How about challenging yet rewarding outdoor experiences that leave you with a great amount of personal satisfaction at the end of the day? If you have that desire come and join our "TEAM". As a Forest Service Volunteer on Team Conasauga, there are over 300 miles of trails that you can help put much TLC (trail loving care) back into for this precious resource. Volunteering gives you a chance to work side by side with our district employees and seasoned Volunteer Crew Leaders while learning more about places like the Cohutta Wilderness, the Pinhoti Trail and Georgia's distinctly different ridge and valley region located west of Dalton. Another plus is that you will enjoy the camaraderie of other people who share your love for the outdoors. The award-winning Conasauga Ranger District Forest Service Volunteer program works like this:

Volunteers work (work=fun here) as often as they like. Some come once or twice a year. Others once or twice a month. Our program runs year round. There is always something going on, always work to be done. Trail maintenance involves: clearing blown down trees and limbs, swingblading, trimming, water bar maintenance and construction to prevent erosion, campsite cleanup and rehabilitation, and more!

Every quarter the district has a "Working Weekend." Volunteers work with district employees on a Friday and Saturday overnight trip on larger trail projects. The district started this in December of 1990 and it has been a huge success. Volunteers come for either day but often end up there for the entire weekend.

Trail Volunteers also receive the prestigious U.S. Forest Service Region 8 Trail Volunteer patch and additional rocker patches as they build up hours along the way. These are earned after 40 hours on the trail.

First-time volunteers should print and fill out the Volunteer Agreement provided below.

To sign up or get more information, contact Ed Lang of the U.S. Forest Service in Chatsworth. Call: 706-695-6736, Ext. 118 or e-mail: elang@fs.fed.us

Current Schedule

• March 17, East Cowpen, meet at Rice Camp Trail Head - water bar/dip maintenance.

• April 14, Penitentiary Branch, meet at Dally Gap Trail Head - water bar/dip maintenance

• May 11-12, Working Weekend. Beech Bottom\Rice Camp - water bar/dip maintenance. Car camp at Cottonwood Patch Campground.

• June 2, National Trails Day. Dry Creek - various maintenance needs.

• July 14, East Cowpen - slingblading. Meet at Rice Camp Trail Head.

• Aug 17-18, Working Weekend. East Cowpen - Slingblading. Car camp at Jacks River Fields.

• Sept 15, Rough Ridge - slingblading. Meet at Three Forks Trail Head.

• Nov 16-17, Working Weekend. Tearbritches\Chestnut Lead - water bar\dip maintenance. Car camping at The Ballfield.

• Clear undergrowth and trim tree branches and bushes that have overgrown the trail right-of-way. Our tools include loppers, pruning saws and slingblades.

• Build and maintain waterbars or berms to divert rainwater from the trail. Our tools include pulaskis, fire rakes and shovels.

• Clear trees that have fallen on the trail right-of-way using crosscut saws within the wilderness and power saws elsewhere.

• Restore backcountry campsites using shovels and pulaskis.

Volunteers must have a Volunteer Agreement on file with the Forest Service before doing any work. The agreement basically states that you are working for the good of mankind, not for pay, and provides protections for both you and the Forest Service should something unfortunate happen. Use the link below to view a copy of the agreement, print it and fill out the appropriate areas on page 1 (items 1,2,6,7,8,9). Your completed form should be mailed to:

Larry Thomas, Operations Team Leader
Conasauga Ranger District
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests
3941 Hwy 76
Chatsworth, GA 30705

Phone: 706 / 695-6736 Ext. 103

Get Volunteer Agreement