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South Cumberland State Park, TN – Volunteer Vacations 2023

August 27, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - September 2, 2023 @ 10:00 am

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Come build a new trail in the beautiful setting of the Cumberland Plateau! The work will be physically demanding, exhilarating, sweat-inducing, memory-making, rewarding, and just plain fun! With instruction by master trail builders, participants will learn how to read the land, plan with maps, cut tread, properly use tools, build stone steps, and more.

Volunteers will hike from their lodging to the daily project work. The hike from accommodations to the work site could be up to a mile on either completed trail, old logging roads, or on rocky, angled slopes. Elevation change is 200 feet.

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 ᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Cherokee, East), Chikashsha I̠yaakni’ (Chickasaw), 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.

Host

South Cumberland State Park

Accommodations

Cabin/Lodge

Hiking/Access

Day hiking up to 1 mile each work day.

Project Rating

Difficult

Minimum Volunteer Age

16

Maximum Group Size

15

Area and Attractions

This park is in the southern Cumberland Plateau region of Tennessee. This is a forested plateau that is dissected by 1,000 ft gorges. The gorges, locally known as "gulfs" or "coves" are rimmed with sandstone cliffs with numerous limestone caves in the lower elevations and seasonal waterfalls throughout. There are no shortages of outdoor recreational activities in the area, which include hiking, caving, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, bird watching, and Sunday driving. The Location is an hour from Chattanooga, TN and an hour and a half from both Nashville, TN and Huntsville, AL

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will stay in a large cabin with full kitchen, master bed/bath, living room with half bath, 2 bunk rooms each with their own bathroom that can both sleep up to 8. The cabin has a grill, washer/dryer, wifi, and front and back porches.

Travel

Nashville International Airport in Nashville, TN is the closest airport. Airport pick up and drop off is not available and volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to and from the project location. Carpooling can be arranged upon confirmation of the project.

Location

South Cumberland State Park
301 Lois Lane, Sherwood, TN 37375 United States + Google Map
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