Hapgood Pond Pavilions, VT 2024
Roll through the hills of Vermont’s Green Mountains as we get set to restore the historic CCC-era pavilions at the Hapgood Pond Recreation Area!
PROJECT PARTNER: Green Mountain National Forest
SESSION DATES: August 18-23 and August 25-30
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: TBD!
CREW LEADER: TBD!
*We are still assigning field staff at this time.*
Project Site Description & History
The Hapgood Pond Pavilions, nestled within the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont, represent a rich tapestry of recreational history and architectural heritage. This picturesque spot, now a beloved recreational area, owes much of its development to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who constructed many of the original facilities between 1936 and 1938. Before becoming a recreational haven, the area hosted a sawmill and a schoolhouse in the mid to late 19th century. The CCC’s efforts transformed Hapgood Pond into a destination that reflects the rich history of American conservation and community development during the New Deal era. Over the decades, these structures have served as vital amenities, providing shelter and comfort to families and nature enthusiasts who come to kayak, canoe, camp, fish, swim, and hike in the area.
The design and construction of the Hapgood Pond Pavilions are exemplary of the rustic style that was popular in park architecture during the era. Employing local materials such as timber and stone, these pavilions blend harmoniously with the natural landscape, a testament to the principles of conservation and aesthetic sensibility that guided their creation. The ongoing maintenance and preservation efforts by local and national park services underscore the importance of these structures not just as recreational facilities but also as historical artifacts that continue to contribute to Vermont’s rich outdoor culture.
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: August 18-23, August 25-30
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 approximately 45 minutes Northeast of Bennington, VT!
ACCESS: 
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RV’s up to 25′ are welcome. Showers and restrooms are available. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed. Bring your Kayak and swim trunks!
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.
Scope of Work
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 Hapgood Pond Pavillions:
- Beach Pavilion:
- Repair and replace vertical log posts on each
- Repair and level remaining half of flagstone floor with new and salvaged stone
- Paint log replacements to match USFS specifications
- Knoll Pavilion:
- Repair and replace cross logs
- Repair and level flagstone floor
- Paint log replacements to match USFS specifications
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 if 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.