Hunter’s Cabin, CA 2025
Join us as we embark on a unique preservation opportunity located within the enchanting Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park!
PROJECT PARTNER: California State Parks
SESSION DATES: September 21-26, September 28 – October 3, and October 5-10
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 4 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
PROJECT SUPERVISORS: Aaron Smith + (Assignment in progress)
CREW LEADER: Zachary Draper
Project Site Description & History
The Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park is a unique park located in northeastern California’s Shasta County, and is one of the state’s most remote public parks. A unique feature of this park is related to its remote nature, in that the park is only accessible to the public by boat.
The park itself is a display of the splendors that nature has to offer. The California State Parks website notes that the park’s name (Ahjumawi) translates to “where the waters come together”. This refers to the intersection of the Big Lake, Tule River, Ja-She Creek, Lava Creek, and Fall River, which combined form one of the largest systems of freshwater springs in the country. These crystal-clear blue springs produce an impressive 1.2 billion gallons of fresh water per day.
These natural features are intrinsically linked to the Ajumawi tribe, who inhabited the area before being forcibly relocated to the Pit River Reservation. The name Ajumawi means “river people”, and this tribe tended the local waterways, monitored spawning beds, and worked to conserve the local fish populations.
According to the California State Parks, Hunter’s Cabin is an early twentieth century structure with unknown origins. It has remained in a state of disrepair since California State Parks acquired the land in 1975. The park’s landscape has remained unchanged for years, and evidence of tribal use of the area is present in the fish traps within Crystal Springs that are still utilized by members of the Pit River Tribe to this day. HistoriCorps is honored to have the privilege of restoring this special cabin, and we hope you’ll join us in California this fall!
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: September 21-26, September 28 – October 3, and October 5-10
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 40 minutes northwest of Lassen National Forest!
MAP to HUNTER’S CABIN
ACCESS: 
Access to our campsite is limited to tents only. Personal vehicles, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs cannot be accommodated at this project location. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at this project site.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 80s and lows in the 30s. 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 and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore Hunter’s Cabin, you will assist to:
- Improve site foundation by lifting the building
- Stabilize the wall and roof by making repairs to the deteriorated structures
- Make repairs to a deteriorating wall and roof structure
- Repair the roof’s standing seam metal
- Effectively seal window and door openings to prevent further structural deterioration
- Cover window and door openings with architectural salvage materials and acrylic panels
- If time allows: conduct other preservation tasks as determined with California DPR staff
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 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.