North River Barn, VA 2025
Join us in Virginia, as we restore the CCC-built barn at the North River Campground!
PROJECT PARTNER: George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
SESSION DATES: July 20-25, July 27 – August 1, and August 3-8
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 6 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
CREW LEADER: Karina Burbank
Project Site Description & History
The North River Campground outside of Stokesville, VA is one of the first Civilian Conservation Corps camps constructed during the New Deal in the 1930s as part of a larger initiative to employ young men nationwide across various conservation projects in efforts to help boost the economy and lay frameworks for future public lands initiatives. The North River Gap received one of first camps in the nation and was named North River Gap CCC Camp F-2. This camp was approved only three days after the legislation was officially passed.
Located about five miles from the town of Stokesville, the camp provided a great service to the area for in less than four years, the camp had constructed 15 miles of trails, built 45 miles of roads, laid 6 miles of telephone wires, and completed 103 miles of trail maintenance. After the program was terminated in 1942, the camp then served as a 4-H Camp and now serves as the site for the United States Forest Service’s North River Campground.
Evidence of the original sites and logging trails still remain today and the North River Gorge has become a popular hiking, biking, and fishing area with a swinging bridge spanning the North River. With close proximity to Wild Oak National Recreation Trail, Stanton Dam Day Use Area and Elkhorn Lake, the North River Gorge provides multiple recreational options that are easily accessible within a few miles. We’re excited to host our next east coast project at the North River Campground and hope you’ll join us to restore the CCC-era barn!
Location and Logistics
SESSION DATES: July 20-25, July 27 – August 1, and August 3-8
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 a half an hour east of Staunton, VA.
MAP to NORTH RIVER BARN
ACCESS: 
Tents, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs will have access to our campground. Hookups are unavailable and dogs are welcomed but must be leashed.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid 60s. 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 the North River Barn, you will assist to:
- Repaint the historic CCC-era barn
- Replaced damaged lap siding on the barn
- Repair framing on the skylights
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.
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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.