Volunteer
Cold River Camp (CRC) is successful because of the efforts of its many volunteers. All camp activities are overseen by the Cold River Camp Committee, a group of volunteers who establish policies for the property, affairs, business, and operation of the camp. Other volunteers help with a wide variety of camp projects and activities. Volunteers are the lifeblood of Cold River Camp!
New volunteers are always welcome. If you enjoyed your camp experience, we would welcome your talents to make CRC an even better place! You do not need a background in education, recreational management or environmental science, just a simple willingness to help. Please fill out the form below and we will find a way to get you involved in the area that interests you.
Volunteer Form
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at Cold River Camp, please provide your contact information and indicate your areas of interest (descriptions below the form).
Camp Opening (May) and Closing (October)
Tasks typically include opening/closing cabins, gardening and grounds maintenance, storing and unpacking furniture, carpentry, painting, cooking and closing the kitchen, opening view corridors, and trail and cabin site clearing.
Conservation and Education
CRC Committee
The CRC Commitee is a group of volunteers who establish policies for the property, affairs, business, and operation of the camp.
Extension Season Crew
During the Extension Season, the dining facility and common areas including bathrooms and the lodge are maintained by volunteers. They also assist the kitchen staff with some prep of meals and cleanup after meals. There is ample time after morning chores and before evening ones to enjoy hiking or other activities. Meals and lodging are provided. You can volunteer for as little as a weekend, to as long as two weeks.
Facility Maintenance
Keeping CRC's buildings and grounds operating properly requires continuing effort. Volunteers perform needed maintenance on work weekends in the spring and fall. Please join us for one or more of these CRC Work Weekends. We get a lot done and have a lot of fun doing it! People with skills in plumbing, electrical work and carpentry are of course very welcome, but we also need people willing to paint, do landscaping, prune shrubs and trees, and do assorted simple jobs.
Flower Garden Maintenance
Help tend the gardens of native plants in front of the Conant Lodge and Recreation Hall.
Opening Weekend (May): raking, pruning, dividing, deadheading, mulching
Work Weekend (May): additional care and maintenance
Throughout the Summer: deadheading, weeding and cutting back as needed.
Hike Leaders / Naturalists
Would you like to be a hike leader or naturalist? Prospective hike leaders and naturalists receive training by attending the Cold River Camp Leader Intern Program to qualify as leaders. Once leaders, they are encouraged to keep their skills sharp by participating in periodic “refresher” sessions and reviewing supplemental material, which includes the CRC Leader Program, Leader Supplement, and AMC Handbook. Special interests or a background in these areas are certainly helpful, but people skills, common sense and a willingness to see to it that guests have a good time are much more important.
Land Management and Planning
Stewardship of Cold River Camp’s 86 acres of land, balancing the needs of Camp and the ecology of the area. Areas of focus include forest management, blueberry field maintenance, and nature trail.
Publicity and Communications
Keep the Camp community up-to-date, and get the word out so other people find out what a great place it is.
Trail Work Weekends
Work with Chatham Trails Association to keep nearly 40 miles of trails around Cold River Camp free and clear for all to enjoy.