Volunteers have been the backbone of the Green Mountain Club for more than a century. Without their time, energy, and knowledge, the trail would not exist or be managed as it is today. There are dozens of ways to get involved both on and off the trail.
Volunteer from Vermont
Bark Mulch Packer
Haul burlap sacks of bark mulch across backcountry terrain for use at composting privy sites. Scheduling and mulch weight is flexible to meet your needs. (This is a great way to strengthen for backpacking trips!) Learn more about mulch packing and sign up.
Citizen Scientist
Track the effects of climate change on the northeast’s sensitive alpine plants. Take photos of plants while hiking on Mt. Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, or Mt. Abraham, and submit them to the Northeast Alpine Flower Watch project in the iNaturalist app. Your contributions are part of a large, regional data set.
Corridor Monitor
Wander Vermont’s woods to maintain boundary lines around protected land, gather natural history information, map property features, and report boundary violations. To get involved with GMC’s Stewardship Program, contact Conservation Manager Mollie Flanigan.
Information Volunteer at Barnes Camp
Meet new people, and share cultural and historical resources while staffing the historical Barnes Camp at Smugglers’ Notch. The Barnes Camp Visitor Center is open on weekends, from Memorial Day Weekend through Indigenous Peoples Day Weekend. Learn more below, and contact us to volunteer.
Learn more:
- Crush of Visitors Boosts Barnes Camp’s popularity
- Barnes Camp Reopens as Smuggler’s Notch Visitor Center
- Vermont’s New Favorite Loop Hike: Barnes Camp Loop
Outreach Ambassador
Represent the GMC at festivals, events, and gatherings throughout the state. No experience is necessary; just a love for the Long Trail and willingness to share information with the public! Contact us if interested.
Project Volunteer
Make a difference through a GMC-hosted summer camp, corporate outing, or college orientation trip. Learn more about service learning & group outings and contact us about work projects.
Section Volunteer
Join area volunteers to maintain stretches of the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, and Northeast Kingdom Trails. No experience is necessary; check the calendar of events for upcoming social outings and trail maintenance opportunities.
Learn more:
Shuttle Driver
Help hikers overcome Vermont’s limited public transportation by offering a ride to-and-from trailheads. You may charge for gas. Contact the GMC Visitor Center for more info.
Trail or Shelter Adopter
Maintain a section of trail or a GMC shelter to enhance the hiking experiences of passersby. No prior experience necessary; we’ll get you started with basic how-to’s. View a current listing of available trails and shelters.
Trailhead Steward
Improve hikers’ safety and experiences by providing general trail advice, supporting hiker preparedness, and sharing Leave No Trace ethics. Trailhead stewards are stationed at popular trailheads during peak hiking traffic. Apply to become a Trailhead Steward.
Volunteer Long Trail Patrol Crew
Camp out in Vermont’s mountains and learn to build and maintain hiking trails. No experience is required; you’ll work with a crew of eight to 10 volunteers, led by experienced staff. A one-week commitment is required, although you can stay longer. Learn more about the Volunteer Long Trail Patrol.
Volunteer from Afar
Committee Member
Support decision making around trails, communications, finances, and more through a committee or working group. Learn more.
Contributing Artist
Submit your illustrations, photos, and other creative talents to freshen GMC’s print and digital communications. Email submissions to [email protected].
Long Trail News Writer
Write about the outdoors and issues facing the hiking community, or take on a challenging writing assignment. Contact Communications Manager Chloe Miller to pitch story ideas.
