About the Crew:

This popular two-week program is designed for teens, ages 16-18, who are looking for a longer and more diverse program. With 10 full days of trail work, conservation education, and two days of recreation - one including rock climbing - work and play come together for an exceptionally fulfilling experience. It is also an excellent opportunity for those interested in future work with the Park Service, Forest Service, or on our own AMC seasonal paid trail crews. 

The week will begin on Sunday evening with dinner and an orientation at AMC 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. (Clothes and other items needed only for the second week can be left at Camp Dodge during the first week.) The work may involve brushing the trail corridor, installing drainage to limit erosion problems in the mountains, quarrying and placing rock steps, building bog bridges, or a variety of other projects. Please remember that the work will be strenuous and demanding, and that we'll be out rain or shine. Our packs usually weigh 40 to 60 pounds.

After five days on the trails, the crew will return to Camp Dodge for the Friday night barbeque. The weekend activities include learning about conservation and the ways you can be conservation-minded in your everyday life. The crew will help with the garden at Camp Dodge and get to enjoy a short hike in the heart of the White Mountains. Monday will involve conservation education programming and a day trip trail project in the area. On Tuesday, you will return to the backcountry for another four days of trail work, in a different area with some variety in kind of project work. The crew will pack out on their second Friday of the program, in time to clean up and join the Friday night barbeque.  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 2-Week 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 hand-held 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, including 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 to a mile and a half from camp.

All participants assist with 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 appetite over the course of the two weeks. After dinner and cleanup, the crew plays games, tells stories, and discusses conservation and environmental ethics — but most of all they just kick back and enjoy the evening. We supply all tents and group cooking equipment for the crew.

What The Volunteers Say:

I was expecting it to challenge me, and it did. The experience met my expectations and then went way further. I had a blast while feeling good about the work I did. It was the best thing I have ever done. Mark (2011 Two-Week Crew Participant)

I loved getting to know everyone in the crew and working closely with them on everything from the trail work to cooking. The trail work was really hard which made it so much more rewarding. Emma (2011 Two-Week Crew Participant)

It was great to see hikers use the things that we built. There was great cooperation between everyone. You meet a great group of people with similar interests. Rachel (2011 Two-Week Crew Participant)

2012 Dates:
June 17-29
June 24 - July 6
July 30 - August 10
August 5-17

Contribution:
$545 (AMC members)
$600 (non-members)

Register today!

View full 2012 schedule >>

Photos: Nick Scott and Alex DeLucia