Spring Two Boy Scout leaders, Richard Angeli and Fred Feltmann, used the trail over Little Kennesaw Mountain to train for a backpacking trip. The trail was in such bad shape that they decided to volunteer to spend some time fixing that trail. From this idea the trail club was born.

Summer Richard Angeli, who was also a member of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), spent the summer working with NPS Maintenance Supervisor Marion Harris and other mentors from GATC planning and organizing the volunteer trail workers.

August and September Public organizational meetings were held at the park visitor center that resulted in the formation of "KEMOTrail Corps, Inc". The participants in that second meeting thought they were being clever in choosing the name: "KEMO" for the NPS designation for the park, "Trail" because trails were to be the focus of activity, and "Corps" to capture the military history aspect of the park. The only problem was most people thought "KEMOTrail" had something to do with "chemotherapy". It took a couple of years to figure that out and start using the more generic designation "Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club".

October 19th. The first organized trail club activity was a trash pick-up day when 25 volunteers picked up 40 bags of trash.

November 9th. The first trail work day was held. More than 60 people of all ages turned out to work on the trail at the top of Kennesaw Mountain.

Web site was established.

Links to archival documents

• Oganizational meeting minutes August 22, 2002
• Trash pick-up October 19, 2002
• Board minutes October 17, 2002
• Marietta Daily Journal article November 13, 2002
• Trail Committee minutes 13 Nov 2002
• Board members 2002

February Planning began for a safe and scenic new trail segment on Little Kennesaw Mountain. Construction began in October, 2003 and was completed in November, 2004. Half a mile of new trail was added.

A hardened causeway for horses was built to help ford John Ward Creek at Barfield Bottom.

Richard Angeli was KEMO volunteer of the year.

Links to archival documents

• Little Kennesaw Mountain project plan February 24, 2003
• Board meeting minutes November 21, 2003

Leah Urban was KEMO volunteer of the year.

JanuaryKMTC received IRA 501(c) (3) not for profit status from the IRS. Saddle Up Cobb provided financial assistance in filing our application.

June 11, 2005First National Trails Day at the Park was organized..

JulyHurricane Dennis blew through Georgia as a major tropical storm event. Flooding from this storm destroyed the old wooden boardwalk and foot bridge that crossed John Ward Creek at Barfield Bottoms. Links to archival documents

• National Trails Day June 11, 2005

JanuaryFirst club NPS Challenge Grant for $30,000 was awarded. These funds were used to purchase a kit equestrian-capable bridge for John Ward Creek at Barfield Bottoms. The club match was 1,750 volunteer hours to install concrete footings, assemble the bridge and re-grade the trail. The bridge was opened August, 2007.

Links to archival documents

• General membership meeting minutes 21 September 2006

The club contributed many hours to the development of a Strategic Trail Plan for the park that is still in the NPS approval process.

Randall Bailey was KEMO volunteer of the year.

September. First issue of the Club's newsletter: Earthworks.

Along the way, the club has trained and qualified many crew leaders to lead volunteer work parties, and to serve as advisors for youth service projects such as BSA Eagle Scout Leadership Projects.

March. Presentation to Marietta Kiwanis by Richard Angeli.

New trail on lower segment of Big Kennesaw was opened.

May. First Garlic Mustard Pull project of this invasive species.

Ed Holsworth was KEMO volunteer of the year.

Links to archival documents

• Slide show for presentation to Marietta Kiwanis

Trail Club signs Cooperative agreement with NPS that defines mutual working relationships.

Major trail work on Kennesaw Mountain, Little Kennesaw Mountain and the saddle in between.

Links to archival documents

• General Membership meeting Minutes September 26, 2009

A Trail Ambassador Program, headed up by Anne and David Strand, has trained and deployed over 20 Trail Ambassadors to greet and assist visitors and assisted the NPS with observing safety, maintenance, and enforcement issues on the trails.

Anne and David Strand were KEMO volunteers of the year.

First National Public Lands Day supported

September. Supported Field of Flags with 228 volunteer hours.

First Earth Day was supported

First National Parks Day was supported

First "Master Ranger Corps" member was Larry Shogren.

First horse patrol.

Built new web site.

Rebuilt area around Illinois Monument

Removed over five acres of bamboo in the south part of the Park

See Earthworks October, 2011 for General Membership meeting details

First Winter Trails day supported with Trail Club partner REI

Teens, Trenches and Trails: This program, which was sponsored by a grant from the National Parks Foundation and Coca Cola, introduced high school kids to the healthy benefits of hiking and trail work. Students from South Cobb High School under the direction of Andy Cole, teacher and member of Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association, were involved in this program

First Fleet Foot Hikes. Conducted hikes for visitors.

Celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Trail Club

See October, 2012 Earthworks for General Membership meeting details.