Tabling on Behalf of SAHC

SAHC is commonly invited to table at community events and businesses. These events are often on the weekends and are opportunities to share information about our work and connect with the community. You can expect a staff member to be there with you and connect with you ahead of time to share relevant information, both about the event and SAHC’s programmatic work relevant to the specific event. Volunteers are asked to table in 2-hour shifts. Sharing information at community events is a fun way to help people learn a little bit more about what we do! 

If you’d like to learn more about tabling, we invite you to watch our Volunteer Training – Tabling video to better understand how to engage with audiences, how to answer common questions, what materials will be at your table, and more.

Habitat Management in the Highlands of Roan

In addition to stewardship work like planting trees and debris removal on SAHC properties in the Roan Highlands, we also host several annual events focused on protecting and restoring the globally endangered habitats found in the Roan. Spring events include our Garlic Mustard Pull (April) and Golden-winged Warbler Habitat Management (March-April). Summer events include our Grassy Ridge Mow-off and Round Bald Rubus Round Up, both held in July. All of these events focus on the removal of invasive species to protect native habitats. 

SAHC Community Farm Projects

Our Community Farm, located just 15 minutes from downtown Asheville, has a regular need for volunteer support throughout the calendar year with the majority of opportunities rising in the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons.  Projects can range from planting and mulching to clipping invasives, harvesting and maintaining sections of our Discovery Trail.  During workdays, we often take a good amount of time to share and educate about what is happening on the farm and the specifics of the work for that day.  We have the ability to accommodate buses and have bathroom facilities. Those with an interest in bringing your own volunteer group to do some work at the farm should email our Farm & Food Program Manager, Chris Link, directly at chris@appalachian.org.

Community Clean Ups

Community clean ups can look like habitat restoration and management in areas other than the Highlands of Roan, trail maintenance, gardening, debris removal, trash cleanup, and other physical activities. If any equipment is required, SAHC will let you know ahead of time what to bring or if we will be providing materials. 

Hike Leadership

Help lead alongside SAHC’s amazing Outreach Team on outings throughout the year. We are often in need of extra leadership on hikes that can carry water, connect with other hikers, or bring up the rear. We would love for you to be an extra pair of boots that we can rely on! If you have any questions, please email Outreach Program Manager Justin Tucker directly at justin@appalachian.org.

No, you do not need to have volunteered ever before or with SAHC in order to volunteer with us. Staff will provide a detailed description of the opportunity ahead of time and will provide a safe, fun, and valuable experience for all who sign up. 

Some volunteer opportunities have more arduous physical demands than others. Volunteers should keep in mind that most of our more physical opportunities will involve being outside 2-4 hours in all conditions, bending and stooping, lifting and carrying heavy objects, hiking several miles, and/or walking on uneven terrain. Staff will provide a detailed description of the opportunity ahead of time that will outline the possible physical demands of each opportunity. 

If you are unable to volunteer in more physical capacities, we still encourage you to sign up to volunteer with us. Tabling may be a good fit, which is a crucial part of our mission – sharing information with our community about conservation in the southern Appalachians.

Our most consistent year round volunteer opportunities are tabling at community events and business partnerships. Many of our more physical volunteer opportunities rely on good weather and seasonal changes, like grassy bald management in the summer in the Highlands of Roan.

Yes, please! We love when people host bake sales, birthday fundraisers, and more on our behalf. Please get in touch with Membership Director Cheryl Fowler directly for more information, cheryl@appalachian.org or 828-253-0095, ext. 209.

Yes! All active volunteers (volunteers who have attended a volunteer event in the past year) are considered members of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Membership entitles you to free outings and our View from the Highlands Newsletter.