PATC volunteers build and maintain trails, trailside shelters, and cabins.  Our crews are always looking for new members.  No experience is necessary.  You'll learn new skills, make an important contribution, and meet new friends.  Please consider joining a PATC volunteer work crew.  We'll be highlighting our crews in this space, over the next few months...

July 2010 Volunteer of the Month – Dave Coover 

North Chapter member, Dave Coover, serves as overseer/co-overseer in Pennsylvania on 9 miles of trails on the Tuscarora and 3 miles on the AT. An avid birder and runner, Dave routinely runs his trail sections to make inspections.

“I really enjoy being able to oversee and give back to the trails that have given me so many memorable runs in the past,” Dave commented, on why he enjoys volunteering for PATC.

Dave’s trail work actually began about 10 years ago.  He and his wife and son were maintaining 4 or 5 local trails for DCNR in the Tuscarora State Forest (they now maintain 15 trails). In 2006 he cleared several blow downs on a section of the TT and reported them to District Manager, Pete Brown. Pete invited Dave to the next AT work trip, and the rest is history.

Dave’s birding skills are well known among North Chapter members. On monthly TT and AT work trips, Dave identifies numerous bird species from their calls and songs. On a recent TT trip, Dave explained that a strident “teacher-teacher” call was coming from the oven bird—a small warbler-type bird that builds its dome-shaped nest on the forest floor.

PATC greatly appreciates Dave’s work as a trail overseer and a frequent volunteer on North Chapter AT and TT work trips.