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ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT skills and competencies

Specific skills used in development of organizations for trails and greenways work: creating and building a nonprofit organization; managing boards and staff; recruiting, training, and rewarding volunteers; managing finances and legal issues. See below for training and resources links for trail design.

The following is a list of skills and competencies for this category of trails work.

Skills for Organizational Development

• Creating or adapting organizational structures
• Recruiting and managing members
• Establishing and maintaining a board of directors
• Establishing committees and working groups in the organization
• Creating work plans, timelines, and tasks for staff and volunteers
• Identifying goals and objectives for long and short term

Skills for Publicity and Promotion

• Identifying and developing an organizational image
• Developing appropriate means of promoting the orgainzation's goals
• Finding and working with media partners
• Explaining benefits and values, mission, and operation of trails and projects
• Creating and managing events
• Writing quarterly and annual reports

Skills for Volunteer Development

• Creating or adapting a successful volunteer program
• Recruiting, recognizing, and rewarding volunteers
• Identifying skill needs and training volunteers

Skills for Managing Legal Issues

• Identifying and managing risk and potential liabilities
• Applying State and Federal laws on user and volunteer liability to reduce risk to a minimum

TRAINING and RESOURCES for Organizational Development

Links will take you to specific training opportunities, training providers, and other educational resources for both urban and backcountry trails. See the Online Training Calendar for current opportunities, featured training providers, and resources in each state.

Courses on Organizational Development

See providers of training on trail design below
Check the online Calendar for current scheduled training
Search the NTTP training database by keyword, state, or provide

• IMBA Trailbuilding Schools: sponsored by Subaru of America and directed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association include club development
• Marshall University Park and Recreation Resources program of Huntington, WV, includes organizational development in off-highway vehicle recreation courses via the internet
• National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council workshops and conferences include organizational development skills
• Partnership for the National Trails System provides resources and annual conferences focused on the needs of trail organizations
• Professional Trailbuilders Association sponsors the annual Trailbuilders Conference with workshops on technical aspects of planning, development, and management
• See more training providers
• Check for training providers in your state

Resources for Organizational Development

The Advocacy for Trails and Greenways Index provides a wealth of articles and resources on promotion, publicity, and events; developing organizations; and celebrating activists and volunteers.

Books on Organizational Development

The following books are available from the American Trails Store. Also see the American Trails Bibliography.

• Natural Surface Trails by Design Physical and Human Design Essentials of Sustainable, Enjoyable Trails; by Troy Scott Parker
• Trail Solutions: IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack; Cutting-edge trailbuilding techniques with proven fundamentals in a colorful, easy-to-read format
• Lightly On The Land : The SCA Trail Building and Maintenance Manual, 2nd Edition; the trail building and maintenance "Bible," updated and expanded to meet new techniques and new realities of the 21st century.

The National Trails Training Partnership is an alliance of Federal agencies, training providers, nationwide supporters, and providers of products and services. Visit the online calendar of training opportunities, access hundreds of trail-related resources, read the news, learn how you can help, and see training resources in your state.

RESOURCES and TRAINING for trail design:

Courses
Books
Articles & projects
Bibliography
Glossary
Calendar
Products & services

CATEGORIES of SKILLS for trails and greenways work:

1. Trail Design
2. Construction
3. Maintenance
4. Management
5. Policies
6. Planning
7. Administration
8. Organizations
9. Partnerships
10. Resources
11. Information
12. Outreach

National
Trails Training Partnership:

Who we are
Featured training
Training by state
Calendar
Search the training database

Do you need training?
Do you have training opportunities you'd like to publicize?
Are you a trails expert who can teach trail skills to others?
The National Trails Training Partnership wants to work with you to make training more available.

Contact us!