Each year, millions of visitors enjoy numerous historic sites across the nation.
Now is the time to give back.
The Civil War Trust is looking for volunteers on April 1 to help with maintenance and restoration of numerous historic sites on Park Day , part of a nationwide effort that includes more than 130 historic sites in 30 states. Those sites mostly cover the Civil War, but also include the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
Those interested in participating in Park Day are encouraged to contact the individual sites. Activities are mostly outdoor jobs that range from raking leaves and collecting trash to painting signs and gardening. Volunteers will receive T-shirts, and some sites will provide lunch or refreshments. A local historian may also be on hand to detail the park’s significance.
Starting times vary at each site and organizers suggest you contact the site where you want to volunteer . The effort involves nearly a dozen sites in Georgia. They include Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park , which was the location of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the last significant victory for the South.
Kennesaw is located on nearly 3,000 acres and is considered a high-impact area, meaning a lot of people come to the park to jog, walk, hike or ride horses. Others come to soak in the history or a combination of both.
"This level of activity can beat a park to death with the volume, but we can alleviate the impact," said Mike Evans, a park ranger on loan to Kennesaw from the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Park in St. Augustine, Fla. Kennesaw, however, "has visitors who are well-tuned to the environment and very protective of the park. People care about their national treasure."
He said volunteers on April 1 can simply show up at the park and get an assignment that might involve picking up litter or clearing some of the trails. “There’s always a need for volunteers.”
That's also true at Kettle Creek Battlefield in Wilkes County, northeast of Atlanta. Volunteers at the American Revolutionary War site can help with landscaping, clearing brush and maintaining trails. Youths can participate in Colonial life activities. There will be a musket firing, a display of Colonial life items and a question-and-answer session.
The site is about 60 acres, and officials are in the process of buying another 180 acres. Recently more than two dozen graves were discovered on the property.
“Georgia was a young colony at the time (Revolutionary War),” said Walker Chewning, president of the Kettle Creek Battlefield Association. “Most people recognize the American Revolution as taking part in the Northern colonies in New York and Pennsylvania, but there were also significant battles that took place here in Georgia.”
To find a site to volunteer, go to the trust's website at www.civilwar.org/aboutus/events/park-day/.
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