35 TO 50 VOLUNTEERS WILL MAKE QUICK WORK OF
FALL BRANCH BRIDGE PROJECT
OBJECTIVE: One bridge down, the big one now to come. Over the first weekend in October, October 5, 6 ,7 the STA will once again team up with staff from the Big South Fork NRRA to take down and rebuild the 80 foot bridge on the Trace at Fall Branch. The current bridge collapsed on one end over a year ago. Funds have been raised - THANKS TO OUR DEDICATED MEMBERS AND FRIENDS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS - materials on order, now all we need is another great turnout of volunteers. Registration is now open.
HELP: Our work on the first bridge project on Rock Creek was completed a day ahead of schedule. Thanks to the efforts of 34 volunteers. Now we are looking at a bridge almost twice as long, and a half mile further up the Trace from Leatherwood Ford. So, in order to have the same result, we hope to have 35 to 50 volunteers on hand for this bridge effort.
CAMP SHELTOWEE: Thanks again to the staff of the BSFNRAA, we have reserved sites in the Bandycreek Campground for Friday and Saturday night. This is prime "fall colors" season so all the spots in the campground will soon fill up. Our base of operation will be at the swimming pool parking lot and the picnic shelter there at the pool. Sorry the pool will not be open - a little cool for the pool. Camping is free to volunteers. Please register to secure your campsite by September 15th. After that and we cannot guarantee your place. There are showers and water at the campsites. Meals will be provided on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday thru lunch if required. The "Event Registration" form has a place to let us know which meals you will attend or if you are preparing your own food.
WORK TIMES: Participants who come in on Friday night will be shuttled starting at 7:30 the 5 miles to the work site at Leatherwood Ford on Saturday morning. Volunteers who plan on arriving on Saturday morning should go directly to Leatherwood Ford trail head and park in the designated area. Volunteers are needed on Friday afternoon after 4:30 to set up the STA camp and to set up the assembly area at the work site.
REMEMBER: Your assistance is needed on Saturday primarily. You can work on Saturday only or Sunday only or both days. The Event Registration Form has a place to designate when you will arrive and when you will leave. If all goes as planned, on Sunday we will only need a limited number of volunteers to wrap up the work, clean up the site (LEAVE NO TRACE) and head home. The registration form has a place for you to let us know when you are coming and when your are planning to work. If you are unable to carry or move heavy loads or hike in and out there are still volunteer jobs at camp and the work site you can do.
TOOLS: The STA will provide tools as needed. We are looking for garden wagons with removable sides and wheel barrels which we hope to use transporting the old materials out to the staging area. Participants should bring their own gloves - a limited supply will be available from the STA. Hard hats are required in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. The STA will provide them.
SIGN UP - REGISTRATION - RELEASE FORMS: Each participant is required to complete. If you worked on the Rock Creek Bridge project and completed the National Park Service Volunteer Agreement and the STA Release of Liability, you do not have to complete them again. Each volunteer is required to complete the online "Event Registration Form" which you can access HERE.
The Big South Fork Volunteer Registration form (Word Format) (CLICK HERE)
(PDF Format) (CLICK HERE)
The STA requires all volunteers to sign a Release of Liability.
Download (Adult Word Format) (CLICK HERE)
Download (Adult PDF Format) (CLICK HERE)
Download (Minor PDF Format) (Click HERE)
In order to have enough supplies for camp, materials on hand at the job site, please help us by declaring your intentions to participate in this work weekend.
Copies of these forms will be available at the camp and worksite.
Personal RV's and Campers are welcome WITH A LIMITED NUMBER IN THE GROUP SITE. You should go online NOW - NOW and make your reservation separate for a site in the Bandy Creek Campground.
Please leave your pets at home as there is no place for them at the work site where they would be out of the way and Big South Fork regulations require them to be on a lease at all times.
Volunteers should dress for the elements. Hiking boots or trail shoes are required. All workers at the bridge site involved in the actual build are required to wear a hard hat which will be provided by the STA. Please bring gloves and a small pack for your lunch and water bottle or bladder. Make sure your name is on your gear so that someone doesn't inadvertently grab the wrong gear. There will be water at the site. All trash MUST be carried out as you leave. This is a LEAVE NO TRACE work site. Ticks are a present problem so please treat your clothing and yourself for bugs and ticks.
There is a 2.0 mile hike into the work site. We hope to have enough volunteers so we can position you at the 1/4 mile mark and you will move materials only a quarter mile.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES: In conjunction with the work weekend, on Friday night and Saturday night the STA will hold our required annual membership meeting. These short sessions will be used to elect a new slate of Directors, hear reports on the successes and challenges of the current year and plans for 2019.
On Saturday afternoon, if we finish work early or if we finish on Sunday and you wish to break off and go take a hike in the woods, we support your decision and can help direct you toward the Trace or one of the loop trails near Bandy Creek or Leatherwood.