About The Crew:
This program is ideal for teens, ages 15-17, to live and work in the backcountry of the White Mountain National Forest, while engaging in a worthwhile and much appreciated service project. You can expect to have a great time in the woods, while learning and practicing trail work and backcountry skills.
The week will begin on Sunday evening with dinner and an orientation at Camp Dodge. On Monday your crew will pack all food supplies, tools, camping equipment, and personal belongings into the woods with their Crew Leaders for a five-day, four-night excursion into the backcountry. Our packs usually weigh 40 to 60 pounds. The work may involve clearing brush to better define the trail, cleaning drainage to help with erosion problems on the mountains, installing water bars and bog bridges to stabilize the trail, repairing ski trails, building cairns, working on shelters, painting blazes, and other tasks. Please remember that the work will be strenuous and demanding, and that we'll be out rain or shine.
The crew will return on Friday to Camp Dodge in time to clean up and join the Friday night barbeque at 6 p.m. Participants may leave Friday evening or Saturday morning– Friday night stay and Saturday morning breakfast is included in program cost.
Camp Life:
These crews are not all work; there are plenty of opportunities to swim, see the views, eat great food, and more. After leaving the project each day the crew heads back to camp. Spike camps are located off trail, relatively close to the project site, although some Spike Crews are based out of a backcountry shelter or tentsite.
Each morning the crew gets up and helps prepare breakfast. Our crews in the backcountry are contacted each morning by handheld radio to check in to see if any additional food or tools are needed. After breakfast, the crew takes what they need for the day, water, rain gear, lunch, tools and safety gear, and heads to the project site. The hike could be a few tenths of a mile from camp up to a mile and a half from camp.
All participants assist with some aspects of meal preparation in the backcountry. Participants will learn to cook quality meals in the woods, and there will be plenty of it. The crew builds quite an apatite over the course of the week. After dinner and cleanup the crew often plays games, tells stories, discusses conservation and environmental ethics, but most of all just kicks back and enjoys the evening in the woods. We supply all tents and group cooking equipment for the crew.
What The Volunteers Say:
"The most enjoyable part of the trip was getting outside and making a difference while having fun." Molly (2008 Spike Teen Participant)
"The work exceeded my expectations. It was challenging, especially the rock work. The most enjoyable part was lifting really heavy rocks continuously for almost an hour. Seriously." Rafer (2008 Spike Teen Participant)
"I enjoyed the physical challenges, the hiking, making water bars, and the collective team effort. It was harder than I expected, which was good. Bog bridges were satisfying to build. And, come on, I got to lift trees and boulders for a week! Extremely rewarding." William (2008 Spike Teen Participant)
2009 Dates:
June 21 - 26 (2 crews the same week)
August 9-14
August 16-21
Contribution:
$175 (AMC members)
$195 (non-members)
Register Today!
View Full 2009 Schedule
