Workers strip the asphalt roof shingles from the 2nd of 3 roofs that were replaced with new composite shingles. Another Cabin Work Week has come and gone – the 6th annual event, and we are in awe of the work accomplished with one of our smallest teams of volunteers.
Supply of primed boards positioned at the 2nd Branch work site Unlike previous years, we had access to our work site well in advance of the project start, and its proximity to our storage building for supplies, made some of the logistics much easier to handle. But the talent and flexibility of our volunteers enabled the project to accomplish more than we could have hoped for as we sat down for the project kick-off meeting on an Indian summer Sunday at the end of October, down on volunteers and facing more termite damage than we had seen at any other site.
Cathy's sister Carolyn returned for another stint as a volunteer The teams were a blend of returning volunteers, some that had been returning every year since the first project, and new volunteers – the newest of which were recruited only a couple of hours before our kick-off meeting. They blended their efforts and expertise, and we tried to fill in where we could to keep things running.
Termite damage was addressed on five of the seven cabins. Instead of the 2 roof replacements that were planned, we managed to get enough help from volunteers and staff to get 3 roofs covered in the composite tiles that restore the cedar-shake look of the original construction. And a significant repair was done to a 4th. There were dozens of screens repaired or replaced and at least a couple of dozen shutters as well.
Completed cabin with new roof and repaired siding.
The teams also tackled some “special projects” that included replacing the steps on the lodge and putting a new siding look to the bathhouse along with more repairs to doors and access panels. We managed to have some fun as well, and benefited from generous donations for lunch.
By the project end, we felt we had a lot to celebrate, not the least of which was that this was the 6th and final of the park’s remaining group cabin sites. We had made the full circuit over the 6 project events, and the completing the cycle gave all a lot of satisfaction.
By the project end, we felt we had a lot to celebrate, not the least of which was that this was the 6th and final of the park’s remaining group cabin sites. We had made the full circuit over the 6 project events, and the completing the cycle gave all a lot of satisfaction.
