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The Trip

Valley Forge National Historical Park was established in 1893 as Pennsylvania's first state park. It was transferred to the National Park System in 1976 to celebrate the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This 3,500-acre park is the site of the six-month winter encampment (December 1777 to June 1778) of the Continental Army. Under General George Washington, 12,000 troops made their winter quarters at Valley Forge. The encampment was just 22 miles from the Continental Capital of Philadelphia which was occupied by British troops at the time.

That winter at Valley Forge over 2,000 soldiers died from starvation, disease, and the bitter cold. Today, Valley Forge National Historical Park commemorates and preserves that historical period of the American Revolution. The colonial house used by General Washington as his headquarters has been restored. The log cabins that were constructed by the soldiers for living quarters have also been restored. Artifacts found during excavation can be viewed at the visitors' center museum. Defensive earthworks can still be seen. There are a variety of interpretive programs conducted by park rangers, as well as 26 miles of hiking trails at the park.

The Project

The mission of the National Park Service at Valley Forge is to preserve the historical and natural resources within the park. Our project will be to assist them in this task. We have a variety of possible projects including crayfish removal, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, or assistance with the fall whitetail deer and bat counts. The NPS staff will supply all tools, training, and supervision of the work project. No experience is required and beginners are welcome. There will be a variety of tasks suited to various skills and ability levels.

Itinerary

We will meet in the afternoon of October 20, at the Park Welcome Center. The Park will host a meet and greet reception and we will discuss our schedule for the week and eat our first dinner together. We will start our project the following morning, work for two days, and then take a day off to explore the area on our own or possibly go to another local historical area. Then we will work two more days, then rest and relax during another free day. Our trip will end on October 27 after breakfast. Throughout the week we will also enjoy guided tours of the park and ranger or docent-led hikes.

There is an abundance of historical and recreational opportunities in the Valley Forge area. Possible off day excursions include:

• In Philadelphia there is the Independence Park Area with a wealth of restored, historic buildings, or the Parkway Museum Area with five nationally known museums and Boat House Row, and the Pennsylvania Dutch-run Reading Terminal Market.
• For History Lovers: Washington's Crossing State Park, the artists' village of New Hope, Hopewell Furnace (site of an Iron Plantation) and Steamtown National Historic Site (dedicated to the Steam Railways).
• For Outdoor Lovers: Pocono Mountains Recreation Area, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Hawk Mountain (world's oldest raptor sanctuary), the Delaware Canal, and the Appalachian Trail.

We will be contacting participants about possible day-off activities.

Getting There

Valley Forge is located about one hour north of Philadelphia. A hotel shuttle operates between the Philadelphia airport and the Sheraton Hotel in King of Prussia, five minutes from Valley Forge National Historical Park. You are responsible for your own transportation to the park and for any accommodations you may need before or after the trip. As soon as a complete list of participants is available, the leader will send copies to all trip members to facilitate carpool arrangements.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in the two-story, restored farmhouse that was used by General Marquis de Lafayette during the winter encampment. There are four bedrooms, so please be prepared to share your sleeping space. We will also be sharing the 2.5 bathrooms. Everyone should bring their own sleeping bag and towel. Our meals will be prepared in a kitchen that is the newest addition to the historic structure.

Great food is always a highlight of our trips. We provide healthy, nutritious, high-protein vegetarian meals; there will be meat available at some meals. We have a group commissary with everyone taking turns in food preparation. Before applying for the trip, people with food allergies and/or strong food preferences must contact the cook to see if accommodations are possible.

Trip Difficulty

The service work may be difficult at times, but it will be varied enough so that you can work at a comfortable pace. Safety is the primary concern on all of our service trips. No one will be asked to work beyond his or her capacity.

Our workday will begin around 8:00 a.m. We'll eat lunch wherever we happen to be at noon and we'll call frequent water and rest breaks. We should finish for the day around 4 p.m. After work, we will have optional activities around the park.

Late-night and pre-dawn temperatures during October may be quite cool. Highs during the day should be in the 60s or 70s. There may be some cool and cloudy days, and possibly rain. Please come prepared for any kind of weather.

Equipment and Clothing

Detailed equipment and clothing lists will be sent to all participants well in advance of our departure date. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag and toiletry items including towels.

References

• Valley Forge National Historical Park: www.nps.gov/vafo
• Valley Forge Convention and Visitor's Bureau: www.valleyforge.org
• Virtual Marching Tour of the American Revolutionary War: www.ushistory.org/march
• Bodle, Wayne, The Valley Forge Winter.
• McCullough, David, 1776.
• Von Steuban, Baron, Revolutionary War Drill Manual.

Conservation

Valley Forge faces many conservation obstacles: overpopulation of white tailed deer, invasive plant species, increased urbanization and traffic congestion. We hope to attend or host a talk by Park Natural Resource Staff on conservation issues.

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

An avid outdoor enthusiast, Bob Groff has led and participated in several service trips. He lives in Campbell, California, and is a frequent hiker and cyclist. Bob has hiked in several national parks, national forests and wilderness areas in California, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Colorado. His objective is for you to enjoy the wonderful solitude of the backcountry. Bob is happy to answer any questions you may have about the trip or the area, and we will send bulletins prior to the trip with further details.

E-mail: rw_groff@hotmail.com

Cook:

Mollie Dean enjoys cooking for the interesting people who come to service trips and likes making meals be a fun part of the trip. She likes restoring habitat and learning about the issues particular to each park. At home in Minneapolis, she gardens, coordinates vegetable-growing classes, bikes, and reads. If you have any concerns about the food on the trip, please contact her at molliedean@msn.com.

Email: molliedean@msn.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners