Community Service Trail Project

Great Smoky Mountains News Release

Immediate Release Contact: Nancy Gray
Date: April 2, 2010 865/436-1208

Smokies Celebrates National Park Week with a Community Service Trail Project

On Sunday, April 25 from 10 am to 5 pm, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will celebrate National Park Week with a community service project that will involve performing trail improvements to the Elkmont Nature Trail located at the Elkmont Campground near Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Thanks to the Coca-Cola Foundation and the National Park Foundation, this community service project will provide families and individuals an opportunity to do hands-on trail work and become involved in creating a better environment. The Elkmont Nature Trail is an easy ¾ mile self-guided loop. The project will include tasks for both youth and adults, from cutting back vegetation to using hand tools to repair sections of trail tread and create water bars (a support structure that diverts water away from a trail).

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will provide all the necessary equipment needed, including work gloves, for the project. Volunteers should come prepared to work for a day in the woods. It is suggested that participants dress in good sturdy foot wear and long pants. Since volunteers will be working a full day, it will be necessary to pack a lunch and plenty of water. Youth volunteers must be accompanied by an adult and are required to be at least 10 years of age.

To attend this event, interested persons need to RSVP by April 19 to the Trails & Facilities Volunteer Coordinator, Christine Hoyer, at 828-497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov.

This service project is being made possible in part by the Active Trails! grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of the Coca-Cola Foundation, a Proud Partner of America’s National Parks. The Active Trails! grant was designed to enhance your National Parks’ trail resources and promote healthy lifestyles.

-NPS-