Keeper for
the Week
Program

A Unique Volunteer Vacation

Links to keeper information and forms:

Introduction - Become our "Keeper For a Week"

Apartment layout and Occupancy Information

Keeper Programs (Regular and Tax-Deductible)

Health Requirements

Fees, Deposits & Cancellation Policy

Availability Calendar  2008   2009 (check for recent cancellations)

Keeper Application Form

Guidelines for FULL TIME Keepers (to qualify for a deductible contribution)

Light-house-keeping Rules

Contact Us

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Insurance (Recommended for reservations made more than 1 yr in advance)

 

Reservations:

Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation
Tel: 401-847-4242

Become our "Keepers For A Week" at the Rose Island Lighthouse for the most rewarding volunteer vacation of your life!

This isn't an inn. It's not a B&B.
It's an operating lighthouse where YOU become the keeper!

If you have dreamed of being a lighthouse keeper and are looking for a rewarding "working vacation," we may be able to make your dreams come true! During the last 10 years, we have met some wonderful people who invested their time, their skills and their love to become part of the history of this very special island lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island.

 KEEPER PROGRAMS

How they began
The Rose Island Lighthouse has been maintained by volunteer weekly keepers since it was restored in 1993. In the early days, our keepers spent a few hours each day doing daily record keeping, seasonal maintenance chores, and cleaning. They also enjoyed a significant amount of "vacation" time for relaxation, reading, and such. We still offer this "Keeper-Vacation" experience.

Every once-in-a-while our keepers would stay busy with a special project for 6-8 hrs per day.  At the end of their week they had a log of their time, photographs of their work, and we gave them a letter acknowledging the full amount of their program fee as a contribution, since RILF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In addition, they were able to claim some, or all, of their out-of-pocket expenses for the week as a charitable donation (including travel and food, but not the value of their time). We now formally offer this option as the "Full-Time Keeper" program.

We are grateful to the hundreds of keepers who have maintained the lighthouse since 1993 and we look forward to seeing some of you come back to help with our next major project -- the restoration of Fort Hamilton, including the NW circular bastion and the barracks (pictured here)!

Term of Duty - ALL KEEPERS:

Your week as Lighthouse Keepers runs from 10:00 AM Sunday to 10:00 AM the following Sunday. It begins with a two-hour orientation by our staff who review your traditional responsibilities and specific projects with you, then they will leave you to get settled and let everything sink in.... at this point you are officially the keepers of the Rose Island Lighthouse!  Your first official duty will be to take the flag down at sunset.

Your daily duties start about 7:30 AM when you listen to the marine weather on the VHF radio. At 8 AM your rounds begin by raising the flag (you will lower it at sunset). Next you will record and manage our NOAA cooperative weather station, wind-powered electric system, and rainwater gathering system. You'll make sure the lighthouse is clean and presentable for the day, will greet visitors and overnighters in the museum, and will collect money from the landing fee boxes and gift shop at the end of the day.

Make your reservations now for one of these keeper programs:

1. Regular Keeper Vacation Week
   Every day each person will devote 1-2 hours to lighthouse keeping chores, responsibilities and maintenance projects. The balance of the day is yours to pursue relaxation, recreational and other vacation activities.

2. Full Time Keeper Week (Tax-Deductible)
   If you have skills we need and you are willing to work 6-8 hours for 5 days of the week, then you can be our Full Time Keeper of the Week.  We'll do our best to match your skills with our projects to maintain the Rose Island Light Station and to restore and renovate the magnificent 200-year-old structures of Fort Hamilton.
        To be eligible, you must contact us IN ADVANCE and fill out an application. During your week you must keep a written log of your time and take before-and-after photographs of your work. Make two copies and send one to us so we can generate an official letter acknowledging your contribution.
        Besides having an incredible feeling of accomplishment at the end of your week you'll also have a tax-deduction for all your out of pocket expenses for travel, meals, and the Keeper fee you pay to RILF. (See your tax advisor and IRS Publication 526 Charitable Contributions, pages 4-6 to evaluate your deductible expenses.)

Keeper Application Form

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Your safety is in YOUR OWN hands, since you're on an island reachable only by boat. Therefore, we rely on you to be the best judge of your abilities as well as your limitations and to take necessary precautions, and to bring your medications, etc. So if you have asthma that gets triggered when the grass is mowed, for example, you want to think twice before making your reservation in the summer!

Specifically, it is important for us to know if you or anyone in your party has any restrictions on your activities, or if you have limited mobility due to injuries, joint replacement, morbid obesity or other reason. Getting onto and off of boats is a necessary part of this adventure.

ALL WEEKLY KEEPERS are advised to have health / accident insurance and an up-to-date tetanus shot.

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WEEKLY KEEPER PROGRAM FEES

Effective 2/1/07 - NEW PRICING FOR 2007-2008