2025 Fall Calendar
of Volunteer Events
Volunteers work in concert with the Arc’s staff to complete a variety of forest stewardship tasks, including planting trees, monitoring tree diseases, restoring rare ecosystems, creating new trails, and – most importantly – removing non-native invasive plants that threaten the balance of our most sensitive ecosystems. Volunteers work to restore, protect, and perpetuate native plant and animal communities in the Arc’s growing preserve system.
Kamama Prairie, Invasive Removal
Thursday, August 28, 2025, Meet at 9:45 am, workday is from 10 AM - 2 PM. 778 Steam Furnace Rd, Peebles, 45660 (map)
Join Land Steward Austin Newton and fellow volunteers as we continue to preserve the Prairie – a spectacularly diverse area within this preserve. Habitats such as xeric short grass prairies, recovering pastures, juniper-oak woodlands, limestone boulders, cliff edges, springs, ponds, and streams all create a unique explosion of diversity that shelters 27 state-listed rare and endangered plants. Kamama is also home to 75 of Ohio's 135 species of butterflies, and several are exceedingly rare. We will be removing invasive plants and clearing hardwood sprouts that want to take over the prairie. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch for each day, and snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
John Simon Farm, Trail Construction
Saturday & Sunday, September 6 & 7, 2025, Meet at 9:45 am, workday is from 10 AM - 2 PM. 8721 Carey’s Pond Creek Rd. Portsmouth, OH 45663, (map)
Join Land Stewards Elijah Crabtree, Ethan King, and fellow volunteers as we continue our new trail construction into the remote hill country of John Simon’s ancestral 5th-generation French Farmstead, established in 1864. And enjoy an overnight outing opportunity on the farm! If you can’t do both days, we welcome you to join us for one. This future trail will offer hikers the incredible opportunity to explore the deep woods of the historic farm's rugged hollows and ridgetops, where white oak forests have been left to flourish into a rare state of antiquity. Volunteers will assist in creating a new and exciting trail, build steps, learn how to flatten a slope, build water bars, remove tripping hazards, and more. Come for one or both workdays. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration and more information about the overnight outing, click (here).
Cave Road Sweep, Invasive Removal
Saturday, September 20, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. 7660 Cave Rd. Bainbridge, OH 45612 (map)
Join Land Steward Tim Pohlar and other Arc Staff as we clear invasive ivy and euonymus vines off and away from the iconic Cave House area and across the bridge, down into Cave Canyon. We will perform privet removal around the Hermitage Lodge, neighboring cabin, and woods area. You're invited to arrive at the Appalachian Forest Museum between 9 am and 9:45 am to meet your fellow volunteers and the Arc staff over coffee, tea, and dessert. Then at 10 am, we'll spread out in small groups to work on our assigned tasks for the day. The Highlands Nature Sanctuary is the birthplace and headquarters of the Arc of Appalachia, and arguably the Arc's most beautiful preserve. New volunteers will be trained in invasive plant identification. Sturdy shoes, work gloves, and a daypack to carry a water bottle, a light-packed lunch, and/or snacks are recommended. As a gesture of our sincere appreciation, you are cordially invited to join us at the Appalachian Forest Museum following the workday for a light lunch, fellowship, and a brief reflection of the day’s accomplishments. For registration, click (here).
Resilience, Invasive Removal - Canceled
Tuesday, October 7, meet at 9:45 am, workday is 10 am – 2 pm. 30784 Township Hwy 292 (Zeigler Rd), Logan, OH 43138 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow Forest Keepers as we tackle invasive autumn olive and multiflora rose. Our work will focus on field edges and within the meadows—habitats of critical importance. Resilience’s meadows are home to one of the largest colonies of Henslow’s sparrows in the state, as well as box turtles and woodland salamanders. Removing invasive species is essential to protecting these sensitive species and ensuring the health and biodiversity of this unique landscape. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
Cedar Run (Inner Gorge), Invasive Removal
Saturday, October 18, meet at 9:45 am, workday is 10 am – 2 pm. Elder's Landing, 7511 Browning Rd. Bainbridge 45612 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Tim Pohlar and fellow volunteers as we work to remove invasive species of bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose from the wildflower-laden ravine in the inner gorge of Cedar Run. Our work will ensure the continued preservation of the area's rich and diverse flora, fauna, and spectacular views in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and Rocky Fork Gorge. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
Junction Earthworks, Invasive Removal
Wednesday, October 22, meet at 9:45 am, workday is 10 am – 2 pm. Belleview Ave, Chillicothe, OH 45601 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow volunteers as we cut and treat bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose along the Starbrook Trail at Junction Earthworks. Here, non-native invasive shrubs and flowers had nearly displaced the native species, but through the hard work of staff and volunteers, the forested hillside is now mostly cleared of invasives, leaving room for the native flowers, trees, and shrubs to make a comeback. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
Sylvan Deep, Trail Construction
Friday, October 24 & Saturday, October 25, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. Spencer Rd. Ray, OH 45672 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow volunteers as they continue to blaze a new trail into this 106-acre, picturesque woodland in Jackson County. This property boasts immense sandstone rock features, rock shelters, ancient hemlocks, towering oaks, and deep ravines blanketed with a variety of ferns. This is a two-day, overnight (primitive camping) event. Ethan will provide dinner for all on Friday evening and a small breakfast on Saturday morning. Come for both days or just for one day. Volunteers will help with benching in the trail, building steps, learning how to level slopes, constructing water bars, removing tripping hazards, and more. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch for each day, and snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration and more details about the overnight camping, click (here).
Big Cola, Invasive Removal - Canceled
Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. 14224 Big Cola Rd. Rockbridge, OH 43149 (map)
Join the Land Stewardship Manager, Ethan King, and fellow volunteers as we remove invasive plants like autumn olive, bush honeysuckle, and multiflora rose that are always a threat to our native plants and trees. If time allows, dig footers for the entrance and kiosk signs. You will also have the opportunity to see what our native natural land stewards have already accomplished. The beavers have been working hard to restore the wetlands! For this wetland workday, muck boots are highly recommended, and if you have a set of waders, bring them along. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch and/or snacks. Ethan will provide lunch for everyone following the workday. No experience is necessary; all are welcome. Please note that there are no restroom facilities on the preserve. For registration, click (here)
Ridgeview Restoration Farm, Invasive Removal
Saturday, November 1, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. 6636 St. Rt. 753, Hillsboro, OH 45133 (Map)
Join Arc Director Nancy Stranahan, Brent Charette, Marilyn Welker, and the amazing Ridgeview Farm Biodiversity Brigade as they continue their quest to re-wild this rich and biodiverse farm. Non-native invasive plants like bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, and multiflora rose constantly challenge wildland preservationists. Spring and fall, year in and year out, staff and volunteers descend on the farm to remove these plants from the landscape. Using hand tools and the targeted application of herbicide solutions, volunteers will continue to turn the tide in favor of the native plants and animals that call Ridgeview Farm home. A hearty lunch awaits our volunteers at the end of the day. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. For registration, click (here).
Sylvan Deep, Trail Construction
Friday, November 7 & 8, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. Spencer Rd. Ray, OH 45672 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow volunteers as they continue to blaze a new trail into this 106-acre, picturesque woodland in Jackson County. This property boasts immense sandstone rock features, rock shelters, ancient hemlocks, towering oaks, and deep ravines blanketed with a variety of ferns. This is a two-day, overnight (primitive camping) event. Ethan will provide dinner for all on Friday evening and a small breakfast on Saturday morning. Come for both days or just for one day. Volunteers will help with benching in the trail, building steps, learning how to level slopes, constructing water bars, removing tripping hazards, and more. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch for each day, and snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration and more details about the overnight camping, click (here).
Sylvan Deep, Trail Construction
Thursday, November 13, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. Spencer Rd. Ray, OH 45672 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow volunteers as they continue to blaze a new trail into this 106-acre, picturesque woodland in Jackson County. This property boasts immense sandstone rock features, rock shelters, ancient hemlocks, towering oaks, and deep ravines blanketed with a variety of ferns. Volunteers will help with benching in the trail, building steps, learning how to level slopes, constructing water bars, removing tripping hazards, and more. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
Cedar Run (Inner Gorge), Invasive Removal
Saturday, November 15, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. 7511 Browning Rd. Bainbridge 45612 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Tim Pohlar and fellow volunteers as we work to remove invasive species of bush honeysuckle and multiflora rose from the wildflower-laden ravine in the inner gorge of Cedar Run, known as Elder's Landing. Our work will ensure the continued preservation of the area's rich and diverse flora, fauna, and spectacular views in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and Rocky Fork Gorge. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
Sylvan Deep, Trail Construction
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. Spencer Rd. Ray, OH 45672 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Ethan King and fellow volunteers as they continue to blaze a new trail into this 106-acre, picturesque woodland in Jackson County. This property boasts immense sandstone rock features, rock shelters, ancient hemlocks, towering oaks, and deep ravines blanketed with a variety of ferns. Volunteers will help with benching in the trail, building steps, learning how to level slopes, constructing water bars, removing tripping hazards, and more. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).
The Bend, Building Demolition on Cave Road
Saturday, December 6, 2025, Meet between 9 am - 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. Whispering Springs: 7240 Cave Rd, Bainbridge, OH 45612 (Map)
Join Land Stewardship Manager Tim Pohlar and fellow volunteers as we restore an Arc property on Cave Road known as "the Bend" to a more natural state. We will be demolishing a structure that has sat long-abandoned on the road by hand, ensuring that we will have minimal impact on the surrounding vegetation, while making the site more reflective of the beauty of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Restroom facilities will be available at Whispering Springs. For registration, click (here).
Sandy Springs at Rock Run Preserve, Dune Clearing - Canceled, will be rescheduled soon.
Saturday, September 13, 2025, Meet at 9:45 am, workday is from 10 am - 2 pm. U.S. Rt 52, Stout, OH 45684 (map)
Join Land Stewards Austin Newton and Elijah Crabtree on a unique sand-based ecosystem situated just above the Ohio River in Adams County. This preserve protects the last intact sand dunes from an ancient system of dunes that once covered miles of riverbank and hundreds of acres. We will continue the work we did earlier this Spring, pushing back the dune ridge by clearing and stump-treating the hardwoods encroaching on the area. You will also have an opportunity to visit the vernal pool that volunteers and staff reconstructed just in time for the spring amphibian breeding season. The hard work paid off, and we have had many reports of the pool being full of life! There is a job for everyone. No experience is needed; all are welcome. Please bring work gloves, a personal water bottle, a packed lunch, and/or snacks. Please note that there are no restroom facilities at this location. For registration, click (here).