Our events are open to all – Ozark Society membership is not required. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. All participants will need to sign a NPS Volunteer Agreement. NPS does not permit dogs on any trail or in the backcountry within BNR.
Our current project is rehabilitating the oldest part of the BRT – in the upper river area between Boxley & Pruitt. Our base of operations is the ranch house at the Steel Creek campground. We will leave that base each morning about 8:30 and try to car-pool to the trail access point. The work will generally involve either repairing the tread or clearing brush. Pulaskis, loppers, and hand saws will be the main tools. NPS supplies them but you’re free to bring your own. Some parts of the trail require us to hike as much as 6.5 miles/day and sometimes we’ll have to wade shallow creeks. We try to get back to headquarters by 3:30-4:00 PM.
If you have a current sawyer certification with NPS or USFS and have a saw, fuel, safety equipment, etc then we can put you to work. Within the Ponca Wilderness (Steel Creek to Kyle’s Landing for the BRT) a cross-cut saw would be required.
If you’re not camping with us but want to go out and work with us then meet in front of the ranch house by 8:15 AM.
You should bring your “10 essentials”, water containers (2-3L), creek-wading shoes, work gloves, safety glasses, and a day pack to carry all your stuff. We are generally working in areas open to hunting so having some blaze orange clothing is a good idea. In any case, avoid deer or elk-colored attire.
There is space around the ranch house for tents and a limited number of truck-mounted campers and trailers but with no utility hookups. There might be limited shared sleeping areas available in the house or on the covered patio. Potable water is available. There are a number of cabins, B&Bs and campgrounds in the area if you want something else.
We have use of a pretty well-equipped kitchen and there is an option to participate in our group meals. The cost is $5/day (3 meals) and must be arranged at least a week in advance. Breakfast is generally a selection of hot and cold cereals, bagels, fruit, juice, and coffee. Lunch is sandwiches (PB&J or ham/turkey with a variety of cheeses and condiments), chips, and snacks. Dinner varies. Some people will cook, everyone else washes dishes. We regularly accommodate vegetarians. Please bring reusable storage containers for your lunch. The ranch house has all the eating utensils (cup, bowl, plate, spoon, fork, knife) that we’ve needed.
If not participating in the group meals you will also need to supply your own cooking and cleaning utensils and raccoon-proof food storage.
Buffalo River Trail Crew 