Arches National Park Service Project

Join us for a week long service trip at Arches National Park. The Island in the Sky Service Project has been replaced by this Service Project at Arches.

There are numerous gorgeous hikes at Arches. So that we have a chance to do some serious hiking, the Volunteer Coordinator, Sofia Nicholson, has given us two full days off including Sunday, October 1.

Sofia will lead us on an optional interpretive hike on Friday, October 6. She writes: Folks are always welcome to spend that whole day going on different hikes, especially if folks want to do one of the longer hikes at Arches (many are over 8 miles round trip). The hike I lead will be ~4 easy round trip miles.

We will have access to showers and toilets because the Park Service will be setting up their Ablutions Trailer like they did last year. We will be camping alone in a Service Area, so there will be park equipment stashed nearby.

So what will we be doing? Likely pretty much the same as we did last year. Tumbleweed disinterment, fencepost staining and litter removal.
Probable daily working hours: 8:30ish to 3:30ish.

The $100 fee is a deposit. You show up at the campground, you get it all back. Due to the high demand we anticipate for this Service Project, we only want you to sign up if you are really really committed to showing up.

If you don't show up, your check will become a donation to Sierra Club. No refunds will be issued. If you sign up for multiple 2023 Service Projects, we only need submit one $100 deposit and paperwork.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches. You and your team will cook for the entire group on just one night. Then the other nights you will get to eat what the other teams prepare.

This includes bringing and preparing the food, Dish Patrol and washing said pots and pans. Each participant will need to bring their own dinnerware and cutlery.

You must be in excellent health in order to participate. You will be attending a trip with folks who are both vaccinated and unvaccinated for Covid-19. You will need to show us proof of vaccination. Exemptions are OK with a negative PCR test 72 hours or a negative Antigen test 24 hours before trip departure.

There will be a pre-trip face-to-face meeting in September in Austin.

The Park Service provides all tools and safety equipment. Your park admission and camping fees will be comp'ed. Sorry, no dogs allowed.

Let’s Do Service!

TO RESERVE A SPOT:

1. Write a check for $100 payable to "Austin Sierra Club". If you do not have access to a check, you can get a money order at any bank or convenience store.
2. Print, Fill out and Sign a Participation Agreement: https://tinyurl.com/SCSignUpSheet2020
3. Print, Fill out and Sign a Medical Form: https://tinyurl.com/SCMedicalForm2021
4. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, unless you test negative at the beginning of the trip as explained above
5. Mail items 1,2,3,4 to leader:
   Stan Peyton
   8408 Hanbridge Lane
   Austin TX 78736-3021
6. VERY IMPORTANT: IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR DEPOSIT AND THE ABOVE PAPERWORK WITHIN TEN DAYS OF YOUR SIGNING UP, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRIP.
   Don't sign up unless you are serious!

We will contact you for additional discussion. WAIT UNTIL APPROVED by leaders before making plane reservations.