WA-3886
March 15–19, 2010
Must commit to full session
The Colville National Forest needs your help! A backlog of historic and pre-historic artifacts collected during excavations over the last four years need to be processed. Objects will be cleaned, catalogued, and made ready for museum accession. Volunteers will assist in all aspects of curation, including helping to identify some of those pesky historical artifacts.
Number of openings: 8
Special skills: Diligence and attention to detail will be appreciated; previous curation experience and/or background in historical artifact identification helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 18 years old
Facilities: Restrooms and water available at project site (Colville National Forest's Headquarters building) during work hours; Colville is a full-service community with a range of amenities, including a number of motels at reasonable rates; RV parks also available in the area; volunteers responsible for personal gear, food, water, and transportation
Nearest towns: This office project will take place in Colville
Applications due: January 11, 2010
WA-3892
July 19-22; 26-29, 2010
Must commit to one full session; may participate in both
The Columbia Mountain Lookout Cabin is the oldest structure within the Colville National Forest and one of the oldest standing administrative buildings in the Pacific Northwest. The cabin was built as part of a fire lookout between 1914 and 1916, and was in regular use until the 1930s when a live-in tower structure replaced it. Over the years, this historic landmark fell into disrepair and, until recently, was in imminent danger of collapse. In August of last year, the Colville N.F. hosted a Passport in Time project to restore and stabilize the cabin. PIT volunteers helped completely dismantle the structure and replace rotten wall logs and the floor with new, hand-squared timbers. However, the reconstruction effort begun at the end of the project was not completed. This year, PIT volunteers and Colville N.F. staff will finish reassembling the structure and ensure that the new components mesh well with the remaining original parts. Additionally, we plan to install a new shake roof, shutters for the windows, and a door.
There is a moderately difficult, 3-mile hike from the trailhead to the project area at the summit of Columbia Mountain (~7,000' asl) every day. However, this beautiful area has much to offer visitors, so the route is worth the effort. We hope you will join us!
Number of openings: 4
Special skills: Applicants must be in good physical condition and able to hike long distances each day at high elevations over difficult terrain in a variety of weather conditions; previous carpentry, roofing, and/or historic building restoration experience helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 12 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping at Kettle Crest trailhead or at the nearby FS campground; vault toilet, no hookups; water and a cook tent with stoves provided by FS; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and extra water
Nearest towns: Republic, 17 miles; Kettle Falls, 22 miles; Colville, 26 miles
Applications due: May 17, 2010
WA-3893
August 2-6, 2010
Must commit to full session
Uptagrafft Homestead dates to 1914 and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The main house, a stable, and a root cellar still remain and the homestead has been a Forest Service interpretive site for a number of years. It represents one of the better preserved historic homesteads on the Colville National Forest, but it has fallen into disrepair over time and is in need of some help. From 2002-2008, Passport in Time volunteers have worked to restore the main building and have assisted with the preservation of the homestead's other components. This year, PIT volunteers and Colville NF staff will complete the final stages of the restoration. Much of the work will focus on the historic cabin, where we will finish the log chinking and install doors. We will also rebuild a manger in the stable, rat-proof the homestead structures, and stabilize the root cellar. In the 1980s, the Forest Service constructed a rough wooden "worm" fence around the buildings to protect them while at the same time, fitting in with the historic period. Our final task will be to restore the fence to continue to protect the site from off-road vehicles, which frequent a nearby trail.
The past projects have been fun and very successful. Please come and join us in putting the finishing touches on this historic landmark!
Number of openings: 5
Special skills: Carpentry skills helpful, but not required
Minimum age: 15 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and self-contained RV camping at nearby FS trailhead campground; water, toilet facilities; chemical toilet at work site; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and extra water
Nearest towns: Cusick, 5 miles; Newport, 22 miles
Applications due: May 31, 2010
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WA-3931
July 26-30; August 2-6, 2010
Must commit to one full session; may participate in both
The historic Red Mountain Fire Lookout is situated 4,965 feet above sea level on a mountain peak north of the Columbia River Gorge at the southern edge of Indian Heaven Wilderness. The cabin, a 15 x 15 foot structure, sits atop a 10-foot tower, and is accessible by road. The overall construction represents the last standard lookout design developed by the Forest Service in the 1950s. In December 2006, a ferocious windstorm damaged several fire lookouts in the Washington Cascades; Red Mountain Lookout sustained severe damage. However, through the efforts of PIT volunteers, the lookout has since been rescued! PIT volunteers began to repair the damage in 2007. Since that time, the walls and flooring have been replaced and a new roof has been installed and coated to protect it during the winter. Period windows, taken from a lookout on the Ochoco NF, were installed in 2008 to replace the aluminum windows installed in the 1980s. There is more to do this year, so once again, we need your help! Volunteers will work with Forest Service staff to complete the restoration and rehabilitation of the structure in preparation for future public use. Team members will also begin work on the associated garage and living quarters, which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and used during World War II by Aircraft Warning Service(AWS) observers.
This year at the lookout, we will lay interior floor tile, install trim, paint the interior and exterior, and complete deck repair on the catwalk. Work at the Red Mountain garage and quarters will include the salvage of materials - specifically, siding and windows - from another CCC-built garage at a nearby ranger station, which will be used to repair the foundation and frame. Our previous projects have been very successful, so please join us as we put this historic observation station back in use!
Number of openings: 16 (8 per session)
Special skills: Previous carpentry, construction, or historic building restoration experience preferred, but not required
Minimum age: 15 years old; under 18 with a responsible adult
Facilities: Tent and RV camping at no charge at Peterson Prairie Campground (~7 miles from project site); vault toilets, water, no hookups; Trout Lake is a full-service community with motel, B&Bs, restaurants, and a range of other amenities; volunteers responsible for personal camping equipment, food, and transportation
Nearest towns: Trout Lake, 15 miles
Applications due: May 24, 2010