Location: Mammoth Cave, KY
Strenuous. ~5 mile daily hikes
Front country: TBD; either structured housing or designated campground.
This is a leader training project. Come along for a week of trail rehabilitation, cemetery maintenance, cave restoration, road & river cleanups, & assisting NPS sawyers!
This project is sponsored by Curtis Mobley and Ann Kruse in appreciation of their many years of leading WV projects.
Service Project Details
Please review our Cancellation and Refund Policy carefully. By applying to a project, you acknowledge and accept these terms.
Receive leader training for future Wilderness Volunteers projects during this project. We are specifically looking for people who are comfortable and competent in outdoor settings, are people-oriented, and feel a strong sense of giving something back. Like a typical project, we’ll conduct four days of service work and a free day with leadership topics covered around the work project and basecamp. Participants will learn about planning and cooking for groups, working with the agencies, managing risks, teaching Leave No Trace, and more.
Once you’ve completed this leadership course, you will be eligible to co-lead Wilderness Volunteers projects around the country. After you’ve led your first trip, you’ll also be eligible for a refund of your Leader Training project fee. Volunteer leaders do not pay trip fees on trips they are leading and receive modest reimbursement for travel to the projects they staff.
Our volunteer crew will work alongside Mammoth Cave National Park staff to assist with trail rehabilitation, cemetery maintenance, cave restoration, road and river cleanups, and clearing downed trees. The primary focus will be on improving trail safety, water drainage, reducing soil erosion, protecting natural resources, and maintaining historical sites. Additional projects could include signage, accessibility work, historical preservation, and more. This is a great project for folks who are flexible and like a variety of work!
Project accommodations will be front country and are to be determined (either at the Maple Springs Volunteer Group Housing facility or the Maple Springs Campground).
Project Leaders: Aidalicia Swertfeger and Bill Goolsby
Agency Website
Check out the photo gallery from the previous Mammoth Cave National Park project.
Itinerary:
Sunday, May 31st. The Volunteer group meets at midday at a time/place TBD. The group will go through check-in, introductions, orientation, and will help set up at the housing facility in preparation for the work week ahead.
Monday, June 1st. Workday.
Tuesday, June 2nd. Workday.
Wednesday, June 3rd. Day off.
Thursday, June 4th. Workday.
Friday, June 5th. Workday.
Saturday, June 6th. Clean up the housing facility, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Park City, KY
Nearest Airports
Bowling Green-Warren County Airport (BWG) – ~35 miles away
Nashville International Airport (BNA) – ~98 miles away
Louisville International Airport (SDF) – ~88 miles away
Free Time Details
Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The park’s 52,830 acres with 85 miles of surface trails located primarily in Edmonson County, with small areas extending eastward into Hart and Barren counties. The Green River runs through the park, with a tributary called the Nolin River feeding into the Green just inside the park providing 30 miles of winding waterways. Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system with more than 420 miles of surveyed passageways.
Mammoth Cave National Park lies halfway between two major metropolitan cities Nashville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky (approximately 100 miles from each city). All local communities have at least one restaurant available for dining opportunities, with diverse and international cuisine options. There are multiple recreational opportunities in the local communities and bigger cities as well that include: hiking, boating, paddling, swimming, zip-lining, caving, biking, horseback riding, skateboarding (bring your own skateboard), and bowling. Additionally, there are several museums in nearby communities to enjoy.
Accommodations
Front country. Specific accommodation to be forthcoming (either structured housing or tent camping in a designated campground)
Difficulty
Strenuous. ~5 mile daily hikes
Task Details
Bending, cutting, hauling, swinging, digging, pulling, throwing, lifting, etc.
Equipment List
View Equipment List