FY26 Bessey Ranger District Recreation Projects

Come spend the Weekend with us Volunteering at Bessey Ranger District! (Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands)

We have campsites available upon request. When you apply for the opportunity please respond to the lodging needs question.

This is NOT an event where you show up on these days. The Site Contact will coordinate with you to determine arrival days/times and which proposed projects you are interested in volunteering your time for.

Proposed Dates: (Projects can be combined or singular)

• Friday, May 1, 2026
• Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Sunday, May 3, 2026 (afternoon only)
• Friday, May 8, 2026
• Saturday, May 9, 2026
• Friday, May 15, 2026
• Saturday, May 16, 2026
• Friday, June 12, 2026
• Saturday, June 13, 2026
• Sunday, June 14, 2026
• Fall dates TBD – will update advertisement when determined

Times: 9am -Noon or 1pm until 4pm (only before May 15).

Age: 12+ years old preferred; however younger is okay if maturity level is higher than age.

• Please discuss with the Site Contact if you plan on bringing a minor (12–17-year-olds); they do NOT sign up through Volunteer.gov/s/.  We would provide you with the paperwork to onboard them as a volunteer.

Location:

Scott Lookout Tower, Bessey Ranger District, Nebraska National Forest, Halsey Ne. Bessey Ranger can provide gloves and some tools. Volunteers should bring water, lunch, sunscreen and dress appropriately. Sandburs and poison ivy are present along the trail.

Proposed Project 1:

There is a pollinator/ native plant garden near the Scott Lookout Tower. A new retaining wall and plants was installed in spring 2024. We are looking for help to remove the non-native grasses from the bed (weeding) and spread mulch. If we have native plants available, there may be some planting.

Number of People: 2-6

Proposed Project 2:

Scott Lookout Trail needs to be maintained for encroaching growth. Volunteers would walk the trail (approximately 3 miles) and clear impeding foliage. We may also install signage / way markers. 

Number of People: 2-4

Proposed Project 3:

Mulching the trail. This would involve a set of volunteers stationed at the mulch pile to load mulch into OHV and a set of volunteers on the trail to unload the chips. BRD will have 1 to 2 employees driving OHV back and forth between the two locations.

Number of People: 2-4

Location:

McKelvie National Forest, Bessey Ranger District, Nebraska National Forest

Proposed Project:

Manually (with loppers and hand saws) remove small cedar encroachment in administrative pasture at McKelvie National Forest near Nenzel.

Number of People: 2-10