Trail Maintenance Volunteer

FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ000004DkAn

ADDRESS: 11981 Rend City Road Benton, Illinois, 62812-9803

DATES: 4/1/2025 – 11/25/2025

DEPT: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The USACE at Rend Lake offers a variety of recreational opportunities year-round. Among the offerings are several trail systems including the: Rend Lake Bike Trail, Blackberry Nature Trail, Green Heron Pond Trail, and River Road Trail. These trails range from the paved 21-mile bike trail to the shorter 1/3-mile Green Heron Pond and River Road Trails. For more information on both trails and recreational opportunities please visit https://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Rend-Lake/Recreation/.

The primary duty of a Trail Maintenance Volunteer is to assist Rend Lake staff in maintaining trails and providing high quality recreational opportunities for visitors. Volunteers are required to provide an average of 20 hours of service per week and may serve the entire recreation season April through October. This position requires working in a pair. Full-time Volunteers are eligible for a full hook-up site in South Marcum Campground Volunteer Village (Turkey Hollow).

Specific duties include:

·        Removing litter, limbs, and debris from trails. Report any dead or downed trees to maintenance staff.

·        Maintain minor structures on trails (i.e., bridges, benches, trail markers, brochure holders). To include graffiti removal, painting/staining, minor repair work, and restocking of brochure holders.

·        Remove litter from trail parking lots and check parking blocks for heaving rebar.

·        Maintain clear walkways on trails through use of power tools including pole saws, weed whippers, DR brush mower, etc.

·        Remove invasive species from trail systems. The most common invasives encountered on Rend trail systems are Japanese Stilt Grass, Bush Honeysuckle, Autumn Olive, Multiflora Rose, and Common Reed.

·        Blow leaves and minor debris from Bike Trail.

Technical Competencies Needed:

Volunteer in this position will be provided with all necessary equipment and safety gear to maintain trails. Training is provided for the operation of all equipment; however, volunteer must be signed off by Corps training coordinator prior to operating. Equipment includes GSA vehicles, UTV’s, trailers, blowers, pole saws, DR brush mower, and various power/hand tools. All provided equipment will be used in accordance with manufacturer and Corps recommendations. Experience preferred but not required.

Schedule:

Duties must be performed Monday through Friday during core hours of 6 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Specific times determined by volunteer availability, but volunteer coordinator must be notified of date, time, and location volunteer is volunteering at. Hours must total 20 during a 7-day period. Days off are Saturday and Sunday.

Campsite with full hook ups provided in exchange for 20 hours service per week.

Tagged as: SPRING '25, SUMMER '25