Volunteer

To keep the trail open and hiker-friendly, we might do any of the following on a work day:

Repair the pathway or tread with hoes, Pulaskis, shovels and rakes.

Cut back brush and annual growth with swing blades (required in Wilderness Areas) or gas-powered brushcutters, loppers and pruning shears.

Remove downed trees, (blowdowns) with crosscut saws (in Wilderness Areas) or chain saws in national forests.

Remove branches and sticks by dragging off trail, with rakes — or simply by picking them up and throwing them off the trail.  There’s a job for everyone!

Repair water diversions with rakes, hoes and shovels.

Blaze the trail – the trail is marked with white diamond blazes painted on trees.

Although chainsaw and crosscut saw work requires skilled, certified personnel; most trail work requires simple hard work and young people as well as senior citizens can participate.

To start with, you could cut back brush along the trail with loppers or pruning shears. If you are comfortable with a hoe and shovel you could help repair the path (tread). Our goal is to find the right job for everyone and to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable day.

You’ll want to watch two videos prepared by the National Forest Service. They are dated, but the information shared is relevant today.

Introduction to Volunteering 

Basic Trail Maintenance Introductory 

Tasks will vary in their degree of intensity, but it can be demanding work. Volunteers need to be prepared to carry tools as well as their personal gear as they hike to and from the work area.

Some work areas are near the trailhead but others may require volunteers to hike five miles or more. When possible, those not interested in a long hike will be assigned tasks near the trailhead.

No doubt it’s being on the trail with a great bunch of people — always making new friends and learning new skills. It’s hard work, but it’s healthy and gives you a good workout. In addition, it is so satisfying to give back, and, as our motto says, “….leaving a path for generations to follow.”

Yes, we welcome them. They need to agree to follow all safety guidelines. If they do, we’ll definitely keep them busy.

Bring a daypack, a minimum of two liters of water, a lunch / snacks, gloves and wear good sturdy shoes or hiking boots (mid-height are fine) and long pants.

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association provides helmets and tools.

Teams go out the second Saturday of every month in Georgia.

In Tennessee / North Carolina, we go out on the fourth Saturday of every month.

(Except November and December. In those months, Tennessee / North Carolina work days are scheduled for the third Saturday due to the holidays).

The only reason we would cancel or reschedule is:  the weather … when safety becomes an issue.

Sign Up for news, updates and announcements from the Benton MacKaye Trail Association or:

Go to Facebook Benton MacKaye Trail Association and “like” and “follow” us.

Go to Facebook Benton MacKaye Trail Maintenance and “like” and “follow” us.

Go to Facebook Benton MacKaye Trail Hikers, and click on “+ Join Group” to become a member.

Membership dues and donations help to cover the cost of tool replacement, construction materials, training and other conservation efforts on the Benton MacKaye Trail.

You can become a member today – $15 for a student, $15 for retired; $20 for an individual, $30 for a family and $50 for a business / corporation. Go to this link: MEMBERSHIP.

Depending on the planned work / the number of volunteers and conditions, the work starts between 9:00 and 9:30 AM and usually runs ‘til 3:00 — 5:00 PM.

In Georgia, we commonly meet at a local restaurant for a quick breakfast and some socializing before heading for the trail.

Due to the remoteness of many of the sections in Tennessee / North Carolina, folks regularly meet at the trailhead or at a landmark from which they carpool to the trailhead.

Experienced volunteers, many certified as Crew Leaders. All are certified in First Aid and have hundreds of hours of trail work under their belts. In addition, many are certified by the National Forest Service as crosscut and chainsaw sawyers.

The Benton MacKaye Trail Association will assist you in all stages of your training including:  first aid, chainsaw and crosscut saw certification as well as on the “job” orientation.

In addition to helping out on scheduled work days, you may be assigned to be the primary maintainer for a section of the trail.

Certainly not. There is always work clearing the trail, cleaning water bars and much more.

Yes! Safety is a priority for every crew leader. The entire crew receives a Safety Briefing at the beginning of every work day as well as a Job Hazard Analysis (what needs to be done and an advisory of any known issue(s) on the trail). In addition, you’ll need to sign a waiver of liability before you begin your day’s work.

Begin by reading these two documents.

What Are The Requirements of a Section Maintainer? And General Responsibilities of a Section Maintainer.

These documents answer all of your questions. After you have read them, contact the GA Maintenance Director or the TN-NCMaintDirector

Please do not bring any pets. Because swinging tools and moving objects are in use during the work day, pets can be a significant distraction — at risk of injury to themselves and a safety hazard for others.

If you are only 60, you’ll be one of the younger members of any crew. No matter your age or trail experience, there is a job for you. Join us soon!

Go to Volunteer, complete the Volunteer Interest Form and we’ll be in contact with you.

Absolutely!  We need volunteers to fill various positions requiring a wide range of skill sets and expertise.  If you have an hour a week or even an hour a month, we can put you to work.

Here is a list of opportunities you may find that better suits your skills and interest:

• Lead a sponsored Hike.
• “Reporters” for writing and submitting articles for newspapers, magazines, etc.
• Basic computer skills to help with record keeping.
• More advanced computer skills for maintaining databases in Microsoft Access.
• Special event volunteers to assist in in event planning and operation.
• Hosts for our booth at festivals.
• Retail experience to assist with Trail Store shipping and handling and customer correspondence.
• Graphic Design for laying out brochures and emails.
• Website maintenance.
• Editing and proofing.
• Drivers for shuttling work crews.
• Cooks for feeding our crews at the end of a work day.
• Photography and videography to cover work trips and events.
• Social Media for posting to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts

We know that your time and energy are extremely valuable. Our goal is to provide you with the opportunity to be able to use your skills and expertise to pursue your passions — not only to better the Benton MacKaye Trail, but also to enrich your own life. We want your volunteer experience to be both fulfilling and memorable.

Go to Volunteer, complete the Volunteer Interest Form and we’ll be in contact with you.

As sections become available, Section Maintainers are appointed by the state Maintenance Director based on the following requirements:

• To be a BMTA member in good standing.
• To have read and absorbed the General Responsibilities for Section Maintainers and had any questions answered by the Maintenance Director or member of the relevant Maintenance Team.
• To either have attended at least two (2) monthly work trips (during at least one of which appropriate training takes place), or to have received individual training from a member of the Maintenance Team as assigned by the appropriate Maintenance Director.
• To have completed the Section Walk Training (SWT) with a member of the Maintenance Team. Once requirements one through three have been met, the Maintenance Director may temporarily assign a section to the individual — on a section available basis.
• The next step is for the new maintainer to do a SWT of his / her newly assigned section with a member of the Maintenance Team. Only when the SWT is completed and the work hours reported to the Maintenance Director by the Maintenance Team member will the assignment be finalized.

Temporary Assignments: At the discretion of the appropriate Maintenance Director, individuals who have met the first three (3) requirements above, but not yet the fourth, may be assigned a section on a temporary basis.

Questions? In Georgia contact the GA Maintenance Director and in Tennessee contact the TN/NC Maintenance Director.