AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - October 2016

October 2016
Brought to you by Joe Harold, Appalachian Trail Museum Manager

Our last busy weekend is happening now and hopefully lots of visitors are getting to see our exhibits.  The grounds are looking good and before long, the old grist mill will be going to sleep for a while.  

Thanks to all of you for your help.  It is certainly appreciated.

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Troop 551 Comes to Work at the Museum 

Back in September, Barry Flicker, our steadfast groundskeeper, brought 22 Boy Scouts and 13 adults for a weekend at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.  Along with camping and hiking, the boys came to the Museum to do a service project. 

As the ramp work had continued, we had moved a lot of dirt around on the North side of the building.  The scouts came in and helped spread it all out.  They also moved a lot of rocks closer to the building where we will reconstruct the old mill race and also moved all the construction debris to the back of the building.  The scouts capped it all off by planting a tree and staining the benches at the front of the building.  

The troop had started out Saturday morning on a 5.3 mile guided hike led by Forest Ranger Todd Ottinger, Michaux State Forest Ranger,  and  culminated at the AT Museum where the troop had lunch and a training session on “leave no trace” as presented by Ms. Marian Orlousky, Northern Resource Management Coordinator for the AT Trail Conservancy. 

The Troop accomplished many goals for advancement on their hike with Ranger Ottinger from Woodrow Road to the Museum. They identified plants, trees, wildlife, and completed the morning with Ms. Orlousky’s informational training session about the proper way to safe-guard the trail along with the “ leave no trace lesson” and history of the trail.  The scouts received a badge for the completion of this training.

Mr. Ed Riggs then spoke to the Troop and guided them on a tour of the Museum. After the tour, the Troop made short work of the task at hand as they skillfully completed the tasks we had set out for them.

The difference was night and day for anyone who has been keeping track.  That whole area is really coming together with the ramp work finishing up with Jack and his crew, the plantings that are going in supervised by Howard and now this troop's work. It is all starting to look like a finished product.

We still have some work to do, but Troop 551 really helped bring it together.
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The Search Has Ended

After several months of interviews and ten serious applicants, the A.T. Museum Hiring Committee consisting of Larry Luxenberg, Gwen Loose and Margy Schmidt have selected and offered my job as manager to Nathaniel Shank.  He has graciously accepted. 

Nathaniel is from nearby Fairfield, PA and currently works as a Naturalist at the Strawberry Hill Preserve and as a Cider Room manager in Biglerville.  Nathaniel has also completed traverses of the Pacific Crest Trail and the A.T.  

I have started the process of overwhelming Nathaniel with all the duties and responsibilities I have to pass on.  I'm pretty sure his head is spinning and I have only just begun.  He is a quick study though and is rapidly coming up to speed.

Please welcome Nathaniel and help him to be as successful as I have been.  He can't do it without you.

Next month we will learn a little more about Nathaniel as he writes his first article for this Newsletter.  
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Ramp Update 

Just a few more pictures of the ramp as it nears completion.

The Scouts made quick work of the piles of dirt and slag

Some more trees go in

Brick work almost done

Just one section left (it has since been completed)

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Things Coming Down the Trail

October 15th and 16th, 2016 - Fall Furnace Fest
October 30th, 2016 - Museum closes for the season
October 31st, 2016 - Road Scholar Hike
November 20th, 2016 - Volunteer Recognition Dinner