Shared by Cathy Dieter, as Guest Blogger.

There is an opportunity for 15 to 30 campers to join in a project to refurbish some of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)-built group cabins to preserve them for new generations of young campers at Pocahontas State Park. Dates are October 26 through November 6, 2020.  Volunteers can sign up for one or both weeks of this 2020 Cabin Work Week event. 

The cabins were built in the late 1930s and remained largely
unchanged before this project

In exchange for free camping during the project, the volunteers will work together to effect essential repairs to these structures, doing painting, light carpentry and roof repairs.

What’s It All About
Over eighty years ago, the vision to build a park that would make the outdoors more accessible to urban youth from the nearby cities was a novel one. Creating an appreciation in them of the natural world through opportunities for hiking, camping, and boating had been considered a luxury afforded only to the wealthy. To change that view, the new vision of an accessible outdoors was turned into the reality that became Pocahontas State Park by the young men of the CCC. 

Chickahominy Campfire Circle

They built the park, including the unique group cabin sites, which would accommodate generations of youth groups coming to camp, many for the first time. In the process, the lives of both these men and the groups the park served over the years were changed dramatically for the better, and the original vision fulfilled. As these cabins have aged, they need more extensive work to stabilize them so they can be used for another 80 years. This is the focus of this year’s 3rd annual Cabin Work Week, which will once again assemble a group of volunteers to help with this work.

Take it from first-hand experience

Wondering what’s involved?  Perhaps the following excerpts from Megan Booz’s (one of last year’s volunteers) social media posts can help give you an idea of the work – and fun – involved.  
 
11/4: Last night after setting up camp this good group took good care of me. They welcomed me into the second week with camaraderie and kindness. Snacks last night, a space heater in my tent!, peaches and pancakes this morning! I wish I took more pics at the worksite but I will tomorrow. Great first night. Great first day!

Megan's campfire

11/4: Back at the site, showered and happy. These volunteers work hard, no fooling!

11/5: Hard working day

Megan with Bobbi and Don

11/5: Fun night out for tacos with the gang.

Night out at The Brew for tacos

11/6: Chillin in the tent. Nighttime. It’s only 8pm but I am soo tired. Long long long workdays. Outside. Building, cleaning, scrapping, lifting, carrying, painting, bending over, squatting, kneeling, crawling. But really, really awesome people volunteer to be a part of this, and I just gotta say I’m definitely going to be here again next year. And if there’s anybody out there the tiniest bit interested in this, you should seriously look into it. Come camp free for a week, campers - tents - all ages. And just be a part of something bigger than yourself. This park alone boasts the most volunteer hours out of any park in Virginia. Check out Pocahontas State Park in Virginia guys. Check out Cabin Work Week next year in October November. Same Time Same Place. You should give it a shot. It’s worth it.

11/6: This sunset guys! This sunset.

Sunset over Beaver Lake

11/6: Going up on a roof!!

11/7: I'm a roofer now!😜 Lol

11/8: Be apart of this! All ages, all shapes and sizes, all skill levels. This is an amazing experience.

11/9: This is absolutely one of the most special and momentous events in my life.

Megan on the hayride

WE NEED YOUR HELP - Cabin Work Weeks 2020

Intrigued? 

The success of the first two Cabin Work Weeks generated a lot of support to continue another year. Over the expanded 2 week event in 2019, the park hosted an enthusiastic team to carry on the restoration work, completing the refurbishing of an entire group cabin site. In 2020, we hope to do the same for one more of the six remaining group cabin sites.

Volunteer group photo, 2019 CCC Cabin Work Week

The Garden Club of Virginia has given us another grant to help launch this year’s efforts. With the number of cabins at the park needing attention, there will be no shortage of work for the volunteers. And again this year, the volunteers will receive free camping while working on the project.

After the work ends each day and on weekends, the participants will get a chance to relax and enjoy some of the park’s extensive offerings. There are miles of hiking trails and nationally recognized mountain-biking trails. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the CCC at Pocahontas by touring the park’s CCC museum, housed in one of the original buildings. Other fun activities are being planned such as hay rides and campfires to balance the work time with leisure.

If you would like to help, but can’t volunteer during the Cabin Work Week, there are other ways to contribute. The Friends of Pocahontas State Park coordinates work days at the cabins throughout the year. Also, tax-deductible contributions for this effort can be made through the Friends group to help to defray the cost of the materials that are needed to effect the repairs.  

Marguerite Pagenkopp, the "Screen Queen," installed
nearly 100 screens in the cabins over the 2-week volunteer project

MORE INFO AND HOW TO APPLY

Working age minimum is 18 – we’re going to need volunteers who can use power tools. Ages 13 and up are welcome to help with an adult age 21 and older (just no power tool usage). Our jobs will include: re-roofing, replacing outside wood walls, pressure washing, replacing wooden flooring, painting and staining over each week’s 5 days of work. The range of projects on the selected buildings gives us a lot of flexibility in skill levels.  

Those interested in this unique opportunity should email the Volunteer Coordinator at Pocahontas State Park today to express interest or learn more, as space is limited. This is a chance to become another link in a chain that goes back 80 years.

Deadline to apply is August 31, 2020.