Help Build the Appalachian Trail! (Session 4)

Save to Favorites

The Mid-Atlantic Crew basecamp is located near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The Crew works on large-scale projects along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) during the fall of each year. Projects take place anywhere from Rockfish Gap in Virginia to the New York-Connecticut border. Join the crew and help to transform the Trail while working alongside a welcoming team of fellow volunteers and professional trail staff.

Read a complete volunteer position description for Mid-Atlantic Crew Members: https://appalachiantrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-MidACrew-Vol-PD-.pdf.

More detailed information will be provided during the application process. You can also learn more about Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew here: https://appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/volunteer/trail-crews/mid-atlantic-trail-crew/

This crew session will begin on Thursday, September 19 (starting at 5 p.m.) and finish on Tuesday, September 24 (ending around 6 p.m.). On the morning of Friday, September 20 the Crew will pack up and travel from basecamp to the project work site.

The Crew will continue work on the rehabilitation of a switchback on the A.T. at the base of the climb from the Susquehanna River to the top of Peters Mountain, near Duncannon, Pennsylvania. The work will primarily involve wood timber crib wall construction, but may also include tread definition, side hill tread construction or stone step installation. The crew will tent about 45 minutes from the project site, which is only a few hundred feet from road access.

The following resources will be provided to volunteers:

• Shuttles to and from the airport/bus/train station closest to basecamp, provided upon request.
• Transportation from basecamp to the project.
• Transportation from the field camp to the work site.
• Room.
• Three meals a day (with lots of snacks!), including a welcome and thank you dinners.
• All cooking/kitchen equipment at the project site.
• Loaner camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, daypack, water bottles, etc.) if needed.
• All trail work tools, gear, and PPE (gloves, glasses, hardhat).
• Training and leadership guidance throughout the week.

Volunteers are expected to provide the following:

• Appropriate work clothes (long pants, clothes you don’t mind getting dirty).
• Personal camping equipment if desired.
• A willingness to work hard within personal capabilities.
• An ability to follow crew staff instruction and example.
• A great attitude and being open to meeting new trail crew friends!

Volunteers are expected to arrive at basecamp on the start date between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for crew introductions and orientation. Dinner will be provided at 6 p.m., and afterwards, the crew will have a safety talk before wrapping up for the evening.

Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Crew. Volunteer who are 16 years old, must have a parent/guardian accompany the volunteer during the crew week. Volunteers who are 17 years old need a parent/guardian to sign a release form prior to the work week (the parent/guardian does not need to accompany the volunteer).