A Core Track Presentation
In this presentation the panelists discuss how the U.S. Forest Service is mandated to increase the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance activities.
by Deb Caffin, Trails Program Leader, Southern Region, Atlanta, GA, USDA Forest Service, Randy Rasmussen, Director of Public Lands and Recreation, Back Country Horsemen of America, Paul Sanford, National Director of Recreation Policy, The Wilderness Society, Randy Welsh, Executive Director, National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance
| The National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act (PL 114-245), signed into law in late 2016, directed the U.S. Forest Service to improve national forest trail maintenance by increasing the role of volunteers and partners in trail maintenance activities. The Act carried strong bipartisan support and included the ambitious goal of doubling the amount of trail maintenance performed by volunteers and partners within five years. This session will examine how the agency has responded to this mandate and challenge, review several innovative ideas that have been implemented, and evaluate the prospects for meeting the Act’s goals. Join a discussion led by experts on the Act and on efforts to ramp up volunteerism in the service of trails on the national and regional levels. You'll have an opportunity to offer your observations, recommendations on additional steps needed to ensure that our national forest trails remain safe, accessible and enjoyed by all. Learning Objectives:
|
Debbie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida and her Masters of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from Clemson University. A native Floridian, she began her career with the State of Florida as a Recreation Planner working first in trails then on the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.
In 1991 she joined the U.S. Forest Service as Trail Coordinator on the National Forests in Florida in Tallahassee working closely with the Florida Trail Association on the Florida National Scenic Trail. Debbie moved to Atlanta in 1998 and worked for the Washington Office during the development of the corporate trails database. In 1999 she became the first Intelligence Coordinator at the Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) supporting response efforts to natural disasters. She moved back into recreation in 2001, working as the Regional Wilderness, Wild and Scenic River, Congressionally Designated Areas, non-motorized trails, and dispersed recreation program specialist. In 2011, she became the regional Trails Program Manager, working on both motorized and non-motorized trail issues.
She has previously served the Region as the Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Chattahoochee-Oconee NF and the National Forests in North Carolina, and as the Acting Recreation, Wilderness, Heritage and Volunteer Unit Director.
Debbie’s hobbies include just about anything related to outdoor recreation!
Contact: [email protected]
Since 2012, Randy has represented Back Country Horsemen of America—a widely respected national, non-profit volunteer service organization, www.bcha.org. He assists BCHA’s 32 state organizations to advance policy initiatives and strengthen partnerships to ensure that current and future generations will continue to enjoy access to back country and Wilderness experiences. Prior to joining BCHA, Randy was senior policy manager for the American Hiking Society and worked for other national, non-profit organizations. He was a founding board member of Trailkeepers of Oregon, a volunteer trail maintenance organization. Randy earned a Masters of Science degree in Natural Resources, Recreation & Tourism at Colorado State University with an emphasis in public lands and wilderness management.
Contact: [email protected]
Paul Sanford is the National Director of Recreation Policy at The Wilderness Society, where he manages TWS' recreation policy agenda and its programs to connect more people to the outdoors. A native of Cleveland, OH, Paul has a Law degree from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor's degree from Ohio University. Paul began his recreation career in 2004 as the Policy Director at the American Canoe Association. He came to The Wilderness Society in 2011 because he believes in the deep connection between people and place that is forged by recreation on public lands, and knows that people can enjoy wilderness while at the same time ensuring its protection. Paul has been recognized for his leadership by the Coalition for Outdoor Access and the Outdoors Alliance for Kids. In his spare time, Paul hikes the trails and paddles the waters of the Eastern U.S. as often as possible.
Randy Welsh is the Executive Director of the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA). He is recently retired from the US Forest Service after a 36 year career, having served in protected area management with emphasis on wilderness and rivers. Randy spent time in Washington DC as the National Program Leader for Wild and Scenic Rivers and as Assistant Director of Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources. He was a Regional Wilderness Specialist in the Intermountain Region working on wilderness and rivers issues for over 16 years before moving to Washington. Married, with two grown daughters, Randy recently moved to Bend, Oregon, and enjoys river trips, wilderness hikes, and visits with friends and family.
Contact: [email protected]
2023 Legacy Trails Program Grant Awardee Portal
posted Apr 3, 2023
Below you will find documents that may be useful as you prepare your invoices.
2023 Legacy Trail Program Awardees Announced
posted Feb 2, 2023
We are excited to announce the winners of our 2023 Legacy Trail Program grants. In the first year of this program, we funded a total of $1.35 million to 33 organizations.
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is Making a Difference Across America
posted May 10, 2022
Use this interactive map to find where, when, and how these funds are being used.
10-Year Trail Shared Stewardship Challenge
posted Mar 21, 2022
Why Do We Need a Trail Challenge? Despite the great work happening in support of trails, workload demands continue to outpace the capacity of agency staff, partners, and volunteers. To address these shortcomings, the Forest Service has issued a 10-year Trail Challenge. It focuses the collective energy and resources of the trail community on actions resulting in greater collective capacity to manage and maintain trails, as well as more miles of trails that are well-designed, well-maintained, and well-suited to support recreation use today and into the future.
