Welcome Volunteers!
Instructions for Registering For Projects
STEP 1: Scroll through our list of projects. Click any of the photos or titles associated with the project to access its page. Read carefully about the dates, location, scope of work, degree of difficulty, vehicle requirements, and camping logistics.
STEP 2: If you are interested in volunteering, click the link that says “CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!” You will be re-directed to the project’s registration form. (If you are re-directed to a HistoriClub Early Access Page, this means the project is locked until the advanced access window for HistoriClub members is complete. If you would like advanced access to projects you can join HistoriClub.)
STEP 3: If you are a new volunteer, please fill out the required information on pages 1 and 2 of the registration form. (This will be standard for every registration form.) Returning volunteers will have the option to update their personal information and project preferences or skip ahead to registering for the project if no changes are desired.
STEP 4: Submit the form and look for a confirmation email of your submission. Next, sit tight! We’ll email you if you are accepted to the project!
HAVING DIFFICULTIES REGISTERING?: Contact us at volunteer@historicorps.org
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Cave Mountain Lake Pavilion, VA
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
April 28 – May 3, and May 5-10
Whelp, it looks like we’re heading back to Virginia and we couldn’t be more excited! Over twenty volunteers joined us in 2023, putting a sizable dent in the long list of tasks necessary to restore the Cave Mountain Lake Pavilion. Needless to say, we are itching to get back out there to finish the job. Featuring a public beach with access to fishing, nearly 30 campsites, and close proximity to the area’s most scenic geological tourist attraction, the Natural Bridge at Natural Bridge State Park, Cave Mountain Lake Recreation Area is prime example of the public recreation sites built by the CCC. If you’re looking for a bit of natural serenity to kick start your preservation efforts this season, this might be a great option. HistoriCorps is excited to lace up our boots and continue our work from 2023 restoring the roof of the pavilion, replacing eroding sill logs, and revamping the interior floor.
Tents, truck campers, campervans, and small RVs or trailers are welcome at our campsite. Hookups will not be available. Dogs are welcomed but must be leashed.
Big Sur of California’s central coast is a weaving oceanside dropping down from the Santa Lucia Mountains that hug the majestic Highway 1 running from Carmel to San Simeon. Our project at the Livermore Cabin lies just inside the John Little Natural Reserve, a small but very special unit of California State Parks’ Monterey District that is otherwise closed to public access. The Livermore Cabin shares an interesting history as a mid 1800s pioneer style cabin built in 1917 at the request of Beth Livermore who originally came to Big Sur in the 1910s by way of Marin County, calling her property “Rancho Para Todos,” meaning “Ranch For Everyone.” The John Little Natural Reserve was named after Beth’s longtime friend John Little and runs from Lime Creek south encompassing the cabin.
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and a few RVs 25′ feet and under are welcome. Hookups are not available. Coin operated showers are available at the campground. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed.
Enomoto Cabin holds space in the history of Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, a site recognized as a California Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hot springs, famed for their mineral-rich waters, have been a destination for healing and relaxation since the 1800s. The cabin is also a symbol of the enduring legacy of Japanese American history in California. During the early 20th century, the resort became a recreational and spiritual center for Japanese Americans, and after World War II, it served as a hostel for those returning from internment camps.
Tents, truck-campers, campervans, trailers, and RV’s up to 32′ will have access to our campground. Hookups are not available and dogs will not be allowed on this project unfortunately. Showers will be available.
Hornbek Homestead, CO
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
May 26-31, June 2-7, June 9-14, and June 16-21
The Hornbek Homestead is an outstanding example of log domestic architecture from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Built in 1878 by Adeline Hornbek, single mother of four children and early settler, the Hornbek Homestead is one of the first settlements west of the 14,115′ Pikes Peak and is significant for its association with the Homestead Act of 1862 as being the first application to the Florissant area. As of 1981 the Hornbek House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and awaits its next phase of restoration.
Tents, truck campers, and small campervans are welcome. RVs and trailers cannot be accommodated at this project location. Showers are available but dogs are not permitted.
On the western slope of Colorado you’ll find epic mesas, towering mountain ranges, and among other things, a rich mining history. Calamity Camp outside of Gateway, CO is located on the Uncompahgre Plateau and was established sometime between 1915 and 1925. Featuring five rock cabins, a bunkhouse, cellars, horse corrals, and a rock and cedar post barn, the camp is one of many pieces of mining history laced throughout southwestern Colorado. Located on historically Ute land, miners extracted uranium, vanadium, and radium from Calamity Mesa from 1916-1980. Colorado’s last uranium mine closed in 2005. Today, uranium is used in many industries, especially nuclear power generation. Historically, though, its use was primarily military. When the Central Powers suffered a shortage of molybdenum, they turned to ferrouranium alloys as a substitute. Hence, uranium mining became an important part of the war effort.
Hi-clearance vehicles with 4WD are required! Tent campers will have access to your campsite. Showers are not available and dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
In 2023 HistoriCorps began a new partnership with the Chippewa National Forest whose region covers roughly 1.6 million acres in the north central woods of Minnesota. Secluded just outside of Grand Rapids you’ll find Joyce Estate, an Adirondack-style lodge built by David Joyce, heir to a major lumber supplier. Constructed between 1917 to 1935, Joyce Estate originally contained 40 buildings spread out among the quiet woodlands surrounding Trout Lake featuring rustic log architecture similar to the Great Camps of upstate New York. Today the estate is a far cry from its hay day of the 1920s and 1930s with many of the buildings suffering from a lack of maintenance and severe rot accumulating over the years. Last season we were fortunate to receive a gracious amount of local support from neighboring residents who have treasured Joyce Estate as their family’s backyard escape.
Tent campers will have access to your campsite. Showers are not available and dogs are allowed but must be leashed. Bring your kayak if you have one!
High Knob Fire Tower, WV 2024 (HardCorps)
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
June 2-7 and June 9-14
Rising atop the crest of Shenandoah Mountain is the High Knob Fire Tower, a one of kind stone-constructed lookout tower built in the 1930s that symbolizes a pivotal era of forestry management and labor force cooperation. Formerly the Shenandoah National Forest from 1917-1932, the now George Washington and Jefferson National Forests has been a pioneer in forest fire prevention, establishing an early precedent for the era to prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires.
Tents, truck and car campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs 25 feet and under will have access to our campsite. Hookups are not available, dogs are allowed, and showers will be available at our campsite. There is a small lake at our campsite which would be great for kayaking after work!
Forest Lodge, WI
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
June 2-7, June 9-14, June 16-21, and June 23-28
It’s that time of year again when a returning cast of characters and a slew of new preservationists make the drive out to the northern woods of Wisconsin in an effort to continue a time honored tradition we’ve been enough lucky to foster at the etherial Forest Lodge. Without a doubt, Forest Lodge is HistoriCorps’ longest continuing project and with good reason. The roughly 50 acre Historic District is made up of 12 structures including the Gatehouse, Great Hall, Guesthouse, and the iconic Boathouse which sits on the banks of the beautiful Lake Namekagon. Forest Lodge is made up of 8,723 acres that was donated to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in 1999 by Mary Griggs Burke with the intention of providing environmental research and educational programs.
Tent campers, truck campers, and campervans will have access to our campsite. Showers will be available! Let us know if you’d like to bring your pup – we require specific approval from our partner.
Lemley Mill and Miners Delight Saloon, WY 2024
June 2-7, June 9-14, June 23-28, and June 30 – July 5
*New Session Added for Gillespie Place – July 7-12!*
Located just 40 minutes from the outdoor-lovers’ destination of Lander, WY, gateway to the unforgettable Wind River Range, Lemley Mill is part of the 30-square-miles South Pass Historic Mining Area. This area is included in the traditional homelands of the Crow, Cheyenne, and Eastern Shoshone Nations. A small gold discovery in 1867 bolstered the local population but quickly fizzled out following the mines playing out in the area. The Lemley Mill was constructed during a failed attempt to revive mining here during the Great Depression, but was abandoned just a decade later due to its unprofitability.
Our primary campsite at the Lemley Mill is accessible for tent campers, truck campers, campervans, and small RVs and trailers. A few RV spaces are available just down the road at the Dexter Mill RV Park with hookups. Coin operated showers are also located at the Dexter Mill RV Park and dogs are welcomed at this project!
The Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery near Orick was one of the first local hatcheries developed in California to improve sport and commercial fishing. Located on land historically and currently stewarded by the Yurok Tribe, it was constructed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) on the 62-acre site of a previous hatchery. The WPA was formed as part of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, during the Great Depression. The program ultimately provided work to more than 8.5 million skilled and unskilled Americans in poverty. The hatchery is notable for its provision of housing for workers, dependence on simple yet effective technology that relied minimally on power, and for being funded primarily through fishing licenses and related fees. After 56 years in operation, the hatchery closed in 1992. The site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tents, truck campers, campervans, and small RVs or trailers are welcome at our campsite. Hookups will not be available. Unfortunately, our partner has restricted dogs at this project.
Constructed in 1937 by the Placerville Ranger District in collaboration with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this historic site sits proudly in El Dorado County, perched at an elevation of 6,225 feet. Comprised of a 60-foot observation tower, a single car garage, and a ranger cabin, the facility serves as a testament to the dedicated efforts of past generations to protect and manage the region’s wilderness resources. In 1990 the facility became eligible for the National Register of Historic Places after a nation-wide study on historic fire lookout facilities was completed. Today, as we embark on the journey to rehabilitate and restore the aging ranger cabin, we invite you to join us in preserving this vital piece of history.
Tents, truck campers, and small campervans are welcome. Showers are not available, dogs are welcomed.
Buckhorn Work Center, CO 2024
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National Grassland
June 23-28, and June 30 – July 5
The Buckhorn Work Center is a pivotal property of the Buckhorn Ranger District located in the Roosevelt National Forest west of Fort Collins. Built between 1933-1941 for the Forest Service by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and later added to by locally revered carpenter Guy Fowler, the property consists of a primary Ranger Dwelling, Assistant Ranger Dwelling, office, and garage. The functions of these individual buildings have changed roles over the decades, serving the ranger district across the many stylistic and policy changes that have occurred throughout the past century. In 2022 the Buckhorn Work Center was listed on the National Register for Historic Places partly for its role in being the first Ranger Station in the Colorado National Forest, now the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests. If you’re interested in a truly unique CCC era set of buildings that happen to be located in a tranquil mountain setting, this may be the project for you!
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs 25′ feet and under are welcome. Hookups are not available, but dogs are welcome!
Camp Rabideau Pavilion and Barrack, MN 2024
June 23-28, June 30 – July 5th, July 28 – August 2, August 4-9, and August 11-16
If you haven’t noticed by now, HistoriCorps is often associated with the Civilian Conservation Corps. Restoring CCC built structures has been a niche our organization has gladly sought to fulfill and our upcoming project at Camp Rabideau may be one of those crown jewel moments where our non-profit’s mission and the CCC’s heritage intersect to make a legacy defining impact. Camp Rabideau, located inside the Chippewa National Forest of northern Minnesota, is an exemplary effort of preservation and curation. Built in the 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp Rabideau is one of hundreds of work camps developed from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal aimed at countering the Great Depression by putting young men to work on public lands projects across the country. The camp itself saw action from 1935 through 1941 and was built from pre-fabricated materials with the intention of being a temporary compound.
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs are welcome. Hookups are not available, but showers are! Dogs are welcome but must be leashed. Bring your kayak if you have one!
Bunker Hill Lookout Tower, CA 2024
July 14-19, July 21-26, July 28 – August 2, August 18-22, August 25-30, and September 1-6
The Bunker Hill Lookout is a key historical site within Region 5, symbolizing its expansive fire management efforts during the Great Depression. Constructed as part of a broad administrative and infrastructural campaign, this unique facility was designed by Region 5 architect Kepler Johnson in 1939. Specifically tailored for its location, the lookout features a 20-foot tall stone live-in tower topped with a 14’ x 14’ wooden observation cab, making it the only structure of its kind. The construction began in the same year under the auspices of the Eldorado National Forest, Pacific Ranger District, with significant contributions from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and local fire guards Joseph and Marie Baumann.
Tents, truck campers, campervans, and a couple of RV’s/trailers up to 25 feet can access our campground. There are no hookups and showers will not be available. Dogs are welcome but need to be leashed!
Sherando Lake Recreation Area, VA 2024
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest
July 14-19, July 21-26, July 28 – August 2, and August 4-9
Sherando Lake Recreation Area, located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, boasts a history dating back to the early 20th century. Initially home to Indigenous peoples, the area experienced a surge of European settlement in the 18th century. By the 1930s, it underwent significant changes with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, aiming to provide employment while conserving natural resources. This period saw the construction of Sherando Lake and its recreational facilities, establishing a foundation for public outdoor activities. Originally known as White Rock Lake, Sherando Lake was completed in 1936, developed for its recreational potential. The CCC’s efforts resulted in a locale for swimming, fishing, picnicking, and camping, quickly gaining popularity among outdoor enthusiasts.
Tents, truck-campers, campervans, and a few trailers or RVs up to 25 feet will have access to our campground. Hookups are not available but showers will be! Dogs are welcome at this project but must be leashed at all times.
The Stone Quarry Cottage in Michigan is one of the oldest standing structures on Grand Island with historical evidence indicating that the cabin was built between 1845 and 1860 and used primarily as a home. By the turn of the century, the cabin became used as temporary shelter by transient residents, such as tourists and stone cutters. After Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company purchased Grand Island in 1900, Stone Quarry Cabin was converted into a resort rental unit. In recent years, volunteer efforts have played a crucial role in preserving the Stone Quarry Cottage and its surrounding landscape. Local history enthusiasts, conservation groups, and community volunteers have come together to maintain the site, ensuring that its historical and natural significance is not lost to time.
Tent campers will have access to our campground. Our project is located on Grand Island which is only accessible by a ferry and cannot transport vehicles. Showers will not be available. Dogs are allowed at this project but must be leashed.
The Denver City Park Lily Ponds, an integral part of Denver’s historic City Park, were established in the early 20th century, embodying the era’s commitment to creating naturalistic landscapes in urban settings. Initially designed to enhance the beauty and recreational value of the park, the ponds quickly became a beloved community asset. Over the years, they have seen various changes and improvements, often driven by the efforts of local volunteers and community groups dedicated to preserving and enhancing this natural treasure. These volunteer efforts have been crucial in maintaining the ecological balance of the ponds, ensuring the health of the aquatic plants, and keeping the area welcoming for both residents and wildlife. Volunteer involvement in the City Park Lily Ponds has taken various forms, from hands-on maintenance and planting days to fundraising and advocacy campaigns.
HistoriCorps will provide lodging for this project, but local volunteers are welcome to commute daily. Showers and standard amenities will be available but dogs are not allowed.
Nestled within the rugged expanses of Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest, the Sunlight Ranger Station stands as a poignant historical marker and an emblem of early 20th-century conservation efforts. Constructed in 1934, this ranger station was part of a broader initiative under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, aimed at providing employment through public works projects while also advancing the conservation of America’s natural landscapes. The Sunlight Ranger Station, crafted in the rustic architectural style typical of the era, served as a crucial base for managing the surrounding wilderness and exemplified the early commitment to preserving national forests for future generations.
Access to our campsite is limited to personal vehicles or small campervans. Trailers and RVs cannot be accommodated at this project location. Dogs are allowed but must be leashed and kept under control at all times.
Blue Bend Pavilion, WV 2024
September 22-27, September 29 – October 4, October 6-11, and October 13-18
The Blue Bend Pavilion is a CCC era picnicking shelter quietly at home among the canopies of the Monogahela National Forest. Built between 1936-1938, the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed over 20 camping sites complete with tent pads, picnic tables, and parking areas. Included is an elaborate system of retaining walls and stabilized creek banks, two-stoned paved beaches, and a water retention reservoir for recreational swimming. In 2023 HistoriCorps successfully engaged over twenty volunteers with additional help from the Appalachian Conservation Corps to complete over 1,000 hours of work on the structures at the Blue Bend Recreation Area.
Tents, truck-campers, campervans, and small trailers will have access to our campground. RV spaces are not available at this location. Showers will be available and dogs are allowed but must be leashed. and under the owners control at all times.
