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Service Trips
Service Trips for Spring 2013
Trips range from picking up trash to trail maintenance and trail building. Some trips are short in duration as we are helping parks and rivers in the local area, while other trips may be a 2-3 hour drive, and thus an all day trip.
Our trips are designed for a group of 10-15 people, and require no previous experience. Each trip is led by Outdoor Rec. Trip Coordinators who are experienced in leading trips. Any instruction pertinent to the activity will be provided by the trip coordinators or other volunteers on site.
FEBRUARY 16 (Saturday)
Park Clean-Up
Bells Bend Park, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Friday, Feb. 8
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday, 2/12 at 5:00 PM
Bells Bend is another relatively new park in Nashville that is being developed as a more natural park, rather than a “ball field park”. We will be doing some site preservation work around the historic Buchanan House, built in 1842. Specifically, we will remove invasive plant species and pick up trash and debris from around the house. Experienced park staff and equipment will be provided to help us. Lunch is also provided, and hiking afterward is an option. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 3 pm.
MARCH 16 (Saturday)
TRAIL BUILDING (for a new mountain bike trail!)
Bells Bend Park, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Thursday, March 14
Bells Bend Park is a relatively new park in Nashville that is being developed as a more natural park, rather than a “ball field park”. This time we will work on building a new mountain bike trail! Experienced trail volunteers and equipment will be provided to help us. No prior experience is necessary. Lunch is also provided, and hiking afterward is an option. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 3 pm.
APRIL 6 (Saturday)
TREE PLANTING
Harpeth River State Park, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Tuesday, April 2
Pre-Trip Meeting: Tuesday 4/2 at 5:00 PM
Harpeth River Watershed Association will provide a service project for 6-12 students from Vanderbilt University. Students will plant bare-root saplings into pots. The trees are a surplus from this season’s tree planting projects, and must get in the ground while still dormant. Trees will be a mix of native species including but not limited to white swamp oak, sycamore, silver maple, service berry, red mulberry. The trees will be used to reforest stream buffers in the next planting season. This project is made possible thanks to The Dan and Margaret Maddox Charitable Fund for their support of the Fish Habitat Restoration Initiative, a collaborative
effort with the Tennessee Environmental Council, to conduct stream restoration projects around
middle TN. Gloves, tools, and lunch will be provided. Afterwards there will be an optional hike to a nice overlook. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 5 pm.
APRIL 7 (Sunday)
LAKE CLEAN-UP / CANOEING
Cordell Hull Lake, TN
Cost: FREE!
Sign-up by: Tuesday, April 2
Pre-Trip Meeting: Wednesday, 4/3 at 6:00 PM
At points during our hike along the north side of the lake we have noticed trash washed up on the former shorelines from the summer before. By canoeing around the lake, we can stop and pick up trash, using the canoes to do the hauling. This is a pretty area worthy of our time. Beginners are welcome. All paddling equipment, gloves, pick-up sticks, and lunch are provided. Estimated trip duration: 8 am – 5 pm.
Other Local Service Opportunites
Here are some opportunities for you to give service on your own.
Beaman Park in the northwest corner of Nashville
Volunteer Opportunities The Friends of Beaman Park would be happy to arrange a volunteer work opportunity for your organization or group of friends. We have trailbuilding, illegal dumpsite cleanup and exotic plant species removal work projects ready to go. We can usually work around your schedule if it is a Saturday or Sunday. Please let us know if you have a date or dates in mind.
Please contact: Nancy Dorman, Friends of Beaman Park, at nancydorman@yahoo.com or call 615-202-5891.
Harpeth River Watershed Association Service Days
Saturday, March 9 from 9 AM – 12 PM
What: A Tree Planting
Where: Off Hwy 70, Cheatham Co. This event is open to volunteers of all ages!
Saturday, March 16 from 9 AM – 12 PM
What: A Tree Planting
Where: Burns, TN, Dickson Co. This event is open to volunteers of all ages!
4th Saturday of the Month
Radnor Lake State Natural Area: Trail Maintenance from 8:00 AM – 12 noon
Radnor Lake is a heavily used park located about 20 minutes from campus. Help other volunteers maintain the almost 5 miles of trails in the park. Work sometimes includes moving and laying down new mulch / wood chips on the hiking trails. It could also include exotic plant removal or the the planting of native vegetation. Friends of Radnor Lake provide bottled water, insect repellent, gloves, and other supplies so all we need is for you to show up ready to work. For more info and pictures go to http://www.radnorlake.org/volunteer.asp. For directions to the park from VU, go to http://www.vanderbilt.edu/studentrec/outdoorrec/wp-content/uploads/radnor.pdf
Trip Information
Most trips are designed for a small group of people (10-12), and many of the trips require no previous experience. The fee for each trip covers the activity, transportation, in-camp food, camping fees, and group equipment. For more information, look for flyers around campus or stop by the Outdoor Recreation Center (along Children’s Way and the Intramural Fields behind the Student Recreation Center) during rental hours. This is also where trip sign-up takes place. Trips are open to all VU students, faculty, staff, and Rec. Center members. Alcohol is not permitted on any trip.