it was the right time to transition from ConservationVIP^® projects to other activities. For six years we enjoyed Garry’s enthusiasm, humor, and learned from his amazing skills. We are going to miss him more than words can capture. Garry developed partnerships thoughtfully. He also approached challenges with creative enthusiasm and inspired us all. Thank you, Garry. You are one of a kind. Good luck dear friend!

Background

In order to tell you about ConservationVIP’s activities in Torres del Paine National Park in 2024, we need to talk about Garry Oye. Garry was a ConservationVIP Board member, volunteer and one of our heroes. He understood that public lands need help, and he embraced the chance to help them. In 2004 Garry took a vacation from his job as a District Ranger in Inyo National Forest in California and visited Torres del Paine. Little did he know that 20 years later, in 2024, he would be playing an outsize role in helping the Park.

Prior to joining ConservationVIP as a leader and Board member, Garry completed 36 years of Federal Service. He worked for two premier land management agencies, the USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior National Park Service. In the Forest Service, he started as a Wilderness Guard and finished as a District Ranger. During that time, he worked at five National Forests, two Regional Offices, and the National Headquarters. His final years of federal service were with DOI National Park Service as a Division Chief for Wilderness at the National Headquarters office. While he was in that role, he provided leadership and guidance for all NP Wilderness, comprising 83% of the land in the national park system.

ConservationVIP was born when prior land managers saw a need in Torres del Paine N.P. and our assistance there continues today. We help by leading volunteer service trips and through “special projects” that require specialized skills or expertise. We also seek to inspire and engage the next generation to care for our greatest natural treasures. Garry has led volunteer service trips and organized and volunteered on special projects. He also recruited other experts and organizations to help the Park and inspired future leaders.

The Human Waste Project

Garry’s first project in Torres del Paine after he joined ConservationVIP was working on a backcountry human waste project. In 2018 he installed a waterless, high-tech toilet unit in Old Italian Camp at the entrance to the French Valley on the popular “W” hiking trail. That campground closed after 30 years of use, but the old toilet buildings remained. In 2024, Garry returned to the Old Italian Camp to lead a week-long effort to begin the remediation effort. He developed a cleanup plan, secured approval for Phase One, and then pitched in to help with the work. Try to imagine being in the wilderness and dealing with old bathrooms that had been used for 30 years. Garry did it with a smile!

The New Base Torres Trail

Also in 2024, Garry spent weeks in Patagonia, working on a new trail to the base of The Towers, the massive granite spires which give Torres del Paine National Park its name. Since late 2021, ConservationVIP has been working to construct a new sustainable trail to replace the old trail. This special project has been a team effort that relies on a variety of partnerships. Garry’s expertise was key to connecting the various parties to move the project forward. Garry worked with CONAF (the Park’s managers), Las Torres Reserve, and two nonprofits – Torres del Paine Legacy Fund, and AMA – building partnerships. He also recruited U.S. trail experts to help with the new trail, including Victoria Winch, Grady Anderson, Nick Kloos, Marc Williams, Fischer Gangemi, and Brooks Christian.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Garry also helped foster a partnership with the California Conservation Corps (the CCC). In 2024 with Garry’s help the CCC sent 1 staff and 8 Corpsmembers to Torres del Paine to spend 4 weeks building the trail to the Towers with trail expert Victoria Winch. In addition to completing a significant section on the new Base Torres trail, they had life-changing experiences. Some of ConservationVIP’s volunteers have experienced volunteering with the CCC when they were paired up on trails with them in Yosemite. As these young, developing trail experts work their way up through the CCC, they often earn positions with the National Park Service and become part of the elite National Park Service Trail Crews.

CCC staff member Teagan Felknor-Edwards helped coordinate the project. She shared that following their return to California, two members of the CCC crew were accepted to the renowned Backcountry Trails Program. There they spent 5 months applying the skills which they honed in Patagonia to trails in California. One of the Corpsmembers has since become a CCC supervisor, facilitating the development of other young adults. For several of the participants, this trip was their first time leaving the US. Teagan also shared the following quotes from the CCC trail builders:

“The most valuable experience was being able to hike in some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen, and share those experiences with the people I was around, either hiking or working sharing those views made me value life more and the excitement of it made me value life more.”

“Learning the aspects of a new culture and their values was really eye-opening and got me thinking about how to take some of those values with me back to my center (i.e. community bonding, service through work, health & well-being, etc)”.

It can be easy to keep moving fast and not slow down to appreciate someone like Garry. As Teagan also said, “The CCC Global Corps would have never gone to Patagonia without Garry’s facilitation. He knows all the stakeholders and has developed strong local partnerships over the years. His involvement through all stages of the process facilitated incredible experiences for our Corpsmembers. For me personally, his support has helped develop my own processes as an early career professional working with international conservation programs.”

It Was a Good Season

So, how can we measure the impact someone like Garry Oye has on ConservationVIP, the destinations we serve, and the partners we are so fortunate to support? It’s hard. When we asked Garry for his recap of 2024, he said:

“2024 was a significant year for ConservationVIP in Torres del Paine. We continued to provide support to CONAF for the maintenance of bridges. We returned to Italian Camp to dismantle 5 abandoned Toilet buildings and assist CONAF with restoration efforts. A nine-person California Conservation Corps crew worked on the Base Torres Trail for 4 weeks. US Trail experts continued to provide Training and Skill Sharing with local trail crews.

The challenges faced are significant-this is not an easy place to work. Weather and logistics stress the most seasoned workers. At the end of the season, looking back at what we accomplished, I feel that our efforts & determination match the intensity of this wild place. It’s like riding a bucking bronco, with the wind & rain in your face, and your muscles ache. But this place and the people deserve the best we can provide.

It was a good season.” – Garry Oye

Do you have Public Lands experience? Are you retired and looking for your next challenge? Join ConservationVIP. Get Involved! Do you want to experience a life affirming volunteer conservation trip to Torres del Paine? Join us and Travel with Purpose to Torres del Paine!

Across the United States and the world, our land calls to us for help. Will you help public lands? There is a help wanted sign written in footprints on trails and woven by invasive species overtaking native plants. Where is the sign? It is there amongst white toilet paper flags blowing in the breeze just off trail. The sign says Help Wanted. There are sacred places where civilizations of long ago tell us stories of people past and present. Written amongst their history are the words Help Wanted. On beaches where turtles prepare their nests, long lines of plastic debris spell the words Help Wanted. These signs are obvious to the people whose love for special places acts like glasses bringing into focus blurry vision to reveal the words Help Wanted.

What is our Responsibility?

Our responsibility is clear. First, cultivate a deep and personal love for public lands both small and large to act as those glasses. Next, seek out the Help Wanted signs where they lay. Finally, we must do what we can to answer their call and help public lands thrive.

Do you love National Parks? How about National Forests? What about National Monuments, Bureau of Land Management Lands, or National Seashores? Have you ever loved a state park, county park or municipal park? How about a park like Torres del Paine in Chile? Would you like to visit Parque Nacional Galapagos in Ecuador? Or maybe, Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania? These are all public lands and written here or there are the words Help Wanted. Public Lands all over the world need our help.

Protect What You Love

You Protect What You Love. At ConservationVIP, we hope that our trips serve as inspiration that helps fuel your love for special places. Also, we hope that you bring that passion home to the special public lands near your home. Help public lands by using the enthusiasm you kindled on your trail building adventure in Yosemite or Torres del Paine on your local trails. We hope that you bring your joyful turtle adventures in Costa Rica and the Galapagos back to your local conservation areas and beaches. We hope that you will invite friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and other community members to public lands for recreation and to share your love. Can you help more people develop the deep love of these special places that fuels action?

Help Really is Needed

Do Public Lands really need help? Simply put, yes. They need us as much as we need them. In the United States we have a multibillion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance and repairs within the National Park Service. It is a massive undertaking to maintain the historic buildings whose stories fascinate us, the trails we love to hike, the bridges we need to cross. Because all this and more needs to be done while ensuring the safety of the parks’ visitors, it is even harder. Other federal public land agencies also have significant backlogs. State and local governments also face challenges maintaining public lands.

Why is it so hard for parks to get funding?

Now, imagine the challenges that other countries with smaller economies face. It is easy to assume that fees and other monies fund the work and maintenance these magical lands require. Unfortunately, the truth is more complex. Just as each of us need to budget how we spend our money, governments have to budget their funds. Should they spend their limited resources on education, on health care, on public transit, or on parks? Basically, there are many tradeoffs. The decisions are even more complicated when foreign visitors enjoy the parks as much or more than local citizens do. Often the funding to help public lands is not as high on the priority list as we might want. Again, the signs abound if you can see them – Help Wanted.

We urge you to get out there. Help Public Lands while you fuel your love for Public Lands. And as you explore these places, look for the Help Wanted signs and act. Travel with ConservationVIP – fuel your passion and answer the call from these special places that need help.

Special People Who Help Public Lands

Our next several blog posts will celebrate some of our very own Public Lands heroes. These are special people who inspire us and lead us. We will be learning more about Mark Hardgrove, Barbara Kennedy, Garry Oye, and Jim Upchurch. They each spent their careers helping our Public Lands. Afterwards, in retirement, they have volunteered as Board members, trip leaders, and so much more. They are heroes who have dedicated their lives to answering our Public Lands’ call – Help Wanted. ConservationVIP from its founding until present has been guided by the leadership of talented land managers.

A Special Invitation for Special People

Have you had a career working for Public Lands? Are you seeking volunteer opportunities for your next chapter in retirement? We would love to hear from you.

How My Dream Came to Fruition

My first introduction to ConservationVIP^® came during the summer of 2015 when an acquaintance at REI Adventures suggested I check out their volunteer conservation trips. I did and I liked ConservationVIP’s mission and vision. But I noticed there were no trips to countries within Africa. So, I sent in an inquiry because I enjoy traveling to Africa for adventure activities in nature and cultural heritage.

Back then, no trips to Africa were in the plans, so that remained a dream for me. I wanted to find a great program that allowed me to travel with purpose, mitigate my impact by giving back, and become further immersed while visiting a destination in Africa.

In the meantime, through several conversations with Chris Braunlich and others on the ConservationVIP team, I came to join the organization. I donated time in a volunteer capacity supporting marketing efforts. I also joined the Board of Directors and became a Trip Leader while I continued to dream of opportunities to expand our trips to Africa someday.

Talk about synchronicity

In June 2019, I attended a business conference representing ConservationVIP^® to pitch our non-profit environmental conservation trips to the press. At the conference, I met a Tanzanian tour operator, Erick Urassa, which was fun. You see, Tanzania has a special place in my heart, as I have visited it several times and have come to have friends and colleagues there. So, after our meetings and conversations, we decided to stay in touch because you never know when an opportunity to work together could arise.

And what do you know? Just a month after that conference, REI Adventures, who was our marketing partner at the time, reached out to ask us to develop a program for Tanzania. Then, I was given the opportunity to work on this project and became the Program Manager!

A Dream realized. . .

Developing a new program takes time, hard work, and patience, not to mention navigating the global pandemic and its impacts. We were excited to be able to support and work alongside our local tour partners, NGOs, and a government natural resource agency in Tanzania. Our newest reforestation and trail program in the Great Rift Valley near Lake Manyara National Park and the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro launched in November of 2023.

I look forward to returning to Tanzania to continue the Tanzania conservation trip and connect with the people and place.

9 Reasons to travel on ConservationVIP’s Tanzania Volunteer Trip

1. Immerse yourself in the welcoming Tanzanian culture

as you work alongside local communities on reforestation and trail restoration initiatives. Build meaningful connections with the people and gain a deeper understanding of their traditions, customs, and way of life.

2. Preserve Breathtaking Landscapes

Explore Tanzania’s stunning natural beauty as you engage in volunteer reforestation efforts. Contribute to preserving the country’s unique landscapes around the foothills of the Great African Rift Valley Wall near Lake Manyara National Park and the Rau Forest Reserve near Mount Kilimanjaro.

3. Conservation of Flora and Fauna

Tanzania is home to diverse species of flora and fauna. Participate in reforestation projects that directly contribute to the protection of this wildlife by sustaining and restoring their natural habitats.

4. Climate Change Mitigation

Join the global effort to combat climate change by planting trees in Tanzania. Planting trees helps mitigate climate change. That is because trees protect water sources, improve water quality, and control erosion. They also provide shelter for wildlife to sustain biodiversity and provide space for the local community’s well-being.

5. Educational Opportunities and Community Development

Learn about indigenous flora and fauna species and ecosystems unique to northern Tanzania while contributing to the well-being of local communities by participating in reforestation projects that promote sustainable livelihoods. Help create a positive impact on both the environment and the lives of Tanzanian residents.

6. Personal Growth

Embark on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery as you step out of your comfort zone into a different culture and explore the challenges of reforestation and trail maintenance work. No experience is required. Gain a sense of accomplishment and make a lasting impact on the environment.

7. Adventure and Outdoor Activities

Combine your passion for environmental conservation with adventure. Enjoy our volunteer rest day on safari in Lake Manyara National Park and hike to Materuni Falls while visiting Materuni Village along the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Heck, lengthen your trip by arriving early or staying later! Northern Tanzania offers opportunities for exciting outdoor activities, such as hiking, wildlife safaris, and exploring the vibrant marine life along its coastline.

8. Contribute to Global Goals

Align your volunteer efforts with global sustainability goals. Tanzania’s reforestation projects are interconnected with international initiatives aimed at biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and climate action.

9. Photography and Storytelling

Through video and photography, capture the beauty of Tanzania’s landscapes and the transformative impact of reforestation and trail restoration. Share your experiences and stories to inspire others to join the cause.

I joined ConservationVIP’s volunteer trip to Costa Rica last September, and I want to share my video blog with you. I’m not known for creative writing. Instead, my creative skills lay in photography, and combining photos and music into videos to tell a story. Along the Way is a round-trip visual tour from the trip’s start to finish, showing our fabulous team of travelers, volunteering on our conservation projects, having fun (a LOT of fun), and seeing the incredible wildlife and scenery throughout our trip. And while I put the photos and music together, I want to call out the rest of our team for their photographic contributions to the effort.

I hope you enjoy this 5-minute tropical escape to Costa Rica. It’s an amazing trip and you should go!

Along the Way

“Gratitude to the Great Sky who holds billions
of stars – and goes yet beyond that – beyond
all powers, and thoughts and yet is within us
– Grandfather Space. The Mind is his Wife.”
so be it.” -Gary Snyder

In the wake of a national bestseller, which was later adapted into a major motion picture, it is safe to say that Jon Krakauer’s masterful 1996 nonfiction novel Into the Wild has cemented itself as an important document of contemporary American journalism. Moreover, it has become a sort of talisman for likeminded adventurers to its subject, Christopher McCandless; those who feel restrained by the stagnant negentropy of their jobs and regular lives and yearn for meaning and spiritual fulfillment which can only be afforded them by the natural world. Thus, despite his tragic demise, the late McCandless is venerated as an example of our own indomitable spirits; one who fled the mundane trappings of his white-collar life and fearlessly sought his fate in the remote and unrelenting wilderness.

I first read Into the Wild in the ninth grade at the behest of one of my favorite teachers, and the story has always stuck with me. Krakauer’s entrancing prose painted in my mind a portrait of a land of contradiction: A harsh yet beautiful oasis in the mind, where unseen dangers lurk in a labyrinth of interlocking conifers, where the machinations of natural life are enacted beneath the watchful eye of the North Star, and where the virginal snow colludes with the clouds to weave one great white tapestry on the crest of a mountain peak. I swore to myself that one day, I too would venture out into the Alaskan wilderness and feel a sense of unity with its foreboding atmosphere.

I never suspected I would have such an opportunity as was presented to me by ConservationVIP.

In the days leading up to my Alaskan adventure, my imminent departure still seemed surreal. It had only been a matter of months since I had even heard of the volunteer organization and now, after being awarded a fabulously generous scholarship, I was packing the listed requirements to submerse myself within the final frontier. The nerves did not set in until the very morning of my flight. Despite my predilection for the romance and allure of adventure novels, I am not one who travels often and had never been away from home by myself for such a long time. Arriving in Juneau later on that evening, I took my first inhale of the crisp Alaskan air standing on the runway. The inimitable scent steeled my nerves.

Whatever fears I had were entirely quelled the next morning when I met my trip leaders, Susan and Max, at the Juneau airport. Having worked with one another on various trips in the past, I could sense their synergy immediately, and knew that I would be learning a lot from these two over the course of the next 11 days. Meeting with the rest of the attendees at dinner that evening was a moment of great reflection, and we all bonded in the dining hall overlooking the beautiful lake and magnificent Mendenhall glacier in the distance.

The very next day was spent entirely at the Tongass National Forest, where the glacier loomed at the very forefront of our conservation. Here was the remnant of an era before mankind, an overwhelming sheet of ice that had swallowed prehistoric forests and had created a barrier between us and our past. Only now, it was dwindling. We learned that the glacier had been receding for decades, and that it was merely a shadow of its former self. Therein lay the primary motivator for anyone who reads this with even a faint interest in volunteering; when you embark on a trip like this, you will be working against the detractors and detriments of automated society and preserving the old way for a new generation to experience. From Juneau to Skagway, every mission we were assigned, no matter how negligible it may have seemed at first, metamorphosed into a duty as dire as it was complex. We became healers attending to a living, breathing ecosystem that has otherwise been battered by the latent surfeits of industrialization.

As we gathered around the dinner table on our last night, I could not help but think about how nervous I had been on the eve of my departure. Looking back, there is not a single thing I would change about the experience. The strangers by whom I was greeted on that first day were now friends, and we were all united by our shared endeavor to preserve something greater than all of us. For that, I feel nothing but gratitude.

– Daniel Humphrey

Please help fund The Scholarship Program

ConservationVIP’s Scholarship Program is funded by generous individual donors. Please help us continue to fund scholarships for worthy candidates like Daniel by donating to the scholarship fund:

See our Scholarship Donation Page for alternative ways to donate.

The Galapagos Islands are a rare and distinctive collection of volcanic islands located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. It is influenced by a combination of hot equatorial sun and cool ocean waters from the convergence of the Cromwell and Humboldt currents. These unique features have nurtured a rich marine and terrestrial environments that support a wide variety of plants and animals, many found only in the Galapagos. Thanks to the help of Andres de la Torre, the guide on ConservationVIP’s Galapagos Islands Volunteer Trip, our trip participants experience it, understand and learn about it, and enjoy it.

Andres de la Torres Grew Up in Ecuadorian Andes

Andres grew up surrounded by the stunning Ecuadorian Andes and was always passionate about sharing his love for Ecuador’s mountains and natural marvels. From a young age, Andres’s family exposed him to mountain climbing, naturalism, and geology. His Great Uncle was the first Ecuadorian to scale the highest summit in the country.

Andres himself became an experienced mountain climber, naturalist, and expert birder. As a young man, he learned that life has to be lived outdoors, leading him to study natural history and biology at university. After completing his studies, he worked in the Amazon basin before becoming a professional guide, specializing in birding, geography, anthropology, and the history of Latin America.

Andres as our Galapagos Volunteer Trip Guide

When we began planning our conservation program in the Galapagos, Andres was highly recommended as one of the most professional and sought-after guides in the Galapagos and mainland Ecuador. He has been with us on all our volunteer trips and inspires many of our five-star experiences. Andres takes great pride in sharing Ecuador’s natural beauty with those he guides. In addition to his extensive knowledge, Andres manages the many challenges of traveling in the Galapagos, assuring flights, boats and other tour arrangements. Andres just quietly handles these “details” in the background, so the trips go smoothly.

Andres currently lives on the outskirts of Quito with his wife and teenage daughter, who share his love for adventure and the outdoors. When he is not busy, we often see Andres reading some scholarly book on bird taxonomy, or anthropology, for fun!

During our 9-day Galapagos program, travelers protect the sea life and biodiversity around San Cristobal and Isla Isabela. They conduct a sea turtle census and preservation program. We also visit various sites, such as the Science-University of San Francisco, Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, natural freshwater lakes, secluded bays, and beaches. In Isabela, we continue our sea turtle census and hike to Sierra Negra, exploring the landscapes and wildlife.

Another Reason we Love Galapagos

There is another reason we love the Galapagos Islands. Straddling the equator, this area offers excellent opportunities to see constellations and stars from both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere! During parts of the year, you can see the Big Dipper and the Southern Cross at the same time.

We promise you will have a distinctive, unforgettable, enjoyable experience in the Galápagos Islands. Our trips also contribute to the preservation of this special place. Much of the credit belongs to our knowledgeable local guide, Andres.