Schedule of Dates and Locations
|
Location/Title |
Description | Arrive | Depart |
| Yosemite Valley | |||
| Yosemite Valley 1 | Yosemite Lodge Restoration | May 12 |
May 18 |
| Yosemite Valley 2 | Black Oak Restoration | June 23 |
June 29 |
| Yosemite Valley 3 |
Campground Rehabilitation |
June 30 |
July 6 |
| Yosemite Valley 4 | Campground Rehabilitation | July 7 | July 13 |
| Yosemite Valley 5 | Weed Warriors | July 14 | July 20 |
| Yosemite Valley 6 | Yosemite Lodge Seed Collection Weekend | August 23 | August 26 |
| Yosemite Valley 7 | Yosemite Lodge Landscaping Weekend | October 11 | October 15 |
| Tuolumne Meadows | |||
| Tuolumne Meadows 1 | Gaylor Lakes Restoration | August 11 |
August 17 |
| Tuolumne Meadows 2 | Social Trail Obliteration | August 18 |
August 24 |
| Tuolumne Meadows 3 | Social Trail Obliteration | August 25 |
August 31 |
Descriptions
Yosemite is a dynamic place with unpredictable weather conditions. While projects are planned to accomplish specific goals, they could be modified by the National Park Service at any time.
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley 1: Yosemite Lodge Restoration; May 12-18; $200 Fee
Experience spring in the valley while improving the ecological health surrounding Yosemite Lodge, a destination enjoyed by lodge guests as well as park visitors. Following machinery preparation, participants in this work week will de-compact soil, remove and block unsightly dirt roads, delineate walkways, and collect and spread duff (leaves and pine needles). No special skills are required. Participants must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
Project leaders and tools such as shovels, rakes, rock bars, picks, and wheelbarrows will be provided by the park concessioner, Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts (DNC). This is the first phase of a project that will be followed by work weekends of seed collection in August and landscaping in October. Base camp is a group campsite in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Meals are provided by the Conservancy at the campsite.
Yosemite Valley 2: Black Oak Restoration; June 23-29; $200 Fee
Contribute to the restoration of valuable California black oak groves near Yosemite Valley’s trails and roads. Working alongside park rangers, this team will plant local acorns and protect them from predators. Participants will walk short distances between roads and nearby field sites carrying buckets, manual soil augers, metal or wood stakes, and rolls of steel fencing and hardware cloth. They will work with a variety of hand tools including wire cutters and pliers. Tasks include digging holes with an auger, planting acorns, and constructing, securing, and attaching signs to protective cylindrical cages. Other activities may include searching for and tagging oak seedlings, measuring and recording the diameter of adult trees, and using GPS units to record tree positions. Base camp is a group site in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. No special skills are required. Participants should be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Meals are provided by the Conservancy at the campsite.
Yosemite Valley 3: Yosemite Valley Campground Rehabilitation; June 30-July 6; $200 Fee
Rehabilitate Yosemite Valley’s campgrounds and enhance the experience of thousands of campers through a great sampler of activities. Participants will replace old picnic tables with ones that conform to the specifications of the American Disabilities Act. The new tables will be assembled onsite with metal frames and pre-cut lumber. They will be swapped out with old tables as work progresses through a campground. Other tasks include removing old picnic table anchors as well as re-aligning and leveling campfire rings, parking bumper logs, and campsite posts. Hand tools, shovels, and pry bars will be provided by the Park Service and a project leader will demonstrate how to use the tools to assemble the tables. This project provides a variety of tasks for all fitness levels. Volunteers should be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Base camp is a group site in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Meals are provided by the Conservancy at the campsite. This project will also occur from July 7-13.
Yosemite Valley 4: Yosemite Valley Campground Rehabilitation; July 7-13; $200 Fee
Rehabilitate Yosemite Valley’s campgrounds and enhance the experience of thousands of campers through a great sampler of activities. Participants will replace old picnic tables with ones that conform to the specifications of the American Disabilities Act. The new tables will be assembled onsite with metal frames and pre-cut lumber. They will be swapped out with old tables as work progresses through a campground. Other tasks include removing old picnic table anchors as well as re-aligning and leveling campfire rings, parking bumper logs, and campsite posts. Hand tools, shovels, and pry bars will be provided by the Park Service and a project leader will demonstrate how to use the tools to assemble the tables. This project provides a variety of tasks for all fitness levels. Volunteers should be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Base camp is a group site in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Meals are provided by the Conservancy at the campsite. Base camp is a group site in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Meals are provided by the Conservancy at the campsite.
Yosemite Valley 5: Yosemite Valley Restoration - Weed Warriors; July 14-20; $200 Fee
Be part of the first comprehensive survey of one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Yosemite. The Park Service will train participants to survey and identify invasive plants. Using GPS units (a satellite-based navigation system) and a park ranger’s help, this team of weed warriors will map the locations of these plants, primarily in Yosemite Valley. A variety of activities are available for all fitness levels. For more information on the Invasive Plant Management Program at Yosemite, click here. Base camp is a group site in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Meals are provided by Yosemite Conservancy at the campsite.
Yosemite Valley 6: Yosemite Lodge Seed Collection Weekend; August 23-26; $75 Fee
Contribute to the completion of the Yosemite Lodge Restoration project by spending a long weekend collecting grass and flowery plant seeds which will be spread in the restored grounds of the lodge in the fall. Work alongside DNC project leaders, who will instruct you on ways to collect and store seeds gathered from the area. No special skills are required. Gardening gloves are recommended. Base camp is a group campsite in Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley. Food vouchers for Yosemite Lodge Food Court and Curry Village Pavilion are provided by Yosemite Conservancy.
Yosemite Valley 7: Yosemite Lodge Landscaping Weekend; October 11-15; $125 Fee
Experience fall in the valley while landscaping the environment surrounding Yosemite Lodge. This is the final phase of the 2013 Yosemite Lodge Restoration project. Participants in this long weekend will work alongside DNC project leaders transplanting native plants from the immediate area and spreading seeds collected during the summer. Tools used will be shovels, rakes, hand trowels, and wheelbarrows. No special skills are required. Volunteers must be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Lodging will be provided by DNC at Curry Housekeeping and food vouchers for Yosemite Lodge Food Court are provided by the Conservancy.
Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows 1: Gaylor Lakes Trail Restoration; August 11-17; $200 Fee
Restore the sensitive subalpine beauty of the Gaylor Lakes area, a popular location for fishermen, picnickers and day hikers. This project will remove trail ruts that contribute to erosion, restore meadow hydrology, and create habitat improvements for the Yosemite toad, under review as a possible endangered species. The daily hike to the meadow starts with a short but steep climb of 500 feet to the top of a ridge and descends 200 feet to the meadow below. Volunteers will hike up to two miles round trip and work at elevations over 10,000 feet daily. They will use shovels, a grip hoist (come-along), rakes, rock bars, tarps and bags. Tasks include salvaging meadow plants, collecting seed, de-compacting soils in trail ruts, transplanting plants, moving logs and rocks for obstructions, and mulching. Participants should be in strong physical condition as well as able to lift over 30 pounds and work at high elevations. Base camp is a group site in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Meals are provided by Yosemite Conservancy at the campsite.
Tuolumne Meadows 2: Social Trail Obliteration; August 18-24; $200 Fee
Make a difference in the high country by working alongside Park Service biologists and restoration ecologists in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Social trails deviate from designated paths and impact sensitive habitats and wildlife. This project obliterates these trails using shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows, and rakes to fill ruts, move logs and brush, as well as collect and spread duff (leaves and pine needles). Other tasks may include removing invasive plants, collecting seed, repairing fencing and working on other restoration projects as needed. Participants should be in strong physical condition in order to work in elevations from 8600-10,000 feet, hike to and from project areas, walk throughout the day to accomplish tasks, and lift 30 pounds. Base camp is a group site in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Meals are provided by Yosemite Conservancy at the campsite. This project will also occur from August 25-31.
Tuolumne Meadows 3: Social Trail Obliteration; August 25-31; $200 Fee
Make a difference in the high country by working alongside Park Service biologists and restoration ecologists in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Social trails deviate from designated paths and impact sensitive habitats and wildlife. This project obliterates these trails using shovels, buckets, wheelbarrows, and rakes to fill ruts, move logs and brush, as well as collect and spread duff (leaves and pine needles). Other tasks may include removing invasive plants, collecting seed, repairing fencing and working on other restoration projects as needed. Participants should be in strong physical condition in order to work in elevations from 8600-10,000 feet, hike to and from project areas, walk throughout the day to accomplish tasks, and lift 30 pounds. Base camp is a group site in Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Meals are provided by Yosemite Conservancy at the campsite.