Shasta-Trinity National Forest

News Release

US Forest Service

Shasta-Trinity National Forest

Massive volunteer effort to commence July 12

MOUNT SHASTA, Calif. (July 10, 2008) – Over 500 members of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Society, will arrive on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest July 12, to begin a five day service project rehabilitating trails, refurbishing a historic lookout and revamping comfort stations along the Pacific Crest Trail. This will be the largest national service project since World War II for the Boy Scouts.

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest was chosen as one of five project sites on five National Forests across the country over a five-week period. These service projects include 5,000 members of the Order of the Arrow providing more than 250,000 hours of service to public lands.

"The project is an opportunity to highlight the value of community service," said Brenda Tracy Acting Public Uses Staff Officer for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. "This will be one of the largest volunteer service projects ever performed on National Forest System lands."

Working closely together, the Order of the Arrow, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and numerous partners including the Backcountry Horsemen of California, have partnered to provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each youth to set an example of leadership in service.

"The Scouts have been actively planning this project since early 2004" said Public Affairs Assistant Jodi Marron. "The boy scouts worked alongside Shasta-Trinity National Forest technical experts to plan the extensive project and to gain a better understanding and appreciation of their public lands."

The ArrowCorps5/Shasta-Trinity project will consist of three major areas. The largest of these being significant trail maintenance and reconstruction of sections of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and sections of the Sisson-Callahan Trail to total approximately 150 miles of trail work. This much needed service will dramatically improve the recreational experience for thousands of annual visitors. It is anticipated that the volunteers will provide over 15,000 to 17,000 person-hours of work.

In addition to trail work, Arrowmen will help refurbish the Little Mt. Hoffman Lookout and four comfort stations. The final portion of the project will be illegal dumpsite cleanup.

"Building on the Forest Service traditions of conservation education, we will work with the scouts to ensure they have an opportunity to experience the great outdoors during this project," said Forest Supervisor Sharon Heywood.

Once the work is completed, scouts will be able to enjoy a day of recreation and learn about the National Forest. The scouts will be able to choose from numerous recreational opportunities like canoeing, kayaking, fishing, climbing and going to Shasta Caverns.

"Volunteers are important to both the forest and forest visitors," said Tracy. "The hard work and effort that went into planning this event coupled with hours of volunteer labor will provide a lasting impact for the recreation experiences of our visitors for years to come."

The scouts will have an Incident Command Post set up at the Mt. Shasta Ski Park. There will be 13 to 15 crews consisting of 21 people. The crews will stay in spike camps in the backcountry. The scouts will pack enough supplies and food to be on the trails for four days.

"This is just one of the dozens of projects around the country to get kids out into the forest – face to face with nature, up close and personal with forests," said Heywood. “

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