CO-3982
May 16-20, 2011
Must commit to full session
Join HistoriCorps and National Forest staff as we "reconstruct" the past! The goal of this PIT project is to restore and maintain several historic structures within two important sites on the Arapaho-Roosevelt NF: Mountain Park Campground and Arrowhead Lodge. At Mountain Park Campground, we will focus on the picnic shelter. Mountain Park Picnic Shelter was built in the 1930s by the Work Progress Administration (WPA) and later expanded by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The shelter has been in constant use since by visitors to the campground that surrounds it. Sometime between the picnic shelter's construction and the present, its original windows, shutters, and door were removed. The structure has also suffered the effects of time and neglect, and is in need of some "TLC." Participants will install a new cedar-shingle roof and reconstruct and replace the windows, the shutters, and the door.
Arrowhead Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This complex was also constructed in the 1930s, and was used as a recreation rental and vacation lodge. The buildings are log cabins, and have names such as Wigwam, Ute, Apache, and Tepee. This site has also been ravaged by time and, today, the roofs of the Wigwam, Ute and Mohawk cabins are severely compromised. The second portion of the PIT project will be to re-roof these cabins and restore them to their original, usable conditions. However, we plan to use longer-lasting asphalt shingles instead of the rolled roofing that previously covered the buildings.
This project is designed to engage participants in a hands-on historic preservation project and to present and optimize learning opportunities in the skilled trades. Through activities at both sites, participants will come away with knowledge of how to repair deteriorated roof decking, how to shingle a cedar roof and an asphalt tab-style roof, how to reconstruct historic pine tree motif shutters, and how to install historically accurate windows and doors. The project will be directed and supervised by three HistoriCorps instructors. HistoriCorps will also provide the tools and safety equipment for participants. We will be working in an area with wonderful vistas and many enjoyable outdoor distractions to fill up your "off-duty" schedules. We hope you will join us in May for this unique opportunity!
Number of openings: 14
Special skills: Volunteers must be physically capable of project tasks and be willing to work long days in variable weather conditions; previous construction experience is preferred, but not required
Minimum age: 16 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping available at no charge at Mountain Park campground; water, restrooms, showers, disabled facilities, electrical hookups, group camping areas; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Bellevue, 28 miles; Laporte, 29 miles; Fort Collins, 35 miles
Applications due: March 14, 2011
CO-4032
August 7-13, 2011 (including weekends)
Must commit to minimum of 5 days
Join us for the 18th season in the historic Alpine Tunnel Historic District. Once again, we will work to restore facilities along the 1880s railroad narrow gauge. Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects, including restoration and stabilization of several historic buildings, installation of railroad track, and installation of interpretative signage. The Alpine Tunnel District and its associated features were a very important part of Colorado's history, so we hope you'll join us again this year for the PIT Program's longest running project!
Number of openings: 5
Special skills: Must be physically capable of sustained effort at elevations up to 11,000 feet during project hours each day; previous construction, restoration, carpentry, and/or related experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Dispersed tent camping at no charge within 13 miles of project area; chemical toilets; additional camping at FS Pitkin campground; water, toilets, RV spaces, no hook-ups, fees apply; Pitkin and Gunnison are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging, food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: Pitkin, 13 miles; Gunnison, 45 miles
Applications due: June 12, 2011
CO-4007
July 25-28, 2011
Must commit to minimum of 2 days
This will be our fourth season working with PIT volunteers to restore the stone Fairview Peak Fire Lookout! The lookout was constructed at the 13,214-foot summit of Fairview Peak, overlooking Taylor Park, sometime between 1912 and 1913. It is eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), but was in severe disrepair when it was inspected in 2007. We have spent the past three years working on the stone walls. This summer, we will repair the roof, supporting beams and, perhaps, complete some mortar work on the interior walls. This year we will also draw plans for the reconstruction of the cupola. That reconstruction endeavor will take place over the subsequent years. Our goal is to have the lookout completely restored to original condition by its centennial but, in order to meet that goal, we need your help. Come join us for year four of this historic endeavor!
Number of openings: 6
Special skills: None required
Minimum age: 8 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping available at no charge at a developed campground near project; water, pit toilets; RV spaces, limited hookups; Gunnison is a full-service community with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation (if staying in Gunnison)
Nearest towns: Gunnison, 28 miles; Pitkin, 10 miles
Applications due: Until filled!
CO-3971
March 21-25, 2011
Must commit to full session
The Pike-San Isabel National Forest will host a curation project at the Monument Fire Center (historically known as Monument Nursery), established May 1, 1907, and summer home of the Pike Hot Shots. It is located in beautiful central Colorado at the interface of the Great Plains and the eastern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Over the years, FS archaeologists on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest and Comanche-Cimarron National Grassland (PSICC) have accumulated materials while recording and evaluating historic and prehistoric sites. We need your help to properly curate these artifacts. Participants will help clean, identify, analyze, and package some of Colorado's most important cultural resources. We encourage both those with archeological curation experience and the interested neophyte to apply. In addition, if the weather permits, there may be an opportunity to conduct ground surveys or site and feature relocation activities associated with the nursery.
Number of openings: 8-10
Special skills: Archaeological curation experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 16 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Housing provided in FS barracks at Monument Fire Center, ten rooms, restroom and showers, full kitchen (cook house); motels and full services located in Monument and Colorado Springs (make reservations well in advance); volunteers responsible for personal bedding and meals
Nearest towns: This office project will be conducted in the town of Monument; Colorado Springs, 10 miles
Applications due: January 17, 2011
CO-4014
June 20-24, 2011
Must commit to full session
Derby Cabin, on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, is located about 2 miles southwest of Tarryall Reservoir. In 1894, the Derby family settled this plot of land and set up homestead and ranch. The family transferred the deed to the land and property in 1900. Thereafter, the cabin and land passed among several owners until, in 1994, it was acquired by the Forest Service. The remaining structure on the land is an excellent example of late 19th/early 20th-century log architecture, and relates the history of larger ranching operations in this region. Unfortunately, due to the effects of time and lack of use, the historic cabin has fallen into disrepair and is need of our help.
This year, under the direction of HistoriCorps, PIT Volunteers and Forest staff will stabilize and rehabilitate Derby Cabin. Work at the site will include the removal of fill and re-establishment of positive drainage around the cabin's elevations, re-establishment of a dry-stack foundation between points along the base of the building, and replacement or repair of deteriorated logs as needed. We will also apply daubing in spacing between logs, remove boxed-in fascia, cut rafter tails, remove existing windows and framing, and install reconstructed, wood-sashed windows and rough-sawn trim in existing window openings. The rehabilitated Derby Cabin will serve as an interpretative site for the Forest. The project is designed to expose volunteers to the processes of historic restoration and to provide and optimize learning opportunities. Tools and safety equipment will be provided by HistoriCorps. Join us this summer as we reconstruct the past!
Number of openings: 12
Special skills: Volunteers must be physically capable of sustained activity, often involving heavy lifting, and must be willing to work long days in variable weather conditions; previous construction experience is preferred, but not required
Minimum age: 16 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and small trailer/pop-up camping available at no charge at Tarryall Reservoir; water, chemical toilet; sites available on a first come, first served basis; Fairplay is a full-service community with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Jefferson, 19 miles; Lake George, 26 miles; Fairplay, 33 miles
Applications due: Until filled!
CO-4028
September 12-16, 2011
Must commit to minimum of two days
Join the San Isabel National Forest Heritage Team for an exciting archaeological sites survey! We will be working at elevations from 8,500-9,700 feet above sea level in the beautiful central Colorado Mountains east of the Arkansas River and the town of Buena Vista. The region is home to a vast amount of archaeology, including many prehistoric, Native American sites and historic mining and railroad sites. PIT volunteers and Forest staff will conduct surveys in this culturally rich area to document new sites and update several already on record. We will use Colorado site forms to record newly discovered sites, and will enter GPS coordinates, create maps, and take photographs for each we encounter. We will be hiking in rugged terrain so good physical fitness is essential. Temperatures in early September are usually mild, with highs in the 60s-70s during the day. It can dip to the 30s and 40s at night, however, so come prepared.
We will offer Chalk Lake Campground to volunteers during the project, and Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is located less then five miles away! It will be the perfect time of year to catch the fall colors in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy the pleasant temperatures and fantastic scenery. What could be better than to spend an exciting week in this beautiful part of Colorado while helping to discover more about the history of the Trout Creek Pass area?! We hope to see you in the fall!
Number of openings: 8
Special skills: Must be physically capable of hiking moderate distances over rough terrain each day in a variety of weather conditions; previous archaeological survey and/or drawing experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old, under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent/small camper camping available at no charge at FS Chalk Lake Campground; vault toilets, no potable water, no hook-ups; other camping also available in the area (see www.recreation.gov); facilities vary, fees may apply; Buena Vista, Salida, and Leadville are full-service communities with hotels/motels, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging, food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: Buena Vista, 10 miles; Salida, 30 miles; Leadville, 40 miles
Applications due: July 18, 2011
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CO-3999
July 25-29, 2011
Must commit to minimum of 4 days
In the rough and tumble gold mining days of the 1890s, the town of Duncan, located at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, was a mining community with a population of as many as 2,000 people. The town flourished and, in addition to successful mining, boasted several successful businesses and a post office. However, the site was also under a private patent and in 1900, following a Supreme Court Case, all prospectors and miners were evicted. Most of the settlers moved south and established the town of Liberty, and the commercial businesses and residences were dismantled and taken along - all except one, the Duncan Cabin. Today, Duncan Cabin stands as the lone witness to those bygone days, and the effects of abandonment, time, and weather have taken its toll on the structure.
PIT Volunteers and Forest staff will work with HistoriCorps to restore the log cabin to its former appearance. Once complete, the structure will be open to the public for use as part of the Forest Service cabin rental program. Over the course of the project, volunteers will learn to shape replacement logs and apply chinking and daubing. Participants will also gain new skills in restoration techniques as we re-roof the building in cedar shingles and install fencing for a corral.
This is a rare opportunity for volunteers to pay a close-up, intimate visit to one of the few historic gold town sites that still exist in Colorado. We'll have to navigate a safe path through the many pristinely preserved artifacts as we work, but we will be completely immersed in the story of this cultural landmark each day of the project. After our work is complete, you'll definitely want to explore the San Luis Valley: there are various other interesting sites to be found and sights to be seen! Join us in July as we reconstruct part of the Wild, Wild West!
Number of openings: 8
Special skills: Must be physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs.; Previous historic preservation and/or construction experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Rustic tent camping on site; water, chemical toilets; all meals provided by HistoriCorps; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment and transportation
Nearest towns: Crestone, 12 miles; Moffat, 23 miles
Applications due: May 23, 2011
CO-3988
June 6-10, 2011
Must commit to minimum of 4 days
The Metalloid Mine was constructed in 1928 near the town of Creede, within a region almost wholly devoted to the mining of silver and zinc. However, this mine was a rare site, even in its day: its purpose was to extract bentonite clay, a mineral utilized in the manufacture of munitions, face powder and as an ingredient used in the manufacturing of salt water taffy! The mine closed sometime in 1937 following the death of the mine's founder, Ben Birdsey. As with many mines of its era that fell out of use, for whatever reason, the structures, timbers, rail systems, and so on were abandoned and left at the mercy of time and weather, the historic Metalloid Mine fell into disrepair and ruin. The goal of the Clay Mine PIT project will be to stabilize what remains of the site, and to restore its outward appearance for visual interpretation and educational purposes - not, of course, for it to perform its original function!
A second goal of our PIT project is to provide an opportunity for volunteers to learn about historic preservation in a hands-on manner, and to learn some of the skills involved in restoration efforts. Participants will learn to repair main support posts and braces; to tighten structural framing connections; replace missing wall planks on the ore bin; to construct a framed enclosure for the open bin top, trestle, log cross ties, and railing that accessed the bin; and to sheath and roof the framed structure.
We will provide all of the meals for volunteers during the dates of the project, and there is a lot to see and do in the area, so we hope you will join us in June as we reconstruct part of Colorado's past!
Number of openings: 12
Special skills: Must be physically capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs., and should be comfortable climbing and working on scaffolding; previous historic preservation and/or construction experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Tent camping at no charge on FS bunkhouse grounds near Creede; water, flush toilets, bathhouse; all meals provided; RV camping available at Thirty-Mile Campground (~20 miles from work site); facilities vary, fees apply; Creede is a full-service community with hotels/motels, B&Bs, restaurants, and a full range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment/lodging, and transportation
Nearest towns: Creede, 2 miles; South Fork, 22 miles; Del Norte, 37 miles
Applications due: Until filled!