Blue Bend Pavilion, WV 2024
Secluded in the rugged hills of West Virginia sits the Blue Bend Pavilion, a CCC era site with a touch of southern hospitality.
PROJECT PARTNER: Monongahela National Forest
SESSION DATES: September 22-27, September 29 – October 4, October 6-11, and October 13-18
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Reid Saunders!
CREW LEADER: Beckett Hunecke!
Project Site Description & History
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 1994 the Blue Bend Recreation Area, historically known as the “Blue Bend Forest Camp,” was added to the National Register of Historic Places, honoring the legacy of forest recreation planner Herbert T. Stoddard, whose campsite seclusion design is monumental to the popularity of the site. Adding to the attraction of Blue Bend is the calming aqua fords of the Anthony creek, known for its “Blue Hole” swimming area.
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. This included the opening phases of roof repairs, the completion of flagstone repairs and repointing, rehabilitation of several window sashes, and the critical floor replacement inside the Administrative building.
This season, we’re heading back to complete the roof on the pavilion and perform minor carpentry and log repairs. Volunteers can expect one heck of an opportunity and we invite you lace up your boots and join us for our second go at the Blue Ben Pavilion in West Virginia!
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 22-27, September 29 – October 4, October 6-11, and October 13-18
Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.
LOCATION: Located roughly 30 minutes northeast of the historic Lewisburg.
MAP to BLUE BEND PAVILION
CAMPSITE INFORMATION:
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.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.
Scope of Work
SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY: 
HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff, volunteers and applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Blue Bend Pavilion:
- Restore the roof of the pavilion
- Minor carpentry repairs and log repairs
Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.
Sign Up!
We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!
Visit our Job Calendar to see 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.