AHP: Boise National Forest Recreation Residence Survey, ID 2026
Help gather critical data that will determine how these aging properties will be managed for future generations.
PROJECT PARTNER: Boise National Forest
SESSION DATES: June 7-12
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 6 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Assignment in progress!
ASSISTANT PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Assignment in progress!
CREW LEADER: Assignment in progress!
What You’ll Do
HistoriCorps’ Architectural History Program is an exciting endeavor that engages volunteers in surveying tracts for our National Forest partners. Volunteers will travel to different sites to collect the necessary data that will help the Forests determine how they manage these lands for future generations. You’ll be a mobile workforce traveling from site to site photographing, measuring, and investigating the numerous structures on each tract. Volunteers and our field staff will commute together to a given tract location daily. We will be walking and standing for the majority of our 8-9 hour days, so please ensure your physical fitness is adequate.
What are the volunteers impacting through this project?
The data collected with the team will be used to build a report that guides forest service recreation and reservation managers. They will make permit decisions that impact changes made to the summer homes moving forward. This will maintain the historic integrity of the lots individually and the district (tract) as a whole. Recreation residences are privately owned buildings authorized on National Forest System lands through a special use permit. Surveys by HistoriCorps assist the U.S. Forest Service and the public with compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. Work will entail on-site field visits to update resource documentation.
What You Can Expect
Volunteers should know how to use a digital camera and tablet (e.g. an iPad), be able to stand and walk for several hours per day in varying terrain and weather conditions, and be comfortable car camping or tent camping. HistoriCorps will provide its usual camp setup, but this session will be slightly shorter, starting on Monday evening through Friday.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: June 7-12
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: About 100 miles northeast of Boise, ID!
MAP to BOISE NATIONAL FOREST
ACCESS: 
Tents, car campers, truck campers, and campervans will have access to our campsite. Hi-clearance and 4WD not necessary but suggested! Dogs are welcome but must be under the owners control at all times.
* Volunteers can expect to cover a lot of ground, so please come prepared to be on your feet most of the day and to use your personal vehicle to travel to various survey tracts. *
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 60s and lows in the 50s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
(Currently only available for HistoriClub Members – Open Registration will be available Monday, February 23rd at 12:00pm MST!)
Visit our Job Calendar to see how many spaces are available!
*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*
CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.
You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact volunteer@historicorps.org for assistance.
HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact – make a generous gift today.
Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice
We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:
- Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
- Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email volunteer@historicorps.org for help.
- If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
- Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
- Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level. We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
- Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
- Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.