Blog

The 2026 WSI participants The SAWS brand wasn't the only thing that received an overhaul in 2026. The Southern Appalachian Wilderness Skills Institute (WSI), co-hosted by SAWS, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the U.S. Forest Service, underwent several changes as well. The program was condensed from two weeks to one and moved earlier into May to avoid conflicts with holidays and other events. These changes reflect the program’s core purpose, building the practical skill

For the first time in the 39-year history of Appalachian Trail Days, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards joined the festivities in Damascus, VA, on May 15–17. Something new was in the air this year; the smell of fresh sawdust wafting over the crowd and the sound of a crosscut saw working its way through a beech log near the red caboose. Throughout the weekend, SAWS staff and volunteers shared our work with hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts and trail supporters. There was a

Just one week before my start date as SAWS' Virginia Volunteer Coordinator, I received a call about trees blocking Bobby's Trail in the Raccoon Branch Wilderness near Sugar Grove. Having spent most of the previous 17 months helping remove Hurricane Helene damage across the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, I was all too familiar with the challenges still facing our trails. A short scouting trip confirmed what the caller had reported. Not only was Bobby's Trail