Participation in ACE represents a unique opportunity to share new learning experiences with people from other cultures while contributing substantially to the restoration of America's natural treasures. Please read the following list of frequently asked questions carefully to ensure that you understand the program well enough to take full advantage of the experience of volunteering with ACE.
How long can I volunteer for ?
How much money should I bring ?
How many days per week are the projects ?
What are the accommodations between projects ?
What are the accommodations during projects ?
Are there any physical requirements ?
Do I need any previous conservation experience ?
How long can I volunteer for ?
Individuals are welcome to volunteer with ACE anywhere from 12 weeks to 6 months or longer. (back to top)
What are the costs involved ?
To join ACE, everyone needs to pay the booking fee to their respective booking agency (see Registration). The only exception to this is Americans who apply directly and pay no fee for the 12 week program (see American Registration). ACE provides housing, transportation, tools etc., and food during work days. The minimum stay is 12 weeks. The volunteer pays for their insurance and travel expenses. We recommend that international volunteers who need an insurance contact www.overseashealth.com and American volunteers should contact www.bestshorttermplan.com(back to top)
What do I need to bring ?
These are items you MUST bring on every project:
- Sleeping bag (rated to WELL below the freezing point)
- Medium-large sized backpack (3,000 cubic inches/50 liters or larger)
- Thermarest or comparable sleeping pad
- Hiking boots or work boots (they must end above your ankles)
- Long pants (blue jeans or Carhartts)
- Water resistant rain jacket and rain pants (you MUST bring this on every project)
- TRAVELER'S HEALTH INSURANCE (You will not be permitted to volunteer without traveler's insurance)
- Pullover, sweatshirt and other warm clothing. Do not make the mistake of bringing only summer clothing unless you intend to buy warm clothes in Flagstaff
- Daypack (this means a smaller backpack to bring during your work days. You'll put your lunch, water and whatever else you'll need during the day in it)
Recommended Items:
- Polarized sunglasses
- Sports sandals (very reasonably priced in Flagstaff and invaluable on hiking excursions in canyons)
- Swimsuit
- Running shoes or tennis shoes
- Headlamp (makes camping at night much easier)
- Lunchbox (keeps your food fresh and intact)
Please keep in mind that you will have free time on the afternoon the day after your arrival to shop for camping supplies and personal items in Flagstaff. As a destination for outdoors enthusiasts, Flagstaff has several excellent stores selling camping equipment at very reasonable prices and it may be cheaper and easier for you to buy many of your camping supplies after your arrival in Arizona. (back to top)
How much money should I bring ?
This is our most common question and a difficult one to answer because most people have different spending habits. If you plan to cook in the house, don’t spend a lot of time buying drinks for friends in pubs, and don’t plan on taking a lot of road trips, you can easily get by on $50 per week. If you will rent cars and take road trips to places like Vegas, LA, San Diego, or San Francisco most off periods, count on spending closer to $150 per week. And if you spend a lot of times in bars, plan on at least $200 per week. This does not include initially purchasing your sleeping bag, backpacks, sleeping pad, work boots, etc. (back to top)
How many days per week are the projects ?
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 at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas (4.5 hours away by bus), Lake Mead, Lake Powell, San Francisco, relaxation and participation in cultural events. Please note that 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 on a different location than Flagstaff or Santa Cruz. ACE will help organize outings, lead group hikes in remote canyons, and organize cultural and educational events in order to help participants make the most of their time in Arizona and California. (back to top)
What are the accommodations between projects ?
Volunteers stay in either student apartments or one of the volunteer houses in Flagstaff or Santa Cruz, on days when they are not taking part in projects. The apartments have washer/dryer, and the houses have a laundromat just a few blocks away. Housing is communal, with up to 3 bunk beds per room and shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. This is where volunteers store the luggage they're not bringing on projects, such as suitcases and sport bags. There's also a safe in the office for passports, tickets and other smaller valuables. (back to top)
What are the accommodations during projects ?
Most projects are in remote locations and virtually all involve camping. Volunteers should bring warm sleeping bags and sleeping pads to use during projects. Most projects are in remote locations without any developed facilities such as showers or toilets. However, occassionally we stay at developed campgrounds with warm showers and pit toilets. (back to top)
Is food provided ?
Food is only provided on projects. When ACE volunteers are on projects they shop and cook with their teams, taking turns preparing meals for the group from their respective countries (this alone represents a sometimes comical, always rewarding, cultural exchange). (back to top)
Is there an age limit ?
Yes, we do not accept anyone under the age of 18. (back to top)
Can I choose my projects ?
Not exactly. ACE will assign volunteers to rotating projects each week. ACE offers a wide range of projects and volunteers will be rotated every 2-4 weeks, but you cannot choose your project. Since all ACE projects are outdoors and the weather can be unpredictable at any time of the year, project descriptions are always subject to change. Projects are dependent on weather, nesting and migrating seasons of native wildlife, immediate needs of project partners, etc. ACE volunteers should study the list of future projects to get a GENERAL idea of the type of situation they will be encountering, but should not expect these to be the exact projects. Friends and couples that come to ACE together should keep in mind that they cannot count on ending up on the same projects, or even have their days off at the same time. (back to top)
Are there any physical requirements ?
Projects will be in the outdoors in all types of weather. Extensive hiking is often involved, sometimes in extreme conditions such as elevations above 9,000 feet (3,000 meters), 100 degree heat, freezing temperatures, steep terrain, rainstorms, high winds, etc. 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 ACE volunteers although reasonable fitness is definitely a necessity. Due to the high elevations and the rigor of the tasks involved, ACE is NOT recommended for individuals with respiratory problems such as asthma. (back to top)
Do I need any previous conservation experience ?
Volunteers need no experience in practical conservation. 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. (back to top)
