Opportunities From: Sister-Corps

Goal: To learn how to design and construct a handicap ramp following ADA guidelines while helping meet the mobility limitations of ramp recipients and allow them to have safe ingress and egress to and from their homes. Of note, this is a pilot program for one year to determine if ramp building would be feasible across Sister-Corps. In addition, ramp locations are picked with a focus on being in communities where Sister-Corps volunteers live to allow for local investment by volunteers. This is the 2nd project in the pilot program in 2026.

Volunteers: 8-10 Sister-Corps volunteers with baseline knowledge and skills using drills, impact drivers, compound miter saws, and circular saws. Power Tool Safety Verification will be required to use power tools, and it offered on site for those needing verification.

Dates: July 30 - August 2, 2026

                  Arrival and PTSV: July 30

                  Ramp Construction: July 31 and August 1

                  Departure: August 2

Accommodations: Options include sharing an Airbnb, local hotels, and dry camping and/or staying at Beth’s home in Raleigh.

Cost: Accommodations (if Airbnb or hotel), personal food (we will likely order take-out and go out to eat for dinners), and travel expenses to and from Raleigh. Volunteers will provide their own snacks and lunch and drinks at the job site each day.

Attire and tools: Volunteers are asked to wear appropriate PPE (hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, gloves, knee pads, work boots) and a Sister-Corps t-shirt. If a t-shirt is needed, one may be purchased from Sister-Corps. Volunteers are asked to each bring personal tools (measuring tape, carpenter’s pencil, hammer, speed square, drill and impact driver), and we will divide up other needed tools (i.e. extension cords, post hole digger, shovel, spud bar, broom, chalk line, string, framing square, pry bar, etc.) once the group has been formed. Sister-Corps provides power tools as well.

Project Director: Beth Fry; 252-916-8487; sixfrys2go@icloud.com

ORDER T-SHIRTS (optional)   https://sistercorps.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Next Steps:

1.        Click the “Respond” button on this page to begin registration.

2.        Answer the questions in the link for volunteer skills.

3.        Complete the required background check when email to do so is received.

4.        Join the private Facebook group:

a.        2026.07 NC Ramp Project #2.

b.        For registered volunteers, board members and S-C administration.

c.        Of note, communication with group volunteers will also be by text message and email.

 

 

Goal: To learn how to design and construct a handicap ramp following ADA guidelines while helping meet the mobility limitations of ramp recipients and allow them to have safe ingress and egress to and from their homes. Of note, this is a pilot program for one year to determine if ramp building would be feasible across Sister-Corps. In addition, ramp locations are picked with a focus on being in communities where Sister-Corps volunteers live to allow for local investment by volunteers. This is the 3rd project in the pilot program in 2026.

Volunteers: 8-10 Sister-Corps volunteers with baseline knowledge and skills using drills, impact drivers, compound miter saws, and circular saws. Power Tool Safety Verification will be required to use power tools and is offered on site for those needing verification.

Dates: August 9 - August 12, 2026

Arrival and PTSV: August 9, 2026

Ramp Construction: August 10 and August 11 building 2 ramps

Departure: August 11 or 12 Depending on your distance home

Accommodations: Airbnb located in Lebanon Virginia

Cost: Split cost of the Airbnb (we will divide the cost after I see how many volunteers respond) Personal food (we will likely order take-out and go out to eat for dinner), and travel expenses to and from Virginia. Volunteers will provide their own snacks, lunch, and drinks at the job site each day.

Attire and tools: Volunteers are asked to wear appropriate PPE (hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, gloves, knee pads, work boots) and a Sister-Corps t-shirt. If a t-shirt is needed, one may be purchased from Sister-Corps. Volunteers are asked to each bring personal tools (measuring tape, carpenter’s pencil, hammer, speed square, drill and impact driver), and we will divide up other needed tools (i.e. extension cords, post hole digger, shovel, spud bar, broom, chalk line, string, framing square, pry bar, etc.) once the group has been formed. Sister-Corps provides power tools as well.

Project Director: Cathy Miller 276-492-4363; cmiller@sister-corps.org

ORDER T-SHIRTS (optional)   https://sistercorps.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Next Steps:

1.        Click the “Respond” button on this page to begin registration.

2.        Answer the questions in the link for volunteer skills.

3.        Complete the required background check when email to do so is received.

4.        Join the private Facebook group:

           a.        2026.08 VA Ramp Project #3.

           b.        For registered volunteers, board members and S-C administration.

           c.        Of note, communication with group volunteers will also be by text message and                                             email.

 

Forest Fillies amongst the Giant Sequoias — Join us for a weekend of volunteer stewardship from August 13–16, 2026 in beautiful Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
August 14 is an optional work day. Park projects are announced 1–2 weeks before the arrival date.

Past park projects have included: meadow restoration work, picking up trash in the museum parking lot, repair gill nets, truth grounding of giant trees, seed head collecting (just to name a few).

When: August 13–16, 2026
Where: Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, California
Event Name: Sequoia Sisters - Forest Fillies
Project Organizer: Monica Bourke (Park Liaison)
Cost: $35.00 (you may bring your donation when you arrive — the fee covers the cost of all four provided meals)

Camping (Wolverton Service Camp)

We will be tent camping in a primitive setting at Wolverton Service Camp. No tent? No problem! Just let Monica Bourke know, and extra tents can be provided.

The campground has ample potable water, porta potties are on site, and a dump tank for all gray water.

Due to bear activity in the area, all food, cosmetics, and anything scented must be stored in one of the many bear boxes on the site.

There are no showers at the camp; however, the showers at Lodgepole (2 miles away) should be open. Lodgepole also has a restaurant, grocery items, and a camp store in case you need anything while you are there.

There will probably be NO FIRES allowed at Wolverton Camp; however, if fire alerts are low, the camp sometimes permits fires.

The camp is at 7000 feet, and it gets cold at night. Please bring lots of warm layers. Also, please allow yourself time to adjust to the altitude when you arrive.

Phone / Connectivity

A Verizon tower was erected in 2023, and for those who have Verizon, you may be able to get cell phone service in and around the campground. However, most of the park has no cell phone service, and the closest tower is 45 minutes away.

What to Bring

A complete list of what to bring will be covered once the group has been identified.

Camp Host / Emergencies

There is a camp host who lives on-site. If there are emergencies, the host is available to intervene.

Pets

NO DOGS are allowed in the camp or on the trails in the park. Please leave all your fur babies at home.

Tentative Agenda (subject to change)

There may be an optional work day on Friday (if this happens and you want to join, you would arrive on Thursday).

Thursday (Aug 13):
If you are taking advantage of the optional work day for Friday, arrive to the campground by 4:00 PM — set up camp — dinner on your own OR you can join the group for dinner at the Lodge.

Friday (Aug 14):

Optional Project Day — project TBA closer to the date

For everyone else: Arrive at the service camp by 4:00 PM

Set up your tent and store your food

Group dinner around 6:00 PM

Camp rules reviewed during dinner + bear safety lesson

Saturday (Aug 15):

7:30–8:00 Breakfast will be provided

8:00–8:30 Pack your lunch and get ready for the day’s work

8:30 Leave at 8:30 SHARP for the project location

9:00–3:00 Volunteer

12:00 LUNCH: Please come prepared with two packed trail-style lunches. We will have lunch at the meadow.

6:00 DINNER: Group dinner to be provided

Sunday (Aug 16):

Breakfast will be provided

Check out is 12:00 PM

Possible trail trekking in the Giant Forest once you are packed up and ready to go (rules keep changing every year with the Rangers, so we will have to see what the rules will be this year for usage of the Service Camp).

Install vinyl plank flooring in 3 rooms at the women’s shelter, The Well (formerly Loving Grace) to help them move 1 step closer to housing women in need.

Volunteers: 8 – 10 Sister-Corps volunteers with previous flooring experience.

Dates: August 18 – August 22, 2026

            Arrival: August 18th

            Flooring Installation: August 19th – 21nd

            Departure: August 22nd   

 

Accommodations: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.  Bring an air mattress/cot and bedding. 

Costs: Travel expenses to and from Joplin, MO, personal food.  Volunteers will provide their own snacks   and lunches at the job site each day.  Wednesday and Thursday dinners will be provided.  Other meals to be determined. 

Attire and tools: Volunteers are asked to wear appropriate PPE (eye protection, ear protection, gloves, knee pads, work boots) and a Sister-Corps t-shirt. If a t-shirt is needed, one may be purchased from Sister-Corps.

Project Director: Shelly Hayes; 918-348-4262; shayes@sister-corps.org