posted Sep 13, 2020
Use this library of resources, articles, and trainings to create an army of effective trail stewards.
posted Mar 27, 2024
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail (NST) is a thousand-mile footpath highlighting Wisconsin’s renowned Ice Age heritage and scenic beauty. The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) and its partners can shape users’ experiences. As stewards of the land and the Trail, we can help users develop a connection with the land and create a sense of wonder — even pique their curiosity enough to further explore the Trail.
posted Mar 27, 2024
by Outdoor Stewardship Institute
This training was developed to teach the fundamentals of basic trail maintenance to volunteers working independently in groups of three or less people. Local, state and federal land management agencies will benefit from this training because participants will gain skills that allow them to perform needed routine trail maintenance with minimal supervision and coordination.
posted Jul 24, 2023
by The Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University
A group of nationwide trail professionals representing federal agencies, trail nonprofits, and the private sector initiated this project to develop a common trail competency framework, focusing on enhancing professionalism as well as a higher level of skill.
posted Jun 24, 2019
Managing volunteers to achieve high quality trail stewardship work for land managers is not easy. Explore the tools and resources available to you that will help you start, expand or enhance your outdoor stewardship volunteer program, achieving your goals, and providing exceptional service to land managers.
posted Nov 4, 2020
by Colorado Youth Corps Association, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education
Natural resource professionals have some of the most challenging and important jobs of any profession. The resources we have on this Earth sustain everything else and must be managed for multiple uses and multiple interests.
posted Nov 3, 2020
by Mountain State Trail Alliance
Trail volunteers provide a valuable service to themselves, their fellow trail users and to the NRGTA. As the miles of trails available has grown in recent years and continue to grow, funding for trail staff has not.
posted Nov 5, 2020
The Adopt-a-Trail manual addresses the work accomplished in the Adopt-a-Trail program. This manual is meant to acquaint the maintainer with park procedures, duties involved in adopting a trail, and methods for safely performing those duties.
posted Mar 27, 2019
by North Country Trail Association
The North Country National Scenic Trail facilitates trail maintenance through a system of Trail Adopters who take responsibility for sections of trail. The NCTA Adopter Handbook notes that “A good trail experience is what gains support for the trail and ultimately increases membership.” The Handbook details standards for signs, blazes, tread, bridges, and campsites.
posted Jun 3, 2019
by Ann Baker Easley with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), Dean Winstanley with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), Tom Mullin with University of Southern Maine
This workshop focuses on practical ways for outdoor stewardship organizations and agencies to grow and expand the volunteer stewardship sector with greater organizational reliability and consistency across volunteer programs and in technical skill practices.
posted Feb 8, 2023
The purpose of this guide is to highlight the work of service and conservation Corps who develop and manage identity-based programs and crews, discuss the intention and purpose of these crews, why they are important, and how they have been transformational experiences for Corpsmembers and partners.
posted Aug 17, 2022
Outdoor leadership skills can be developed and improved over time through a combination of self-study, formal training and experience. Leadership trainings are offered frequently by volunteers and staff of the AMC. The trainings range from a single day to a weekend. If you are looking for additional training, the AMC offers several courses each season through the Guided Outdoors program.
posted Oct 13, 2023
The mission of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Fire Training and Workforce Development Program is to develop the wildland firefighting workforce through qualification standards, training standards, and workforce development programs in support of BLM fire management objectives.
posted Oct 9, 2023
Wildfires in California, and across the western U.S., are increasing in frequency and severity, threatening both ecosystems and communities. Restoration—a combination of ecological thinning and prescribed fire—is one of the best tools to build forest resilience and prevent catastrophic wildfires, by reducing the buildup of fuels resulting from a legacy of logging and fire suppression.
posted Jul 21, 2020
The purpose of this guide is to acquaint state administrators and transportation agencies with the benefits of employing Corpsmembers on transportation projects, and to encourage the use of Service and Conservation Corps in state-funded trail programs.
posted Apr 3, 2018
San Diego County partnered with the California Conservation Corps to develop an accessible trail surfaced with hardened crushed granite material from TechniSoil LLC.
posted Nov 4, 2020
Read these case studies on working in the field of outdoor recreation and conservation!
