filed under: skills & competencies
Categories, lists, and definitions of skills used in trails and greenways work, along with links to classes and resources for training.
This area categorizes and defines the wide range of skills used in trails and greenways work. The goal is to comprehensively identify the range of competencies and knowledge used by staff and volunteers engaged in every kind of trail work. Web pages for the 12 topics provide a catalogue of skills, plus links to resources, publications, and training providers.
Compiled by Stuart Macdonald from resources provided by members of the National Trails Training Partnership. Many of the specific skills were identified by the task force for the National Scenic and Historic Trails Training Needs Assessment.
Click on each category name to reach the expanded page with details of jobs, competencies, and skills for each topic.
1. Trail Design
Layout of trails; design for different trail activities; types of trails.
Trail building; construction techniques; surfacing and materials; bridges and boardwalks; trailhead facilities; related structures; recreational facilities.
Care and maintenance of trails, greenways, and bikeways; repair of various trail elements; maintenance of trailheads and related facilities.
4. Visitor and Trail Management
Managing trails for a variety of uses and visitor experiences while meeting trail objectives, monitoring activities and their impacts on natural, historic, and cultural resources.
5. Laws, Regulations, and Policies
Interpreting regulations and legislation; applying federal laws on environmental, historic issues; providing accessible routes under the Americans with Disabilities Act; developing and enforcing trail regulations; responding to legal issues.
6. Planning
Planning individual trails and greenways; identifying routes and experiences for park systems; developing plans for regional and statewide systems; developing goals and objectives for trail projects.
7. Program Administration and Funding
Budgeting; developing costs; managing grants and finding programs; managing staff and volunteers; managing projects; identifying funding sources; working with a variety of funding; writing grant proposals.
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.
9. Partnership and Collaboration
Creating and maintaining partnerships; interagency project management; structuring agreements among partners; nurturing cooperation among a variety of recreation and conservation interests; planning trail systems across jurisdictional lines.
10. Resource Protection and Monitoring
Management of natural resources that host trails and greenways: monitoring impacts of visitors and natural processes; acquisition and protection of trail corridors; conservation and restoration of habitat and natural areas.
Database management; website development; trail and facility inventories; trail assessment and maintenance records; identifying and gathering needed information.
12. Public Outreach, Marketing, and Interpretation
Signs and public information; communicating regulations and etiquette; marketing of trails and recreation opportunities; environmental education; interpretation of historic and cultural features.
Published June 2020
National Crosscut and Chainsaw Program
The National Crosscut and Chainsaw Program was created to train smart volunteer and professional sawyers across the nation.
National Conservation Training Center
The National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) offers a unique and diverse range of conservation training courses, designed by and for the conservation professional.
Public Outreach, Marketing, and Interpretation Skills and Competencies
Database management; website development; trail and facility inventories; trail assessment and maintenance records; identifying and gathering needed information.
Information Management Skills and Competencies
Database management; website development; trail and facility inventories; trail assessment and maintenance records; identifying and gathering needed information.
