Become A Volunteer
Choose your own volunteer adventure! Your membership is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many ways you can get involved. Your volunteer support in big and little ways helps us advance our club’s mission and offers you the reward of having fun and meeting people who love the outdoors as much as you. The depth, breadth, and success of each activity listed below depend solely on volunteers.
Trail Maintenance
Trail maintenance on the Appalachian Trail and connecting trails is performed every Wednesday, weather permitting. Training and certification courses for maintainers are held periodically on topics including first aid, chainsaw operation, and crosscut sawing.
Volunteer Hours Available: 100 – 5,200 annually.
Hike Leaders
Volunteer hike leaders plan and lead hikes for members and non-members throughout the year, mostly on weekends. Hike leaders are asked to lead at least six hikes annually with no more than 20 participants. Training for new leaders and re-training for seasoned leaders is made available as necessary.
Volunteer Hours Available: 24 – 288 annually.
Trail Ambassadors
Trail Ambassadors hike the Appalachian Trail during the peak thru-hiker season (March – May) and engage hikers to offer assistance as needed. Trail Ambassador training is required and held each February.
Volunteer Hours Available: 130 – 400 annually.
Trail Magic
Club-hosted Magic Events include:
- The Chow Down is held at the Lazy Hiker during peak thru-hiker season. Check the calendar of events for this year’s details.
- Easter on the Trail volunteers hike the trail the Saturday before Easter and provide hikers with goodies.
- Our club also compiles a list of individuals and business owners who provide shuttle services for thru-hikers. Club members offer complementary short rides to thru-hikers.
Please Note: To better protect the safety of hikers and Trail Angels, officials with the U.S. Forest Service have asked that all other Trail Magic be offered in the Winding Stairs Gap Parking lot off U.S. 64.
Volunteer Hours Available: 70 – 200 annually.
School Outreach
Engage with the next generation of trail stewards. Club volunteers coordinate 2 to 3 hikes a year for Macon County school students to Siler Bald for its tremendous long-range views and access to the shelter. Additional educational programs are also offered upon request from teachers and school leadership.
Volunteer Hours Available: 20 – 60 annually.
Member Programs
A minimum of seven educational programs are organized and provided to the public each year. Use your (or our) list of nature-loving contacts to invite speakers to share their areas of interest with others.
Volunteer Hours Available: 12 – 80 annually.
Special Events
If organizing a party sounds like fun to you, here are a few ways to get involved:
- Our club picnic is held each summer. Set up, clean up, and welcome guests. Plan some music and maybe a few lawn games.
- Our Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser is held in May. Welcome guests, recruit new members, recruit raffle items from local businesses.
- When a street or heritage festival is planned in Macon, Swain, Graham or Jackson counties, club volunteers can use the opportunity to share information and recruit new members. Our most popular booth in recent years has been Franklin’s PumpkinFest in October. Depending on the size of the event, the Special Events Coordinator typically requires 3 – 5 booth workers for each event.
- Our Holiday Dinner and Award Ceremony is held in December. Work with the caterer and location representative, plan a short program, and organize the awards.
Board of Directors
In addition to the usual cast of leadership characters – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Chair – club leadership is also supported by:
- Regional Partnership Committee Representative
- Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council Representative
- Club Communications, including Newsletter Editor, Email Updates, Website Management, and Social Media
Club members are encouraged to learn more about leadership roles and to use such opportunities to engage more with the club’s mission.
Share Your Talents and Interests
Please take a minute to fill out the Online Volunteer Application so we can learn more about your talents and interests.
Log Your Volunteer Hours
All volunteers are highly encouraged to log their hours. Appalachian Trail managers require a clear picture of the total hours dedicated to support this national treasure. Plus, volunteers are recognized annually for the hours they contribute to the club during the Holiday Party in December.
Use the volunteer portal or download the mobile app.
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