Five Different Opportunities to Volunteer for Big South Fork’s National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27

Date: September 22, 2014
Contact: Wallace Linder, 423-569-9778
Contact: Matt Hudson, 423-346-6294

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27, 2014. National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event in which eight federal agencies as well as other groups partner together to maintain and protect the environment. Anyone wishing to volunteer on Saturday has a choice of working at five different projects in the park.

On the Kentucky side of the park, volunteers should be at the Blue Heron Maintenance building located off Highway 742 near the Blue Heron Campground by 9:00 a.m. ET. Volunteers are needed to work on the Blue Heron Loop Trail and Yahoo Falls area and work will include trash pickup, installing signs, and clearing trails.

Volunteers can also work on the Honey Creek Loop and need to gather at the Honey Creek Look Trailhead at 9:00 am. Activities will consist of completing the new John Muir section that connects to Honey Creek Loop.

There will be a group gathering at the Oscar Blevins Farm at 9:00 a.m. Work will consist of building a board walk on the Oscar Blevins loop trail and general trail maintenance.

Another group will gather at the Bandy Creek Amphitheater parking area at 9:00 a.m. Participants can work on clearing, blazing,and water-bar cleaning of bike trails or help with litter pick up, clearing Bandy Creek loop, and other trails in the Bandy Creek Area.

Volunteers can also gather at the Leatherwood Ford Trailhead at 9:00 a.m. Work will consist of blazing the John MuirTrail.

Everyone should wear sturdy shoes and bring bug spray and drinking water. All projects will be completed by 2:00 p.m. More information can be found at www.publiclandsday.org, or you may call Wally Linder at [phone].