Needs From: Volunteer East Tennessee

TCWP will sponsor a day of trail maintenance work at Whites Creek Small Wild Area in Rhea County at 10 a.m.  January 10, as part of our ongoing stewardship activities for this TVA Small Wild Area trail. The trail loops onto land that TCWP purchased from Bowater several years ago, thanks to the generous support of our members. Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves, loppers, and small bow saws or folding  saws. Some hand tools will be available at the event. Please be sure to bring clothing appropriate for the weather, as well as water, snacks, and/or a lunch. 

Participants can meet for carpooling or caravanning in Oak Ridge at the Gold’s Gym/Books-A-Million parking lot in Oak Ridge (at the end, close to S. Illinois Avenue, near Salsarita’s). We’ll leave Oak Ridge at 9 a.m., or volunteers can join the crew at the trailhead at 10 a.m. We plan to spend three or four hours at the site, but volunteers may come and go as they wish. If the weather is uncooperative—excessive rain, or snow and ice—we will reschedule for the following Saturday. 

Sign up here: https://forms.gle/oCK7f6sumfAec3pa6

If you RSVP it helps with planning and allows contacting in case of cancellation. Phone/email: Jimmy Groton,  865-805-9908, groton87@comcast.net. 

On February 14, a day of trail work and hiking will take place on the 2.5-mile section of the Cumberland Trail at the Obed Wild and Scenic River between Nemo Picnic Area and Alley Ford, adopted by TCWP in 1998.  

Participants should dress appropriately for winter weather, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring work gloves, loppers, small bow saws or folding saws, shovels, and grubbing tools, as well as a lunch and plenty of water. Cumberland Trail State Park personnel will also make some tools available at the event.

Participants can meet for carpooling in Oak Ridge at the Gold’s Gym/Books-A-Million parking lot (meet at the end close to S. Illinois Avenue, near Salsarita’s) in time to leave Oak Ridge at 9 a.m. Eastern, or can join the crew at Nemo Picnic Area or Rock Creek Campground at 10 a.m.  We expect to return to the trailhead around 3 p.m. (NOTE: If the weather is uncooperative—excessive rain, snow, or ice—we will reschedule for the following Saturday.)

Participants will need to sign a National Park Service volunteer form (parents’ or guardians' signature required for minors). Forms can be requested in advance from TCWP, or NPS representatives will have forms available at the event.

To sign up, click here: https://forms.gle/zpmcJYRMCdzam3ti7

If you RSVP, it helps with planning and allows contact in case of cancellation. The backup date due to bad weather will be February 21. Phone/email: Jimmy Groton, 865-805-9908, groton87@comcast.net.