Registration Begins Today for Volunteer Vacations

Registration for Washington Trails Association's backcountry work parties opens today at 10am. On the agenda for 2012 are 28 adult Volunteer Vacations, 16 Youth Vacations and 39 Backcountry Response Team (BCRT) trips.

Of the more than 100,000 hours of work performed by WTA volunteers each year, 40 percent of it comes by way of these programs. For Volunteer Vacations, hikers sign up for a week of trail maintenance with up to ten other crew members. They work on a trail project during the day and have fun in camp during their off-time, making great friends in the process.

The price of a Volunteer Vacation is $195 ($235 non-member) for the first trip and $145 for additional trips. All meals are included, and personal gear and supplies are transported to the camp for all but the backcountry trips.

Youth Vacations are similar to Volunteer Vacations but are designed specifically for high school students, ages 14-18. Many teens report that a week spent improving trails is a transformative experience and nearly half return each year for another trip. The cost of Youth Vacations are the same as Volunteer Vacations. In addition, WTA front-country trips also include tent and sleeping gear.

Backcountry Response Teams are three to eight days in length. WTA provides the tools, but otherwise they are self-supported. Most, but not all, are backpacking trips that access trail work in areas that day-trips cannot. These are offered at no cost.

WTA's backcountry work parties are extremely popular. Some fill up within minutes. But there are so many options that volunteers should be able to find an excellent trip long after registration begins.

>> 2012 Volunteer Vacation schedule
>> 2012 Youth Vacation schedule (teens 14-18)
>> 2012 Backcountry Response Team schedule
>> Full work party schedule, including day trips