Information Overload, Getting Weird Quickly, and Sleeping on the Ground

Bring with you Day One:

• Your original IDs (see green box for info)
• All your personal camping gear
• A lunch and snacks for the first day (food will be provided for the rest of the training)

What IDs Do I Need???

You will need to bring ORIGINAL IDs (not copies) with you on your first day. These should be the same IDs that you uploaded pictures of for your onboarding and can be one of two combinations of IDs.

Option 1:

• Passport
• Social Security Card

Option 2:

• Driver's License
• Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card

We need to look at your IDs as part of the Federal I-9 employment verification process. Once we've seen your IDs in person, you can leave them in your car, send them home with someone who dropped you off, or ask us to lock them in the safe at our office until after training hitch.

Your first day with ACC will begin with parking. You'll park at our office and load your personal gear into your crew's vehicle or trailer. Please don't pack your personal keys; instead you will leave them in a bag with the rest of your crew's keys (in case you forget something in your car and we need to bring it to you). Parking instructions will go out in an email and can also be found below. You are also welcome to get dropped off at the office. If you will be leaving your vehicle at the office, keep in mind that it will be sitting for 9 days! You may want to get a sunshade for your windshield and consider what items you do/don't want to leave in your vehicle during that time.

At the office, we will look at your IDs, wrap up any outstanding onboarding tasks, provide any loaner gear that you need, and get you introduced to your crew and crew leaders. We will introduce our staff and discuss some program details, rules, and support systems in a big group, then you'll split into your crews and go food shopping for training week.
After food shopping, your crew will probably head to your training site and set up camp. Trail crews will receive a trail orientation from staff to learn trail terminology and some basics of sustainable trailbuilding. Chainsaw and herbicide crews usually head back to the shop to begin their training on day one, so be prepared for some powerpoints or lessons.

Your crew will cook and eat dinner and depending on time, your crew leaders may have some more discussions for you in the evening. We try to keep the information overload to a minimum, but do expect a bit of a flood on your first day. Crew chats will continue each evening throughout your training week to discuss policies, introduce wellness strategies for camping, help you set goals for your season, introduce you to outdoor ethics like Leave No Trace, and build a crew contract to solidify your shared values. 

Parking Instructions

Our office is in the back section of a larger building (see the blue box in the picture below), and our parking area is the lot behind the building (red box in the picture below).

Navigate to "147 Dinkel Ave, Mt Crawford, VA, 22841" on Google Maps
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We will have signs and folks staged around to show you where to go. When you arrive, please follow the arrows around the parking area and back into your spot when you park (our staff is happy to spot you if needed!).

We can't wait to meet you in person and, as always, reach out with any questions!!!