Hoosier Forest, College Town Memories, and Vibrant Arts, IN
July 26, 2026 - August 1, 2026
Trip Navigation
***Special Promotion*** All trip participants will receive a Fjällräven Kånken R backpack (valued at $100) generously donated by our good friends at Fjällräven. Made from recycled materials and ready for adventure!
Hoosier National Forest is located in Bloomington, Indiana. Bloomington is a college town located in southern Indiana and home to Indiana University. The area provides many hiking opportunities in the surrounding forests and state parks.
Volunteers will hike approximately 3-4 miles to sites along Pate Hollow and Hayes Trail and pull the invasive Japanese Stiltgrass. No previous knowledge is necessary, just your interest in learning and helping to keep the forests healthy. Project hosts have been collaborating with the Hoosier National Forest for 6 years and see a tremendous reduction in the Japanese Stiltgrass on the Pate Hollow and Hayes Trails. Volunteers should plan to start early in the morning, typically 8 o’clock, and pull until noon to break for lunch. If the weather isn’t too hot work will continue or volunteers will return to camp. It’ll be a joyous time of camaraderie and an uplifting sense of restoring the land to let the spring ephemerals blossom the following year.
There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.
Avg. Temperature:
Typical weather for this area during this season has highs of about 85–88°F and lows of 65–70°F. Late July in southern Indiana is hot and humid, with a strong chance of scattered afternoon or evening thunderstorms.
Sample Schedule:
Day 1: Arrival
Typically meet in the afternoon for check in, introductions, orientation, and camp setup. (Time/place TBD)
Day 2: Work Day
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, pack lunches, and be on the trail between 8 AM and 9 AM
Lunch and plenty of other breaks will be included.
Wrap up the work day in the late afternoon and head back to camp and enjoy a few hours of daylight for free time.
Reconvene at a chosen time for dinner.
After dinner has been cleaned up, evenings offer plenty of time to relax, sit around the campfire and get to know your fellow crew members, or enjoy more free time.
Day 3: Work Day
Day 4: Rest Day (Specific Day on Trip Will Be Confirmed By Host)
Your choice! Explore the area, take a recreational hike, tour local attractions, or hang out at camp. Group excursions can be planned or set-out on your own.
Day 5: Work Day
Day 6: Work Day
Day 7: Departure
Pack up and clean up, celebrate your accomplishments, wish each other a fond farewell, and depart. Please note: This schedule is subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. Any updates will be communicated to the group.
Land Acknowledgment:
AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Shawanwaki/Shawnee, Kickapoo, Kaskaskia, and Myaamia people past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these islands and mountain landscapes for countless generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This acknowledgement is one step in our ongoing commitment to uplift Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to learn about, support, and stand in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.
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