Dates | Costs | Itineraries

Dates for 2006
    Project 1 Ocho Rios:    September 22nd - October 9th
    Project 2 Negril:           October 13th - Octover 30th

When can I go?      One week or two?
Volunteers may sign up for either one or two week blocks. Because the free rooms are limited in number and we have specific agreements with Sandals, our sponsor, we are limited in meeting each volunteers personal check-in and check-out preferences. Keep in mind that weekends are mostly free time, so the earlier you arrive and later you depart, the more "free-time" you will have at the resorts. If you want to arrive earlier or leave later than the schedules below you will have to pay for any extra charges and you will coordinate directly with Sandals.

Project One - Ocho Rios
September 22nd - October 9th

If you are going for two weeks:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport any time between Friday Sept. 22 and Sat. Sept 23 by 3pm.
      - Depart anytime between Sat. Oct. 7 and Monday Oct. 9

 If you are going for one week:
     Week 1:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport any time between Friday Sept. 22 and Sat. Sept 23 by 3pm.
      - Depart Sat. Sept. 30.
     Week 2:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport on Sat. Sept. 30th by 3pm.
      - Depart anytime between Sat. Oct. 7 and Monday Oct. 9

Project Two - Negril
October 13th - October 30th

If you are going for two weeks:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport any time between Friday Oct. 13 and Sat. Oct. 14 by 3pm.
      - Depart anytime between Sat. Oct. 28 and Monday Oct. 30.

 If you are going for one week:
     Week 1:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport any time between Friday Oct. 13 and Sat. Oct. 14 by 3pm.
      - Depart Sat. Oct. 21.
     Week 2:
      - Arrive at MBJ airport on Sat. Oct. 21 by 3pm.
      - Depart anytime between Sat. Oct. 28 and Monday Oct. 30.

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Trip Costs For Each Volunteer
1). Project Fee is $400*.
2). Airfare & misc. paid by volunteer. Prices have varied from $300 to $800** 3). Hotel, Food, Drink and Resort Amenities are all provided Free***
4). You can offset some or all of your project fee and airfare with our Sponsor A Smile fundraising campaign. Find out how.

Project Fees*
The project fee helps pay for shipping 10,000 pounds of supplies and equipment, in-country ground transportation, government fees, and other general project expenses. This year's project will cost nearly $50,000. Project fees are payable by check to: Great Shape! Inc. and mailed to: 1141 Fell Street San Francsico, CA 94117

Airfare**
Airfare is coordinated and purchased by each volunteer unless assistance is requested. All volunteers must provide a copy of the flight itinerary to Great Shape one month prior the beginning date of the first project.

Accomodations***
Sandals Resorts International is a major donor and partner to this project, providing over $200,000 in free four diamond all-inclusive accommodations to our volunteers. All food, drink and other ammenities are also included free as part of your particiapation. The number of these free rooms are limited, so in most cases you will share with two other volunteers.

Sponsor A Smile
Each volunteer is asked to help us raise money for the project while helping to offset their own project fees and more. Click here to read about how this very important part of your participation can help the kids of Jamaica while supporting you as the care giver.

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Project Itineraries

Project 1: Ocho Rios      September 22nd - October 9th

  • Fri. Sept. 22nd/Sat. Sept 23rd: by 5pm Sat. Sept. 23rd all volunteers have arrived for the first week or two weeks of project one.
  • Sat. Sept. 23rd 7pm - 9pm: After dinner, there is a general "Getting To Know You" orientation.
  • Sun. Sept. 24th 9am - 12 noon: General orientation for the project.
  • Mon Sept 25th - Fri. Sept. 29th: 7:30-8:00am breakfast meetings; 8:15 shuttles depart for clinics; 9:00am work begins in the clinics; 5:00pm work is finished in the clinics; 6:00pm back to the hotel for food, swim, relax, etc.
  • Sat. Sept. 30th/Sun Oct. 1st: One week volunteers leave and arrive. Weekend is free time for all volunteers (Yeah!). Usually, some outting to the countryside is planned, such as to Bob Marley's birthplace in Nine Miles (really cool!).
  • Mon Oct. 2nd- Thursday Oct. 5th: 7:30-8:00am breakfast meetings; 8:15 shuttles depart for clinics; 9:00am work begins in the clinics; 5:00pm work is finished in the clinics; 6:00pm back to the hotel for food, swim, relax, etc.
  • Friday Oct. 6th: 1/2 day clinic work and clean up/pack up clinic sites the equipment and supplies can be moved to the west end of Jamaica.
  • Sat. Oct. 7th: 1/2 day of packing and organizing 10am-1pm, rest of the day is free.
  • Sun Oct. 8th - Monday Oct. 9th: Free days/Depart

Project 2: Negril      October 13 - October 30th

  • Fri. Oct. 13th/Sat. Oct. 14th: by 5pm Sat.all volunteers have arrived for the first week or two weeks of project two.
  • Sat. Oct. 14th 7pm - 9pm: After dinner, there is an general "Getting To Know You" orientation.
  • Sun. Oct. 15th 9am - 12 noon: General orientation for the project.
  • Mon. Oct 16th - Fri. Oct. 20th: 7:30-8:00am breakfast meetings; 8:15 shuttles depart for clinics; 9:00am work begins in the clinics; 5:00pm work is finished in the clinics; 6:00pm back to the hotel for food, swim, relax, etc.
  • Sat. Oct. 21st/Sun Oct. 22nd: One week volunteers leave and arrive. Weekend is free time for all volunteers (Yeah!). Usually, some outting to the countryside is planned, such as to YS Falls (really cool!).
  • Mon Oct. 23rd- Thursday Oct.26th: 7:30-8:00am breakfast meetings; 8:15 shuttles depart for clinics; 9:00am work begins in the clinics; 5:00pm work is finished in the clinics; 6:00pm back to the hotel for food, swim, relax, etc.
  • Friday Oct. 27th: 1/2 day clinic work and then clean up/pack up clinic sites the equipment and supplies can be moved to the west end of Jamaica.
  • Sat. Oct. 28th: 1/2 day of packing and organizing 10am-1pm, rest of the day is free.
  • Sun Oct. 29th - Monday Oct. 30th: Free days/Depart

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