Wednesday, February 22, 2017

AT Museum Volunteer Newsletter - February 2017

February 2017
Brought to you by Nathaniel "Angry Bird" Shank, Appalachian Trail Museum Manager

One of the cold overcast days

Incredible GoPro fish eye lens view

Tetras shelves to replace boxes
                                                                                                                                                                   

AT Museum Greeter Sign Up 2017 & Docent Training

2017 Hours of operation

Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, April 30 – Weekends, Noon to 4:00PM
Saturday, May 6 to Sunday July 16 – 9:00AM to 4:00PM every day
Monday, July 17 to Sunday, August 20 – Noon to 4:00PM every day
August 23 to October 29 - Noon to 4:00PM Wednesday thru Sunday
(Open Labor Day Monday, September 4, and, Columbus Day, Monday, October, 9)


The schedule for volunteers to sign up to be a greeter can be found at: AT Museum Greeter.
The Museum Greeter Orientation will be scheduled for March 17th, 18th, 19th, 24th and 25th. These sessions (5 in total) will provide Docents with a review of the processes and refresh the memory.
Please follow the links provided to sign up for these shifts.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Museum Cleanup Day

I have added shifts on the SignUp.com website for the Museum Cleanup Day on March 18th. 

Saturday, March 18, 2017 is the date for the spring clean-up at the Appalachian Trail Museum. Activities will start at 9:00AM and we should be done by 12:00 noon or 1:00PM. If you cannot make it for the entire morning, we appreciate whatever time you can spare.

                                                                                                                                                                   

ATC Volunteer of the Month


Congratulations to Ron Bungay for being noticed as the Appalachian Trail Conservancies Volunteer of the Month in January. His work around the Museum alone has been very fruitful, but that is only a glimpse of what Ron does for the trail community. I only know a little about Ron myself, but every time I am around him I seem to learn something very useful.
Thank you for all the work you do Ron!

Here is a link to the write up by the ATC: Ron Bungay

Photo by Carol Bungay
                                                                                                                                                                   


Museum Renovations



Closet under stairs
After a little stain they will blend right in

                                                                                                                                                                   


Volunteer Picnic

I have scheduled this year's Volunteer Picnic for April 29th. This picnic is for anyone who gives their time to the A.T. Museum or are interested in getting involved. This is a great way for volunteers to get to know each other. The picnic will be held at the AT Museum around noon on a Saturday. 

If you are interested in getting involved I have created a sign up at: Volunteer Picnic

                                                                                                                                                                   

Angry Bird Trail Stories

The first rattle snake experience I've had was in the state of New Jersey while walking down the trail with my camera in hand not watching where I was stepping. Then, when I least expected it I heard the rattle about six inches from my right foot. After I jumped about six feet I turned around and began to take pictures and recorded two short videos.



Since then I have seen six more rattlers including two Mojave green rattle snakes which are the most venomous native snakes in the USA. The bite from one of these can kill a healthy adult in an hour. This photo of a Mojave green rattler was taken near Burney California.



I was keeping my eye on a group of birds that were trying to strike me when I heard some rustling in the bush I had just brushed my leg against. Thinking it was another bird I got closer to the bush and looked in. About that time I saw a rattle protruding from the branches. After jumping back I hurried to grab my camera and drew a warning sign in the sand for the hiker following me.

                                                                                                                                                                   

Coming Down the Trail
March 3rd - 5th, Appalachian Trail Kick Off Convention, Amacalola Falls State Park, GA
March 17th - 25th, Museum Greeter Orientation
March 18th, AT Museum Cleanup Day
March 25th, Museum Opening Day
April 22nd, Volunteer Picnic