CA-3891
April 25-30; May 2-7, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to one full session; may participate in both
The Angeles National Forest invites PIT volunteers to participate in an important archaeological survey! The 2009 "Station Fire," the largest wildfire in Los Angeles County history, burned over 160,000 acres of vegetation on the Angeles NF, revealing hundreds of previously undocumented archaeological sites. Our study will focus on the Gleason Creek Canyon region within the Forest's Aliso-Arrastre Archaeological Special Interest Area. This area is known to contain numerous Native Californian village remnants, encampments, earth ovens, rock circles, and cupule rock art sites. PIT participants will conduct archaeological reconnaissance to identify and record prehistoric and historic sites exposed by the wildfire.
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Must be in good physical condition and able to hike moderate distances for long periods each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous archaeological survey experience and/or experience with photography, orienteering, and the outdoors helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Housing provided at no cost in FS barracks; water, showers, full kitchen, and other amenities; RV/trailer camping available in parking area adjacent to FS barracks; no hookups; volunteers responsible for personal bedding and meals; daily transportation to and from the study area provided by FS
Nearest towns:Wrightwood, 3 miles; Phelan, 10 miles; Palmdale, 35 miles
Applications due: February 21, 2010
CA-3890
May 3-7; 10-14, 2010
Must commit to one full session; may participate in both
The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area (LMRA) has the greatest concentration of recorded archaeological sites on the Cleveland National Forest (CNF). Most were recorded during surveys conducted in the early 1980s and many of the associated site records have not been updated since that time. The LMRA is open to the public year round and archaeological sites in the area are often impacted inadvertently as a result of heavy use at campgrounds and other recreation spots. Artifacts are sometimes disturbed or even collected out of curiosity. This will be the seventh year in a row that PIT volunteers and FS archaeologists will survey select portions of the LMRA. As in past years, participants will relocate previously recorded sites and update site maps using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. We will also update site record photographs and documentation, and monitor current site conditions. The results of the project will provide the necessary data for the CNF Heritage Program to more accurately monitor the effects of continued recreational use of this area on its cultural resources. Come join us for a hike into the past as we work to preserve and protect the archaeology of the Laguna Mountains.
Number of openings:12
Special skills: Must be in good physical condition and able to hike moderate distances in a wilderness area under a variety of weather conditions; archaeological survey experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: FS barracks at no charge; full kitchen, bathrooms, and other amenities.
Nearest towns: Alpine, 20 miles; El Cajon, 35 miles
Applications due: March 1, 2010
CA-3933
May 11-14, 2010
Must commit to minimum of 1 day
For the last two years, Eldorado National Forest staff and Passport in Time volunteers have conducted survey and excavation research along segments of two National Historic Trails that served as important Trans-Sierra emigrant routes into California: the Carson-Mormon Trail and the Johnson Cutoff Trail. A diverse collection of early and mid-19th-Century artifacts were recovered during these efforts and the Eldorado NF needs your help! We will process, identify, and date the artifacts in the collection at an indoor laboratory.
The recruiting process for the project will be somewhat different for our project than in the past. Interested volunteers must apply directly to the project leader by no later than April 30, 2010 rather than submitting applications to the PIT Clearinghouse.
Number of openings: 8
Special skills: Previous archaeological laboratory/archival experience and/or 19th-Century artifact identification skills helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 15 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Camino, Placerville, Pollock Pines, and Shingle Springs are all full-service communities with hotels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; tent and RV camping available near worksite; facilities vary and fees may apply, reservations recommended (note that FS campgrounds are not open yet, due to weather conditions); The Eldorado County Visitor's web page (http://www.visit-eldorado.com/) maintains a list of local lodging options, including campgrounds; volunteers responsible for own food, lodging, and transportation
Nearest towns: Project located in Camino; Placerville, 5 miles; Pollock Pines, 5 miles; Shingle Springs, 15 miles
Applications due: Filled!
CA-3948
September 14-17, 2010
Must commit to minimum of 1 day (preferably more!)
Join us for another hike through history as we search for the historic Carson-Mormon Trail! During the "Gold Rush" era, which began in the mid-1800s, the Carson-Mormon Trail was an important Trans-Sierra emigrant route. The Trail ran through what is now the Eldorado National Forest, and has been designated a National Historic Trail. For the past two years, PIT volunteers and FS staff have surveyed through the Forest along the known route of the Trail. We have mapped and recorded much of the historic pathway, but we have not yet identified and documented all of its segments. This year, we will renew our search. Volunteers and Forest Service archaeologists will "ground-truth" a five-mile segment of the Trail near the junction of Iron Mountain Road and Highway 88 and Brown Rock - a landmark mentioned in emigrant diaries from the 19th century. We will use metal detectors to locate and record locations of artifacts and features that denote trail routes, record trail segments using GPS, and verify the trail segments using the historic trail classification system developed by the Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA). As before, a second "phase" of the project will entail test excavations at a cultural rock feature situated along a previously-verified segment of the Trail. The feature is thought to be the remains of P. Peterson's trading post.
If you own and are willing to bring a metal-detector, please let us know on your application. It's not necessary to have one to participate, but since we have a limited supply of them, it sure helps to have some extras! The project has been a great success the last couple of years and, with your help, it will be again. We hope to see you this September!
Number of openings: 14
Special skills: Previous archaeological excavation, metal-detecting, GPS, drawing, photography, and/or 19th century artifact identification experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 16 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping at area campgrounds (FS and non-FS); most have pit toilets and potable water, though facilities may vary; fees waived at FS campgrounds during project dates; Kirkwood and Pine Grove are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Kirkwood, 12 miles; Pine Grove, 48 miles
Applications due: July 12, 2010
CA-3941
August 23-27, 2010
Must commit to minimum of 1 day
Join us on the Eldorado National Forest as we continue our investigations along the Johnson Cutoff Trail! Last year we began a survey of the Johnson Cutoff portion of the California National Historic Trail to verify its route and obtain insight into its historic use. This year, PIT volunteers and FS staff will move further along the route and continue field verification with the use of metal detectors. As we survey, we will record and describe features, and will use GPS units to plot artifacts and segments of the trail on USGS topo maps. We will also continue assessment and classification of trail conditions using Oregon California Trails Association (OCTA) standards. During the survey, participants will also conduct test excavations at an area where a scatter of miscellaneous artifacts was encountered last year. This scatter may represent the remains of the elusive and historic Silver Creek Ranch, a "way station" frequently mentioned in emigrant diaries, guides and newspaper articles of the time (ca. 1852). Verifying the location of the ranch may help to locate other key features and sites along the Johnson Cutoff, since several historic diary entries and Bartlett's Guide to California provide mileage from Silver Creek Ranch to other historic locales.
If you own and are willing to bring a metal-detector, please let us know on your application. It's not necessary to have one to participate, but since we have a limited supply of them, it sure helps to have some extras! See you in August!
Number of openings: 14
Special skills: Previous archaeological excavation, metal-detecting, GPS, drawing, photography, and/or 19th century artifact identification experience helpful, but not necessary
Minimum age: 16 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Limited Tent and RV camping available at no charge at nearby Ranger District campsites; water, pit toilets, no hook-ups; additional camping at FS and private campgrounds in area; water and pit toilets at FS campgrounds, facilities vary in others; reservations may be required or may be "first come, first served," and fees may apply; volunteers may also "disperse" camp; Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; several resorts and other facilities also available between Pollock Pines and So. Lake Tahoe; The El Dorado County Visitor's web page (http://www.visit-eldorado.com/) maintains a list of local lodging options, including campgrounds; volunteers responsible for own lodging or camping equipment, food, extra water, and transportation (though due to construction nearby, access to project area may be somewhat limited and close coordination is advised)
Nearest towns: Pollock Pines, 45 miles; South Lake Tahoe, 45 miles
Applications due: June 14, 2010
CA-3946
August 26-29, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to minimum of one day
Basque shepherds lived and tended flocks in the Glass Mountains from the 1850s to the mid-1900s. In one of the large aspen groves in the area, these people made unique tree carvings, known as arborglyphs, which expressed the images, thoughts, and feelings of their world. Throughout the grove, there are forms of women, sheep, horses, and many local family names. Figures that discuss the politics of the Spanish Civil War and even a glyph produced by a well known Native American sheepherder proclaiming himself "King of the Indians" are also to be found. However, there are over a hundred of these various carvings that have never been formally recorded and, as they are deteriorating due to age and inclement weather, we need your help to document them before time runs out! This summer, PIT volunteers and FS staff will work with local Basque arborglyph experts Richard and Nancy Potashin to record the figures. As our experts teach us about the Basque shepherd culture in the eastern Sierra Mountains, we will create site records, take photographs, and make sketches of the grove's images. This is a beautiful area with some unique and fantastic history, so we hope you'll join us in August for a bit of "aspen talk!"
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Photography and/or sketching experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 10 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Group camping (tents and RVs) at Crooked Meadows campground (~ 5-10 minutes from project area); pit toilet, no potable water, no hook-ups; volunteers responsible for personal camping/cooking equipment, food, water, and transportation (campground can be accessed by standard vehicles, but the road is bumpy)
Nearest towns: Lee Vining, 21 miles
Applications due: June 14, 2010
CA-3915
June 14-18, 2010
Must commit to entire session
2010 will mark the fourth year of our successful PIT project! Join us as we continue the search for traces of the Yreka Trail in the northernmost portion of California. The Yreka Trail is a branch of the Applegate Trail or "Southern Road" to Oregon. Beginning in the early 1850s, this trail was used by emigrants and gold-seekers to reach the Shasta Valley and the gold fields surrounding Yreka. The prolonged use of this trail by settlers precipitated hostilities with the Modoc, which, eventually led to the Modoc War (1872).
Once again we will survey with the aid of metal detectors, and excavate small test probes to determine if artifacts are present along the route we suspect is part of the trail. Artifacts we are likely to find include mule and oxen shoes, square nails, wagon hardware, and personal effects (buttons, clasps, utensils). Participants will be walking in forested and brushy areas, but will be treated to some spectacular views. Please indicate on your application if you have and are willing to bring a metal detector. The FS has a limited number of metal detectors available, but it is a great help if you have and can bring your own. See you in June!
Number of openings: 12
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking moderate distances each day in often difficult terrain and a variety of weather conditions; experience with metal detectors helpful but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping in area campgrounds and RV parks; facilities vary; Weed, Yreka, and Mt. Shasta are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal lodging, camping equipment, food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: Weed, 35 miles; Yreka, 40 miles; Mt. Shasta, 40 miles
Applications due: April 12, 2010
CA-3934
August 9-13, 2010
Must commit to full session
Childs Meadow is located in Tehama County just south of Lassen Volcanic Park, amid mountainous terrain and beautiful meadows. This high elevation area was part of the Yahi Yana territory, used after the snows melted to secure plant and animal resources. Previous investigations have shown that the Yana utilized this area for over 3,000 years, but there are indications that they were displaced by the Maidu, who later (ca. A.D. 1500-1850) moved into this area.
Last year, we studied three prehistoric sites within the Childs Meadow area and, this summer, we will investigate a final two. Our excavations will establish the boundaries of each site and recover important subsurface information in order to evaluate the significance of each cultural deposit. These data will be used to further support application for listing the Childs Meadow sites on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). PIT volunteers and FS archaeologists will once again establish the boundary of each site using surface scrape units, excavate, screen, fill out level records, draw soil profiles, and take photographs. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to help create topographic maps, draw soil profiles, and illustrate artifacts, and others will process artifacts in the field lab. We had a lot of fun last year and did some very interesting work; this year promises to provide us the same opportunities. Join us in this beautiful setting for Phase II of our project!
Number of openings: 20
Special skills: Previous archaeological excavation, screening, mapping, and/or photography experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Camping at nearby Forest Service campground; water, toilets; some space for RVs, no hookups; dinners provided in the evening; Chester and Mineral are full-service communities with motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, daytime meals, and transportation
Nearest towns: Chester, 15 miles; Mineral, 15 miles
Applications due: June 7, 2010
CA-3922
June 7-13, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to full session
The beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains have been explored and settled by representatives of many cultures throughout history. However, the first to call the area home were the Yana. This indigenous people were comprised of four groups: the Northern Yana, the Central Yana, the Southern Yana, and the Yahi. Each group had relatively distinct boundaries, dialects and customs, but all lived on wild game, fished salmon, fruit, acorns and roots. Their territories encompassed approximately 2400 square miles of mountain streams, gorges, boulder-strewn hills, and lush meadows. In 1925, Ishi, last of the Yahi, died. With his passing, the groups ceased to be federally recognized as formal tribes.
Some individuals still survive, however, and this PIT project will serve to establish a Management Plan to protect and preserve the group's cultural history. PIT volunteers and Forest archaeologists will monitor known prehistoric sites in three archaeologically sensitive canyons within the Southern Yana and Yahi territories, two of which are located in the remote Ishi Wilderness. A large number of sites are positioned along the shores of creeks (Antelope, Mill and Deer Creek) that wind through the canyons. Unfortunately, many of these important sites have been the target of looters, have been damaged by livestock, or have suffered degradation from natural forces. Participants will relocate, assess, and document the condition of sites through detailed description and photography, and will record precise provenience information with GPS equipment. We value your help and insight as we seek to protect these sites and their significant cultural resources. Please join us in June for a unique archaeological experience!
Number of openings: 6
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking long distances each day over rough and often steep terrain in variety of weather conditions; previous archaeological survey, photography, and/or GPS experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Primitive camping near trailheads; water and chemical toilets provided by FS; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Chester, 40 miles
Applications due: April 5, 2010
CA-3896
May 10-14, 2010
Must commit to minimum of four days
Last year, PIT volunteers helped us survey and document cultural remnants along the historic Nobles Pass Emigrant Trail to Fort Crook. This major travel route was heavily used by prospective settlers, soldiers, and freight wagons in the mid- to late 1800s. During the 2009 survey, we found and collected a large number and variety of artifacts that now need to be to processed and recorded, and the Lassen National Forest needs your help once again! With the help of photographs and drawings and the guidance of wagon trail expert Richard Silva, volunteers will help identify, document, and describe artifacts from the wagon road. Our work this year will ensure that this unique set of artifacts is properly curated, and will help provide a better understanding of how and when historic populations used the route. Information from the project will be employed to help protect and interpret the road, and artifacts may be used for displays, which will help to tell the story of this important connector trail. Weather permitting, we will also get you out of the lab for a few hours for a field trip to examine historic wagon road segments. Please join us for this unique volunteer opportunity!
Number of openings: 3-5
Special skills: None required
Minimum age: 14 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV/pop-up camping available at FS campground (30-45 minutes from project area) at no charge; pit toilets, no potable water, no hookups; lodging also possible in FS barracks on a first-come, first served basis; two-person rooms, full kitchen, and other amenities; Fall River Mills and Burney are full-service communities with motels and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/bedding, food, water, and transportation to/from a designated meeting area each day (if staying in area motels or campgrounds)
Nearest towns: Project in Fall River Mills; Burney, 17 miles
Applications due: March 8, 2010
CA-3957
July 5-9, 2010
Must commit to minimum of four days
Join us for another hike through the past on the Lassen National Forest! In this phase of our ongoing "Wagon Trails" project, FS staff and PIT volunteers will survey along a trail segment of the historic Old Military Road to Fort Crook. The route, also known as the Military Pass Road, was established in the 1850s to connect the town of Red Bluff to the gold mining regions near Yreka. Many wagons carrying immigrants, soldiers, and freight moved along this road over the years and remnants can still be seen today. We will follow this trail through time with wagon trails consultant Richard Silva. As we identify and document parts of the trail, we will use metal-detectors and visual survey to locate objects left behind or dropped along the way by past travelers. These artifacts will provide us clues about the lives of the men and women who pioneered California's history and will help us to tell their stories. Information from the project will be used to protect and interpret the site, and recovered artifacts may be used for a display that will interpret the trail for the public. Richard will provide talks on the history of local wagon routes. Participants will also have opportunities to learn about other aspects of local archaeology, such as the effects of local volcanic activity on prehistoric sites, and may have the chance to view other historic sites in the area. We hope you will join us for Part III of "Wagon Trails" this July!
Applications for this project will be made to the PIT Clearinghouse as usual, but will be forwarded directly to the project leader. We will take applications only until our project slots are filled, so apply today! Please indicate on your application if you own and are wiling to bring a metal-detector. This isn't required to participate, but since our supplies are limited, it sure helps us out!
Number of openings: 5-7
Special skills: Previous experience with metal-detectors, archaeological survey, and/or historic artifact identification helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 14 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping (no hook-ups) available at no charge at local FS campground; water, pit toilets; cabin rentals available in Old Station (~25 minutes from work area); Fall River Mills and Burney are full-service communities with motels, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/bedding, food, water, and transportation to/from a designated meeting area each day
Nearest towns: Old Station, 20 miles; Fall River Mills, 25 miles; Burney, 25 miles
Applications due: Filled!
CA-3925
July 26-30, 2010
Must commit to minimum of two days
Once known as Rattlesnake Springs, the Camp Ellendale site is located along the historic Alder Springs road on the Mendocino National Forest. The site contains multiple components: a prehistoric occupation overlain by multiple historic levels. Little is known about the prehistoric occupation, and the historic cultural remains tell a complex story. A homestead patent was filed for the land in 1880, but never finalized. However, by 1956 - the time it came to be known as "Camp Ellendale" on Forest Service maps - a large home was present, reportedly built and owned by a family called Mapes. Nothing remains of the home except the vestiges of a fruit tree orchard, a few cattle/horse troughs, multiple spring developments, and an assortment of historic artifacts. The historic components are puzzling, because the site's ownership changed hands many times after its original settlement and was utilized by numerous families, visitors, and travelers. Its abundance of springs and easy access to the Alder Springs road made it attractive to those wishing to water their horses, and was ideal for grazing cattle and sheep.
Volunteers and Forest Service staff will conduct test excavations and metal-detector sweeps to locate and document the various historic and prehistoric aspects of the site and make sense of the assemblages. Participants will learn excavation and screening techniques, artifact identification, and assist in fine scale mapping of the site using digital transit and GPS technology. Various portions of this large and complex site will be sampled in order to identify the spatial extent of cultural deposits, and all artifacts recovered will be washed and sorted in preparation for further analyses.
This site is very accessible to the public and is frequently used by hunters and OHV riders as a camping spot. This recreational use has led to disturbance of cultural materials, looting, and site degradation. Our excavations will salvage data that can determine the site's significance in and impact on local history and prehistory, and will serve to establish a basis for managing the site and protecting it from future damage. Please join us in July as we dig through the past!
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Ability to use a metal detector helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 10 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent camping at no charge at Masterson Campground (~1 hour from the excavation site); water, pit toilets; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation to and from work site each day (volunteers may wish to carpool from campground; fuel stations available in Elk Creek)
Nearest towns: Elk Creek, 15 miles; Willows, 35 miles
Applications due: May 24, 2010
CA-3929
July 26-29; August 2-6, 2010
Must commit to one full session; may participate in both
The Devil's Garden is an expansive, prehistoric lava flow with sparse vegetation, rough, broken lava rock, juniper trees, and sage brush flats in a semi-arid region that covers approximately 500,000 acres of the Modoc National Forest. The Boles Creek system cut through this difficult and broken terrain long ago. It was home to a variety of prehistoric peoples, evidenced by numerous archaeological sites containing rock rings, rock stacks, and rock art (petroglyphs). In 1980, an inventory of Boles Creek identified many of these sites, but it was limited in scope and superficial in its descriptions. Our PIT project will revisit the area to begin a more in-depth study of the cultural footprints left behind by its prehistoric inhabitants. PIT volunteers and FS staff will survey and record archaeological sites and features along Boles Creek over a period of two weeks. Our collected data will be used to put together a nomination for placement on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Bring your backpacks and hiking boots and join us in July as we hike through the past in The Devil's Garden!
Number of openings: 10
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking moderate distances over very rough terrain each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous archaeological survey and/or drawing/sketching skills helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 14 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Accommodations (motels, camping, RV parks) available in Alturas; facilities vary, reservations recommended; volunteers responsible for lodging/personal camping equipment, food, water, and transportation (we encourage car pooling to reduce the number of vehicles)
Nearest towns: Alturas, 47 miles
Applications due: May 24, 2010
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CA-3917
July 12-16, 2010
Must commit to minimum of two days
The Feather River Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest invites PIT volunteers to participate in an archaeological excavation at the Gold Rush-era (1850s) townsite of Howland Flat, in Sierra County, California. The 1930's saw the decline of the town, but in its heyday, Howland Flat boasted a population of 2,000, including a sizeable Chinese community. The town had a hotel, saloons, restaurants, stores, a church, livery stables, doctors, dentists, attorneys, a Wells Fargo Express office, a school, post office, a brewery, and three cemeteries. With all of these features - seemingly designed to cater to the needs of all its occupants - it is interesting that the town housed the only Joss House (a temple where Chinese gods were kept and worshipped) in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mines.
Little is written or known about the Chinese population in Howland flat. The main focus of this project will be to define the location and determine the size of the Chinese section of the town, and to locate specific households and businesses. To that end, participants will excavate designated test units, complete surface surveys, and conduct limited metal detector sweeps. We also plan to map and record the few standing buildings and recently collapsed structures present at the site. The detailed maps and other data from our project will be used for public interpretation of the townsite and guide future research. Please join us for this unique opportunity!
Number of openings: 20
Special skills: No Special Skills Required
Minimum age: 7 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping at Little Grass Valley Reservoir campgrounds (~45 minutes from Howland Flat); facilities and fees vary depending on site; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, water, and daily transportation; carpooling to the site is suggested due to limited and historic, steep dirt road access
Nearest towns: La Porte, 4 miles
Applications due: May 10, 2010
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CA-3911
June 7-11, 2010
Must commit to minimum of two days
Following the Civil War and completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, the rapid development of northern Californian towns and cities radically increased the need for construction lumber. Prime mountain forests provided the best sources available, but access to these areas was limited - there were few roads into the mountain from the Sacramento Valley and its transportation hubs at the time. Therefore, elaborate wooden flume systems, including Tehama County's 42-mile-long Blue Ridge Flume, were created to carry cut lumber from the heights to distribution centers. Flume tenders lived in key spots along the flumes. Following abandonment in the late 1870s, the flume system was largely dismantled, but vestiges still exist.
Once again, under the direction of Dr. Eric Ritter, archaeologist at the BLM Redding office, PIT volunteers and BLM personnel will survey and record along the Flume in the northern Sacramento Valley. The data collected will be used to provide interpretive maps across the Bureau's Bend Area of Critical Environmental Concern and proposed National Recreation Area. We will concentrate on 12 miles of flume and support roads/trails and settlement in the lowlands along the Sacramento River near Red Bluff. Volunteers and BLM staff will map the alignment and ancillary features of the flume to determine flume construction and provide data regarding maintenance workers' facilities and lifeways for interpretive purposes. We will use metal detectors for artifact recovery and feature definition. Markers will be installed at key locations, and we will visit historic and prehistoric sites in the vicinity (including petroglyphs, villages, rock shelters and homesteads!). We will also conduct site documentation activities at select locations as time permits. Access to one area will likely involve river raft travel, so we may even have a bit of extra fun during work hours! Please join us for another year at the Blue Ridge Flume Complex.
Number of openings: 15
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking several miles each day in fluctuating (summer transitional - often hot) weather conditions over rocky and hilly terrain; experience with metal detector use helpful, but not required; please note on your application if you have and are willing to bring a metal detector
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Primitive camping; toilets and sun showers or equivalent; some travel trailer space available; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment and food; some drinking water provided by FO
Nearest towns: Red Bluff, 5 miles; Anderson, 10 miles; Redding, 25 miles
Applications due: April 5, 2010
CA-3912
April 26-30, 2010
Must commit to entire session
Come to North Fork, the exact center of California, and help the Sierra National Forest pour through its historic photo collection! We'll begin to organize, catalog, and curate the collection at the historic North Fork Compound, the first Sierra National Forest headquarters’ office, now the Bass Lake Ranger District Office. Participants will enter photo information into a searchable database, which can then be used by Forest personnel, researchers, students, and others who may wish to conduct Forest or regional research. Photos will be placed into archival-quality protective sleeves and filed in archival storage boxes. Information gained from this project may contribute to the current National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination for the North Fork Compound.
Slots are limited and we'll take applications until they're filled, so apply now to join us for the Sierra National Forest Historic Photo Archives Passport in Time Project!
Number of openings: 8
Special skills: Computer experience (particularly with Microsoft Access) helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 15 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: District Office barracks available at no charge; full kitchen, showers, other amenities; Oakhurst is a full-service community with motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; limited services in North Fork; volunteers responsible for personal lodging (if opting not to stay in FS barracks), meals, and transportation
Nearest towns: Project located in North Fork; Oakhurst, 19 miles
Applications due: Filled!
CA-3923
July 8-11, 2010 (including weekends)
Must commit to entire session
The Stanislaus National Forest and the local BLM Field Office are teaming up to host the second Sierran Footsteps PIT project. Sierran Footsteps is a unique workshop that brings together volunteers, local educators and Me-Wuk cultural practitioners for four days and three nights of camping, plant gathering, weaving, storytelling, and cooking Me-Wuk cultural foods the traditional way! Through the skilled hands of Native basket weavers, participants will experience the richness of California Indian lifeways in a spectacular outdoor "classroom" next to the North Fork Stanislaus River at Wakaluu Hepyoo campground. Volunteers will learn to process acorn and to craft soaproot brushes and digging sticks, but, more importantly, they will come away with a deep appreciation for the traditional and contemporary ways of Native people. All materials and food (starting with dinner Thursday night) will be provided.
Participants will need to be at the Wakaluu Hepyoo campground by Noon on Thursday, July 8th, in order to get set up and checked in. Lunch that day will be on your own. Volunteers should be aware that Sierran weather is fickle, so plan for rain and chilly nights when preparing your gear!
Number of openings: 10
Special skills: None required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Tent and RV (limited spaces) camping at no charge at Wakaluu Hepyoo campground; water, flush toilets, showers, no hookups; Arnold is a full-service community with motels, B&Bs, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment (including mess kit!) and transportation
Nearest towns: Arnold, 10 miles
Applications due: May 3, 2010