Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew

Spend a beautiful Appalachian autumn helping to build and repair the Appalachian Trail. Based from an old farmstead in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic crew covers the Appalachian Trail from Virginia's Rockfish Gap to the New York-Connecticut state line. Sponsored by the National Park Service, ATC, and the clubs of the Mid-Atlantic region, its eight week program runs from September through October.

Get up to date information at the Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew Blog.

Crew Life

Field Life and Working Conditions

Click for more information about working conditions and life in the field.

Base Camp

The crew works from Scott Farm, along the Appalachian Trail near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Crew quarters and a common area are located in a recently constructed bunkhouse. A kitchen, showers and laundry facilities are available in the nearby farmhouse.

Crew Week

Crew members arrive on the Wednesday afternoon before their work week for a dinner and mandatory orientation session. Volunteers work a five-day week in the field, from Thursday through Monday. Volunteers are welcome to stay at base camp between sessions.

Upcoming Projects

The 2010 Trail Crew schedule will be posted soon.

Apply Today

New Volunteers: We are setting the 2010 Trail crew schedule now. If you'd like to be added to the waiting list, register here, and we'll contact you as soon as the crew schedule is finalized. Give us a call at (540) 953-3571 or email crews@appalachiantrail.org with any questions.

A.T. Trail Crew Alumni: Contact us at crews@appalachiantrail.org for an alumni application.

2009 Mid-Atlantic Crew Projects

Current Schedule Project Description
Week One FULL Thursday 9/3 to Monday 9/7 Apply today	Work along side the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club rehabilitating the side trail to the Leroy Smith Shelter and shelter water source.
Week Two & Three BOTH FULL Thursday 9/10 to Monday 9/21* Apply today *Crew will have two days off (9/15-16)	Work with the NY/NJ Trail Conference to continue construction of new trail on Bear Mountain, New York. Work will include splitting and shaping native rock and construction of stone steps and crib walls. PLEASE NOTE: The crew will remain on site for weeks 2 & 3 and will not return to base camp between weeks – we are looking for volunteers interested in working at Bear Mountain both weeks. You'll spend your days off exploring the local area, and will have an opportunity to do laundry and reconnect with civilization.
Week Four FULL Thursday 9/24 to Monday 9/28 Apply today	Continue work on a project started in 2008, installing stone steps near Wind Gap, Pennsylvania with the Batona Hiking Club.
Week Five & Six BOTH FULL Thursday 10/1 to Monday 10/12 Apply today *Crew will have two days off (10/6-7)	Work with the NY/NJ Trail Conference to continue construction of new trail on Bear Mountain, New York. Work will include splitting and shaping native rock and construction of stone steps and crib walls. PLEASE NOTE: The crew will remain on site for weeks 5 & 6 and will not return to base camp between weeks – we are looking for volunteers interested in working at Bear Mountain both weeks. You'll spend your days off exploring the local area, and will have an opportunity to do laundry and reconnect with civilization.
Week Seven FULL Thursday 10/15 to Monday 10/19 Apply today	Assist the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in relocating the Trail on the Virginia-West Virginia border south of Harpers Ferry, WV. Enjoy plush accomodations while staying at PATC's Blackburn Trail Center.
Week Eight FULL Thursday 10/22 to Tuesday 10/27 Apply today	Begin construction of a boardwalk with the NY/NJ Trail Conference near the A.T. Train Station in Pawling, NY. Using steel helical piers, an existing boardwalk will be extended across a flood plain with an expanding flooding problem. PLEASE NOTE: This week includes one extra day and lasts from Thursday to Tuesday.