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Special Registration Rate! Monongahela National Forest, WV – Volunteer Vacation 2024

September 22 @ 5:00 pm - September 28 @ 10:00 am

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USE CODE: 2024MonongahelaNFVV for a special registration fee of $250 thanks to grant funding received for this project. To register at this price please select “First Trip of the Year” registration cost. Additional trip discount not available for this special rate.

Located on the eastern side of West Virginia, Monongahela National Forest is home to some of the most diverse plants, wildlife and fish in the region. This 920,000-acre forest provides visitors with scenic vistas, flowing streams and abundant plant and wildlife.

On this project, volunteers will work in Big Draft Wilderness to restore tread, brush overgrown vegetation and remove slough and berm to improve the Blue Bend Loop Trail. There are various segments of this trail that require work, varying from less than 50 yards to several hundred yards. The project is within a Congressionally designated wilderness so use of hand tools is 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. Volunteers will be staying at the Blue Meadow Group Camping area which is within 500 yards of trailhead. Volunteers can hike or drive to the parking lot for the trailhead.

During this trip, Monongahela National Forest’s average high temperature is 74°, and average low temperature is 52°.

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.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Moneton, S’atsoyaha (Yuchi), and Shawandasse Tula (Shawanwaki/Shawnee) peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, their deep and sacred connection to these lands, and those who continue to steward these lands today. We offer this land acknowledgement as the first of many steps to stand as an ally and amplify Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to join us through continued efforts to support Indigenous communities and learn more about the history of the lands on which we live, work and recreate.

Click here for a PDF of trip details.

Host

US Forest Service

Accommodations

Car Camping Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Volunteers will be staying at the Blue Meadow Group Camping area which is within 500 yards of trailhead. Volunteers can hike or drive to the parking lot for the trailhead.

Project Rating

Moderate

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

10

Area and Attractions

The Monongahela National Forest is located in the Allegheny Highlands. The project area is located adjacent to Anthony Creek which is a stocked trout stream as well as the Greenbrier River that in addition to fishing opportunities is popular with kayakers and canoeing enthusiasts. The Greenbrier River Trail is within a mile of the project site and is a great rail trail for bicyclists. The Greenbrier Resort is within 15 minutes of the project site. Lewisburg is 20 minutes from the site and was named "Coolest Small Town in America". Both White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg offer fine dining establishments, antique shops, a distillery, two microbreweries, tours of the Greenbrier Resort, golf, and Civil War history.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will stay in 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 items like iPhones 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.

Travel

Greenbrier Valley Airport in Lewisburg, West Virginia is the closest major airport. Airport pick up and drop off is available for volunteers and will be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.
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