Family Service at Flight 93 National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania

The Trip

There are new heroes, old heroes, and unlikely heroes. The area that we visit on this trip has seen them all.

In 1754, George Washington, newly commissioned as a lieutenant colonel, started westward from Alexandria to help defend the British fort on the Ohio River.

When Washington reached a large natural clearing known as the Great Meadows, he made it his base camp. While there, he received word that a party of French soldiers was camped in a ravine nearby. Washington and about 40 men confronted the French to learn their intentions. A shot was fired, no one really knows by whom, and soon fighting began. When the skirmish was over, the French had 13 dead and 21 captured, and from Washington’s men 1 was killed and 2 or 3 were wounded. Afterward, Washington feared "we might be attacked by considerable forces." To fortify his position at the Great Meadows, he built a circular palisaded fort, which he called Fort Necessity.

In July, Washington, now a colonel, learned that a large force of French and Indians was advancing from the French fort, Fort Duquesne. Then one morning, a force of about 600 French and 100 American Indians approached the fort. Washington only had about 400 troops under his command. Fighting continued sporadically until the evening, when Capt. Louis Coulon de Villiers, commander of the French force, requested a truce to discuss Washington’s surrender. The British were allowed to withdraw with the honors of war, retaining their baggage and weapons, but having to surrender their swivel guns. Washington surrendered Fort Necessity to the French.

The battle at Fort Necessity was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal of French power from North America. The stage was set for the American Revolution.

In more recent times, on September 11, 2001, crew and passengers in Newark were boarding their flight to San Francisco at 8:01 a.m. Could it be the biggest concern on the minds of the passengers was the size of the pretzels to be given in flight? 

At 9:34 a.m., the plane changed its direction and began moving southeast. This was the fourth commercial airline that was hijacked in a coordinated attack on the U.S. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their lives. Because of the actions of the 40 passengers and crew aboard this plane, Flight 93, the attack on the U.S. Capitol was thwarted.

This hallowed ground near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, an old strip mine, was an unlikely location in the war on terror. If the plane had not crashed almost upside down at a speed of between 563-580 miles per hour, it would have reached the capitol in about 20 minutes.

A common field one day. A field of honor forever.

(Source: NPS websites)

The Laurel Highlands, the magnificent mountainous region where we’ll be, spans 3,000 square miles of Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland Counties just east of Pittsburgh. From the highest point in Pennsylvania, Mt. Davis (3,213 feet) to the Youghiogheny River gorge, the area is noted for spectacular scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation and many historic sites.

We will be exploring notable sites through our work projects and taking time off to recreate through touring and whitewater rafting.

Join us and trade electrons for mountain molecules. The leader asks every participant -- adults and kids -- to forego portable electronic devices for the entire week. This means that once you arrive on Sunday, such distractions will be locked away and not activated until you depart from the lodge on the following Saturday. If you are unwilling to make and keep this promise, please do not sign up for this trip. There are three exceptions: adults are encouraged to carry cell phones for emergencies only, GPS directions, and a brief daily call is permitted to do a quick check with loved ones.

The Project

We will be working with the National Park Service at these two sites. Participants will be updated on the work projects once NPS formulates its plans. 

The Flight 93 Memorial is 23 miles from our camp at Laurel Hill State Park. Fort Necessity is 33 miles away. We will be commuting to either park on a daily basis.

Note that because of the nature of service trips and the pre-planning needed, the work project may change and NPS may have different priorities once our departure date arrives.

Note that children must be supervised at all times. Even though the Park Service runs various educational programs, such programs will not be available exclusively for our group. However, we will take advantage of ranger programs that are available.

The intent is for the children to work. This is a service trip. The leaders and NPS staff will not be planning specific activities to entertain or educate the children. The goal is to have adults and children appreciate the history of the sites and understand their significance. Depending on the age of the children and skill level of the adults there may be some downtime. 

We will meet on Sunday at 5 p.m. for dinner at the organized group cabin site in Laurel Hill State Park. We will discuss the upcoming trip, and review safety information and practices. Detailed instructions and maps will be sent prior to the trip.

We will be working under the supervision of the National Park Service on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

On Thursday, we will take a day off to enjoy the challenge of whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River. The minimum age for rafting is 12. We will continue to use the same outfitter that we have used in the past eight years of service trips to the Ohiopyle area. Prior rafting experience is not required. George Washington did explore the Yough looking for a water passage to the forks of the Ohio. Once you get off the river at the takeout you will appreciate why he abandoned such plans.

Afterward, we will tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Fallingwater. It was recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

"If you look at the design, you can hear the waterfall.” -- Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright’s triumph is a “rhythmic interplay of interior and exterior space.” It integrates trees, rocks, water, and habitat where outside and inside boundaries fade in an idyllic setting.

From the web site:

Echoing a natural pattern established by its rock ledges, Wright placed the house over the falls in a series of cantilevered concrete trays anchored to a central stone chimney mass quarried from the same local Pottsville sandstone as the rock ledges. Although the house rises more than 30 feet above the falls, strong horizontal lines and low ceilings help maintain the safe, sheltering effect that Wright sought to achieve.

The Kaufmann Family in the 1930s commissioned Wright to design a vacation home for them far away from the smoke and dust of the Pittsburgh steel mills. They thought their new country house would have a wonderful view of the falls. Much to their surprise Wright designed the house right on top of the falls of Bear Run.

National Geographic Traveler magazine has named Fallingwater one of its “50 Places of a Lifetime,” while Smithsonian magazine has included it in its list of “28 Places You Should See in Your Lifetime.”

We will also visit another home designed by Wright, Kentuck Knob. Designed on a hexagonal module, Kentuck Knob is a small one-story Usonian house. Usonian, meaning affordable for the common people, was a signature design of Wright. Both dramatic and serene, the house, situated just below the crest of the hills, appears almost part of the mountain itself.

Kentuck Knob’s construction materials of native sandstone and tidewater red cypress blend naturally with the surroundings. The truly functional kitchen is the architectural core of the home. Its walls of stone not only anchor the two wings of the house but they also rise to penetrate the horizontal line of the copper roof. An open floor plan, cantilevered overhangs and great expanses of glass effortlessly integrate the inside with the outside. Stretching to the east, just beyond the back terrace, is a breathtaking panorama of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and the beautiful Laurel Highlands mountains that surround it.

Afterward, we will have dinner in the thriving metropolis of Ohiopyle. This dinner is at your expense.

Ohiopyle State Park is a splendid setting of rugged natural beauty in Southwestern Pennsylvania. "Ohiopyle" is derived from the Lenape phrase ahi opihəle which means “it turns very white,” referring to the frothy waterfalls. The focal point is the Youghiogheny River Gorge, which passes through the heart of the park. In 1753, George Washington tried to use the Youghiogheny River as a means to reach the French Fort Duquesne at the fork of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. He was forced to abandon the river passage by the waterfalls in the Ohiopyle area. Unlike our Founding Father, we will embrace, not abandon, some of the best whitewater in the east on Class III rapids on the lower “Yough.”

On Saturday, after breakfast and a thorough cleaning of our accommodations, we will depart. Please do not plan on leaving before 10:00 a.m.

Getting There

Laurel Hill State Park is located in the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania.

From I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike), take Exit 110 (Somerset) and drive west on PA 31 from Somerset for eight miles. Turn left onto Trent Road and follow the directional signs to Laurel Hill State Park.

The park may also be reached from Exit 91 (Donegal) of I-76 by turning left on PA 31 east and traveling 14 miles. Turn right onto Trent Road and follow directional signs to the park.

GPS DD: Lat. 40.01023, Long. -79.2244

Note: do not follow your GPS if it takes you down any unimproved roads. The park is located on a state highway. 

The nearest airport is in Pittsburgh. Because of our remote location there is no public transportation. Specific details will be sent to participants prior to the trip.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Our base will be the organized group cabin site at Laurel Hill State Park.

You will have roommate/s. Private rooms are not available. Participants must bring sleeping bags, sleeping pads, air mattresses (for sleeping on the floor), and the usual outdoor gear for a week. We will be staying in individual cabins. Think shaggy rustic. There is no indoor plumbing, heating, or air conditioning. There is a central bath house with flush toilets and a large dining hall and equipped kitchen.

These camps were built around 1935 by the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps. The young men who lived in each camp worked year-round building park facilities, including the group camps, picnic areas, waterlines, roads, and Laurel Hill Lake. There are still 202 CCC-constructed buildings in the park. 

Cooking, dishwashing, and related commissary duties will be done by the participants with direction from the leader. Breakfast and dinner will be at the dining hall, and lunch will be at the work project. We prepare meals for a group and cannot accommodate individual preferences and special diets. If you require a special diet or foods, please plan to bring food. You will have access to the fully equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals. 

Note that alcohol is prohibited in all state parks. Anyone who brings alcohol on this trip will be asked to leave with no refund. Please do not try to circumvent this regulation.

For those who have the energy after a work day, the park has a 1,200-foot sand beach, boating (paddleboards, rowboats, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks and hydrobikes), hiking, and mountain biking.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is suitable for folks who like the challenge in a work project and want to help improve the sites for visitors. Participants should be in good physical condition to enjoy this trip. Expect chilly mornings, rain, manual labor, dirt, and sweat. Teamwork is essential, safety paramount, and no one is expected to perform beyond his or her physical capabilities. Help is always available – a positive attitude and friendly cooperation are better assets than brute strength. All help is good help.

Both couples and singles are welcome.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be sent prior to departure time.

Work gloves and safety glasses are provided. Safety glasses are required for any striking work, using power tools, weed-whacking, or otherwise when eye protection is needed. Bring clothing you can layer on or off when the temperature or exertion level changes or when the wind picks up.

• T-shirts, shorts, and other clothing for the week
• Canvass shoes/sneakers/water shoes: an old pair for rafting
• Long-sleeve shirts: lightweight for sun and mosquito protection, heavier for chilly evenings
• Light jacket/sweater: for cool mornings
• Work gloves and safety glasses (required and provided)
• Work boots required; sneakers and open-toed shoes are not permitted while working
• Long pants: protection from sun, poison ivy, and ticks
• Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Camera and binoculars; waterproof camera for raft trip
• Daypack, canteen
• Rain gear: prepare for rain, equip for rain (rain jackets and pants)
• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, air mattress (you may be sleeping on the floor of the lodge)
• Personal toilet items, and personal eating items (spoon, cup, plate)
• Folding chairs 

Group cooking and cleanup gear is provided. The rafting outfitter will provide life jackets and helmets.

References

• Ohiopyle State Park: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/ohiopyle/index.htm
• Fallingwater: http://www.fallingwater.org/
• Kentuck Knob: http://www.kentuckknob.com/
• Local travel: http://www.laurelhighlands.org/index.asp
• Western PA Conservancy: http://www.paconserve.org/
• Flight 93 Memorial: https://www.nps.gov/flni/index.htm
• Fort Necessity Fort Necessity National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service): https://www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm
• Laurel Hill State Park: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/LaurelHillStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.