Volunteer Vacation - Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia Trail Maintenance

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Recruiting Organization: American Hiking Society

Join American Hiking Society for a week of building & maintaining trails in exciting locations across the country. Volunteer Vacations foster public land stewardship and provide volunteers the opportunity to give back to the trails they love, meet new people, and have a great time doing it! Crews consist of 6-15 volunteers accompanied by a crew leader. Volunteer Vacations involve backpacking or day hiking and accommodations vary from primitive campsites to bunkhouses or cabins. Tools and supervision are provided by the host agency or organization. Experience nature up close. Travel to new destinations. Meet other outdoor enthusiasts. Take a vacation that nourishes your body & your spirit. Get Out. Give Back.

Project Specifics: Monongahela National Forest provides visitors with scenic vistas, country roads, flowing streams and abundant plant and animal life. It was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States. Elevations range from just under 1,000 feet to 4,863 feet above sea level. Monongahela National Forest is a working forest providing timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities.

On this trip, volunteers will work on tread restoration, building rolling dips, and removing berm to out slope tread on segments of the Blue Bend Loop Trail located in the Big Draft Wilderness on the Monongahela National Forest. There are various segments of this trail that require work varying from less than 50 feet to several hundred yards. The project is within a Congressionally designated wilderness so use of hand tools required. Tools including Pulaskis, fire rakes, shovels, rock bars, adze hoe, Mcloud, soil tamper, and gravel bags will be used and provided by the Forest Service. Forest Service staff will provide a safety briefing and training prior to crew engaging in work.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the S’atsoyaha (Yuchi) and Moneton peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, and those who continue to steward these lands today. AHS invites all volunteers to join us in our commitment to support and amplify the work of Indigenous communities as they work to dismantle the systems of oppression that these communities continue to face today.

Accommodations: Volunteers will stay in a campsites with picnic tables, campfire combination grills/fire rings, lantern posts, and parking spurs. There is a toilet/shower building with hot showers and flush toilets. Drinking water is available at the campground. There are two picnic shelters at the campground, a playground, swimming area, and fishing area all within walking distance of campsites. The campsites can accommodate tents and/or camping RVs. There are no electric hookups, but electricity for charging iPhones, etc. can be arranged at the picnic shelter area or campground host site. Volunteers need to supply their own tent and personal camping gear including sleeping bag, towels, and personal cup/bowl/mug/eating utensils. Please contact volunteer@americanhiking.org for assistance with gear needs.

Trip Cost: $350 per person

Volunteer Experience: While trips do not require prior trail maintenance experience, all of our projects require participants to be in good physical condition and will involve 30-40 hours of physical labor during the week.

Find More Information & Register Here: https://americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacation-trip/monongahela-national-forest-volunteer-vacations-2022/

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee Required

Fee Amount: 350.00

This opportunity is recurringFalse