Capacity Per Session: 7 Volunteers + 1 Kitchen Helper

HistoriCorps; South Dakota; On-site; USD 20,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to preserving historical sites in the stunning Black Hills of South Dakota. This unique volunteer opportunity allows you to engage in hands-on restoration work at the Meeker Cabin, a site of significant historical value. You'll collaborate with experienced staff and fellow volunteers, learning valuable preservation skills while making a tangible impact on the community. Enjoy the beauty of nature while contributing to a project that honors the past and prepares the cabin for future recreational use. Don't miss the chance to be part of this enriching experience!

Benefits

Free Meals

Training Provided

Camping Equipment Provided

Qualifications

• Volunteers will learn preservation skills while restoring the Meeker Cabin.
• Experience in teamwork and basic carpentry is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Assist in building a porch and deck with ADA ramps.
• Help rehabilitate windows and repair roofing.

Skills

Preservation Skills

Teamwork

Basic Carpentry

Education

High School Diploma

Experience in Volunteering

Tools

Basic Hand Tools

Safety Equipment

Job description

Join us in the Black Hills of South Dakota to help us preserve the legacy of the Meeker Cabin.

SESSION DATES: June 15-20, June 22-27, June 29 – July 4, and July 6-11

CREW LEADER: (Assignment in progress)

Project Site Description & History

The Black Hills of South Dakota is a territory known for not only it’s historical significance and ties to the past, but also the unique environmental and geological features present in the area that make the landscape a pride of the Great Plains.

Human interaction with the area goes back to 11,500 BC, with influence of the Clovis culture. The Black Hills are a sacred site for Indigenous tribes, with the Lakota tribe having taken territory of the Black Hills after conquering the Cheyenne in 1776. Though part of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 was aimed at preventing non-Indigenous settlement in perpetuity, a gold rush in the area led to the U.S Government taking over the Black Hills and forcibly relocating the Lakota. The Gold Rush of 1875 drew thousands of miners to the area, leading to increased development in the area. According to the United States Forest Service website, “the name “Black Hills” comes from the Lakota words Paha Sapa, which mean “hills that are black.” Seen from a distance, these pine-covered hills, rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie, appear black.”

It’s no surprise that nestled deep within this mystic landscape lies the equally mesmerizing Meeker Cabin. Purchased by the United States Forest Service in 2004, the site consists of a main ranch house, barn, cabin, outhouses, and other structures. While the ranch house was built in 1887, the United States Forest Service notes that the Meeker Cabin was built by Frank Meeker and his son, Eugene, in 1913 to serve as a cabin for hunters and for visitors to the family’s ranch, which is nearby to the north and today is known as the Meeker Ranch.

According to the United States Forest Service, the Meeker Cabin is a 1 & 1/2 story log structure built in the single crib Rocky Mountain style. The structure has been deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places due to its alignment with the rustic vernacular architecture of the Black Hills region and association with the early 20th century settlement, farming, and ranching lifestyle of the Black Hills region.

The Black Hills National Forest aims to convert the Meeker Cabin into a recreational rental, allowing visitors the opportunity to both enjoy a rustic camping experience and take in the historic significance of the area. HistoriCorps and the Black Hills National Forest are teaming up to restore the cabin and prepare it for future recreational use, and we want you to be a part of this special experience so register today!

Location and Logistics

SESSION DATES: June 15-20 , June 22-27 , June 29 – July 4 , and July 6-11

Please plan to arrive at the campsite no earlier than 5pm and no later than 7pm on the first day of your session.

LOCATION: Located about 4 miles northeast of Custer, South Dakota.

Tent campers, truck campers, campervans, trailers, and RVs up to 35′ will have access to our campsite. Hookups and showers are not available. *Dogs are allowed but our partner requires a $2/per night pet fee upon check-in*

WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERING: HistoriCorps projects are free for volunteers! HistoriCorps will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the campsite, sleeping equipment, work gloves, clothes and boots, and other personal gear.

Scope of Work

SCOPE OF WORK DIFFICULTY:

HistoriCorps is committed to educating and training volunteers in preservation skills, with an overarching mission of inspiring a preservation ethic in all those involved. Learning and working alongside expert HistoriCorps field staff and other volunteers while applying the traditional skills necessary to restore the Meeker Cabin, you will assist to:

• Build a floating front porch and rear deck, both with ADA ramps
• Install a new rear opening and door in the log cabin
• Rehabilitate wood sash windows
• Repair a small patch of roofing
• Seal openings
• If time allows: Build a dry kitchen cabinet, countertop, bunks & repair damages to chinking

Please note: Tasks vary by day and by week, depending on a variety of factors including: weather, project priorities, previous groups’ work, and more. Though it is likely you will get to learn and practice most or all of the above tasks, it is not guaranteed. The higher percentage of the scope a particular task is, the more likely you will get to practice it.

Sign Up!

We’re thrilled this project has inspired you to volunteer!

*All registrations submitted to projects at capacity will be automatically added to our waitlist.*

CANCELLATIONS effect our ability to complete projects. Please register only if you are certain about your ability to participate.

You will know your registration was successful when you receive a confirmation email. Contact [e-mail] for assistance.

HistoriCorps does not charge for its volunteering projects. HistoriCorps relies on donations to continue engaging volunteers to save significant historical sites across America for generations to come. Your donation of any amount will make an incredible difference! Increase your impact –make a generous gift today .

Volunteer Logistics, Policies, and Advice

We’re so glad you’re interested in joining this project! If you’re new to our community, review the Volunteer FAQ first! Please note the following logistics and policies:

• Volunteering with HistoriCorps is free! We will provide all meals, tools, training, equipment, and a campsite or shared indoor lodging. Dinner is not provided on the first night.
• Volunteers are responsible for bringing their own gear, work gloves, sturdy work clothes and boots, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check the average temperatures before you start packing – the nights and mornings may be colder than you anticipate! Then, read this advice about how to stay warm when tent camping in colder places.
• Campsite accessibility varies by project. Some projects can accommodate tents only; others can accommodate small RVs. Please review the project site description above for more information, and if you’re still not sure, email [e-mail] for help.
• If this project does not offer showers, you might want to consider bringing a solar shower or research other methods to clean up after the work day.
• Volunteer crew sizes generally range from 4-8 volunteers, with two HistoriCorps staff that lead and train volunteers in the work.
• Safety is one of HistoriCorps’ top priorities, and volunteers can contribute to a safe working environment by ensuring their physical fitness is adequate for the work. See above for this project’s scope of work and difficulty level. Please, call us if you are not quite sure if a project is a good fit for your skills or fitness level . We may be able to suggest a project more suitable and enjoyable for you.
• Hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, gloves are standard personal protection equipment (PPE) required on all projects. Hard hats must be worn at all times on the project site, unless working in a designated safe space. Field staff will train volunteers on correct use of PPE.
• Dogs are generally allowed to accompany their humans in project campsites (actually, we love having dogs join us around the campfire!). Dogs are not permitted on the job site for everyone's safety. HOWEVER: HistoriCorps also follows the rules and regulations of our project partner. If the project partner does not permit dogs onsite then HistoriCorps is no exception. Please ask HistoriCorps or the project partner directly if you have any questions about whether Fido is welcome.