Volunteer Work Weekends

Up to 70 people attend these weekends. In the three days of the Memorial Day
weekend volunteers typically work 20 hours. 20 x 70 = 1400 or the equivalent
of 35 days (7 weeks) of work by one employee.

• All quilts in rooms at Sagamore have been made by volunteers.
• Employees of National Grid, formerly Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, have
  held 15 work weekends. Their highly technical skills have been invaluable in keeping
  Sagamore abreast of building codes.
• Volunteer hours are applicable to many matching historic preservation grants a
  in-kind donations. Because of the generosity of volunteers, Sagamore has matched
  tens of thousands of dollars since 1990.

What do volunteers accomplish?

• Rewiring, installation of a new primary electrical line, alarm systems, emergency
  lighting, and lamp posts
• Switching of all storm windows to screens and back again annually
• Carpentry, finish carpentry, cabinet building
• Removal of dead and down trees; wood splitting
• Annual newsletter—the Memorial Day Messenger
• Drainage ditching; road work
• Trail work
• Wood preening and polishing
• Flower planting, mowing, leaf raking
• Painting inside and out
• Window glazing
• Sign painting
• Dish room
• Electrical upgrades to staff and guest housing
• Quilting—including a raffle quilt each year, reupholstering, sewing new curtains
• Window washing in all residential buildings and meeting spaces
• Installation of special wiring for permanent exhibits
• Recreational areas prepped: tennis court, swim dock
• Barking (We already know the jokes on this one, but we mean the skillful
  replacement of the historic building sheathing of cedar and spruce bark.)

and new projects that are undertaken each year

Great Camp Sagamore

Volunteerism

Work weekends at Sagamore began about 27 years ago early in Sagamore’s new life as a non-profit organization.

Prior owners William West Durant (1897-1901), the Alfred Vanderbilt Family (1901-1954), and Syracuse University (1955-1975) had other means of dealing with maintenance, although we add, with varying degrees of success.

Bob Heinsler, superintendent of buildings and grounds, has planned and executed twenty years of work weekends. He is Sagamore’s only full-time caretaker.He oversees 27 National Historic Landmark buildings.

There are three work weekends a year:Memorial Day, two weekends later, and generally the third weekend of October.

Work weekend attendance is a benefit of membership.Work weekends often have a wait list.Volunteers actually pay to come to work weekends (the fee covers meals).

“We simply could not do it without you,” is a typical Saturday morning welcome from Beverly Bridger, Sagamore’s Director.

Materials to supply volunteer work weekends cost more than $20,000 each year. If you would like to help send your donation to:

Sagamore Volunteer Work Weekends
PO Box 40
Raquette Lake, NY 13436-0040

Volunteer Work Weekends are not all work. Every evening there is either an entertainer, boat cruise, special tour, or talent night put on by volunteers.We’ve also been known to have a cocktail hour.And the food is hearty, healthy, and tasty at every buffet meal.

Volunteers have annual Red Chair awards for their accomplishments. Some volunteers have been coming for over 20 years. Many have brought their children and grandchildren with them.

Every year is hosted by a different volunteer. It’s an honor!

Donations made in support of volunteer projects for historic preservation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.