Volunteering
Volunteer to help the Club and the Catskills
Hike Leaders
Our hikes throughout the year to the Catskill high peaks and to other destinations are led by volunteer hike leaders. All of our hike leaders undergo a thorough vetting process to ensure they have the necessary skills and experience to lead safe and enjoyable hikes. Additionally, they are required to obtain certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle emergencies and promote responsible outdoor ethics. Hike Leaders must also be members in good-standing. We always welcome new hike leaders to join our team. If you are interested in volunteering as a hike leader, please email our Outings Chair at: outings@3500club.org
Adopt-A-Trailhead
We are looking for members and aspirants to join the 3500 Trailhead Steward Program. The program focuses on engaging with visitors to promote the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, share relevant regulations, and communicate other pertinent information, in order to improve the sustainability of the parks’ lands and to promote safe hiking. Find out more here.
Service Name
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Trail Work
The 3500 Club maintains the Peekamoose-Table Trail, and schedules maintenance outings twice a year (spring and fall). In addition, we conduct Adopt-A-Highway trash pickup on Route 214, near the Devil’s Tombstone Campground, in spring and fall. Click on this link to view the schedule and sign up to volunteer.
We also work closely with the New York New Jersey Trail Conference, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and other organizations on many of their maintenance and conservation efforts. You can stay informed on all these opportunities by checking our Official Catskill 3500 Club Community Facebook page, or e-mail the Trail Maintenance Chair.
Search & Rescue
The Catskill Mountain Search and Rescue Team (CMSAR) was founded in 2018 to provide trained and professional volunteer ground-search services to the Catskills and neighboring communities. CMSAR also runs Wilderness First Aid courses within the Catskills and emphasizes preventative SAR and wilderness problem solving in its outreach to hikers. Volunteers must achieve club membership, attend extensive training sessions, and be ready to serve long hours in difficult conditions when our services are needed. This is a rewarding opportunity to serve others, learn new skills, and engage in team camaraderie. To learn more about how you can be a valuable asset to the hiking community, please contact CMSAR Chairperson Jake Haisley.
Conservation
The club's conservation committee chair needs volunteers to attend meetings and help monitor outside activities affecting the Catskill Forest Preserve. For more information or to volunteer, contact the Conservation Chair.
Annual Dinner
The Annual Dinner Committee Chair always needs help with planning and making arrangements for the meeting each year. Contact the Annual Dinner Chair to help.
The Catskill Canister
We need contributors for our quarterly newsletter, The Catskill Canister, such as short stories and news items of interest to our members. For more information contact The Canister Editor.
Learn more about the Club's Volunteer Awards, including the Club Service Award, the Hike Leader Award, and the Founders Award.