Novillo Line Camp, Texas: Volunteer Restoration Project
April 6 @ 5:00 pm - April 11 @ 5:00 pm
Free
Kick off the season with HistoriCorps’ version of Spring Break in the southern gulf of Texas along the Padre Island National Seashore!
SESSION DATES: April 6-11
CAPACITY PER SESSION: 4 Volunteers (No Kitchen Helper)
PROJECT SUPERVISOR: Brandon Alleman!
In Texas, a thin strip of land shelters a beautiful oasis of dunes, coastal prairies, and diverse tidal mud flats. The Padre Island National Seashore (administered by the National Park Service) is the longest undeveloped barrier island in the world, and shelters the Laguna Madre from the Gulf of Mexico. On this island is the historic Dunn Ranch Novillo Line Camp, one of three cattle ranching line camps on Padre Island. In 1879, cattle rancher Patrick Dunn leased some land on Padre Island for grazing his cattle; by 1926, Dunn owned almost all of the land on the island, and had grazing right for whatever land he didn’t own. That same year, Dunn sold the land, but he and his family retained grazing rights on the island until 1971, when the last cattle were removed. Read more about the site here.
Scope of Work:
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 Novillo Line Camp, you will assist to:
- Salvage historic material from various buildings
- Replace historic timber pilings and with new log pilings and treat for longevity on Camp Kitchen
- Rebuild roof system and add purlins of Camp Kitchen
- Revamp historic Windbreak with historic or in-kind material
- Replace fencing posts as needed
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
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 approximately 40 minutes from downtown Corpus Christi, TX!
Tents, truck-campers, campervans, trailers and RVs will have access to our campground. Showers will not be available and dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
WEATHER: Anticipate highs in the 80s and lows in the 70s. Weather conditions may be rainy, cloudy, or sunny. Volunteers are responsible for checking weather conditions before their session begins, and packing appropriately. Pack your sunscreen!
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.
Click here for more information and registration!
