New Volunteer Orientation
As stewards of the A.T., volunteers are active in all aspects of Trail-related work, from maintenance of the footpath and its facilities to greeting guests at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s visitor centers. Volunteers work within a three-part “cooperative management system,” which includes the local trail maintaining club, the land management agencies, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Most volunteer will work under the guidance of a local A.T. Maintaining Club.
Volunteer Rights, Responsibilities, & Protections
Our goal is to ensure you feel valued and appreciated as an A.T. volunteer. As a volunteer, you have rights and certain responsibilities, as well as protections extended to you.
Volunteer Rights
All volunteers on the A.T. have the right to:
- Be treated with respect.
- A workplace free of harassment, discrimination, or hostile conditions.
- Receive a suitable assignment.
- Receive training and support.
- Have qualified supervision.
- Safe working conditions.
- Have their time used effectively.
Volunteer Responsibilities
All volunteers have the responsibility to:
- Make safety the highest priority.
- Act in a professional manner.
- Follow Trail policies and guidelines.
- Participate in and learn from training sessions and meetings.
- Do high quality, professional work.
- Care for Trail resources.
- Seek and accept guidance and support.
Volunteer Protections
Volunteers are allowed to work on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail under the Volunteers in Parks Act of 1969 and the Volunteers in Forests Act of 1972, which created the Volunteers in Parks (VIP) and Volunteers in Forests (VIF) programs, respectively. All volunteer work is supported by a Volunteer Services Agreement (VSA) that describes the work, training, standards, and expectations related to the volunteer duties.
Most importantly, the VSA allows the federal government to extend protections to volunteers, including compensation for work-related injuries and immunity from liability.
Volunteer Protections
Safety
Volunteer Misconduct
Your safety is our first priority. Resources for safety help prevent injury to yourself or others in the course of your work. Volunteers should know and follow all policies and procedures relevant to the work to protect the Trail and its resources. If you have a grievance where your rights as a volunteer have been violated, or wish to report misconduct in the A.T. volunteer network, please click the button to continue.