Trail Maintenance Camp Set Up 0 of 5 at Citrus Tract of Withlacoochee SF

Set up camp

The FTA Suncoast Chapter will be clearing and mowing trails in the Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest south of Inverness, FL Oct 11-15. We welcome those who want to help us in this annual endeavor. This event is posted on Meetup for several days, so please sign up for each day you want to volunteer.

Oct 10 is for campers to set up at Holder Mine Campground. Camping is free for volunteers. Clearing and mowing will take place Oct 11-15 beginning at 8:00am each morning. We plan to finish by Oct 14. On Oct 15 campers will break camp and head home if we've finished. Otherwise, there may be some additional work that day after breaking camp.

We will gather at the campground at 8:00 a.m. each day and depart for the worksite at 8:30 a.m. If you arrive late, it will be difficult to join your crew. The latest we expect to be back at the campground is 5:00 p.m. We may be back earlier depending on weather conditions and if the trail section planned for that day is done.

Crews consisting of three or more workers will be assigned trail to clear and mow. Workers should be capable of walking 5-6 miles a day in varying weather conditions. Tasks to be performed are mowing, clearing the trail of large limbs ahead of the mower, and some lopping of limbs growing into the trail without slowing down the mowing and at the same time keeping the work crew together. Crew members will rotate mowing. We can train you to mow on-site. We will need a few drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles to deliver gas, water, etc. to the crews.

When you sign up please indicate in the question if you want to camp, mow, clear, lop, and/or drive. You can indicate more than one. You will be placed on the wait list when you sign up and moved to going as we fill the work crews. Those who can stay several days will be given priority for camping. Tent camping is preferred because of the limited number of campsites we have reserved.

Please send host Wes Calhoun your full name and a way to quickly contact you (phone, email) with any questions. You can do this privately by clicking Wes Calhoun in the attendees list and then clicking Chat with Wes. If you prefer to use Chat, just say so. I will send you my email and phone number in case you have questions.

Each day volunteers will sign in on a form like the one at this link.
https://floridatrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FTA-Assumption-of-Risk-March-30th-2022.pdf . If you would like credit for the hours you work, please set up a volunteer profile on the FTA Volunteer Hours Entry System at this link https://floridatrail.galaxydigital.com . Click Sign Up at the top of the page.

Trail maintenance safety information is provided for General Maintenance and Mower & Brushcutter Operation under Job Hazard Analysis at this link. https://floridatrail.org/volunteer-resources/#crew-leader-corner .