The Program:
This three-week program is designed for those interested in pursuing trails leadership education or have a special passion for stewardship. This course includes a Leave No Trace Trainer certification and then a SOLO Wilderness First Aid course and certification. Trail maintenance projects may include brushing, drainage cleaning, rock work, bog bridging, and new trail construction. Classroom (rest days) focus on backcountry skills and ethics. Participants will also enjoy a day of rock climbing and receive a copy of AMC’s The Complete Guide to Trail Building and Maintenance upon course completion. This program is a great resume builder!
Participants arrive between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday afternoon at our Camp Dodge Volunteer Center facility where they will spend the night and begin their Leave No Trace Trainers program. In the next few weeks, participants will complete a variety of trail maintenance projects and trainings in backcountry living and ethics. Please remember that the trail crew work will be strenuous and demanding, and that we’ll be out rain or shine. During the week, for each of the three weeks, the group will be packing out all food supplies, tools, camping equipment, and personal belongings into the woods with their crew leaders, learning new skills while working on trails at remote sites. Be sure to leave plenty of room in your pack for these additional items. (Clothes and other items needed only for the weekends or other weeks can be left at Camp Dodge while they are out in the field. They will be in a common area in the bunkhouse, but valuables can be locked up.)
During their second weekend with the program they will take a SOLO Wilderness First Aid course. On their third weekend, that Saturday, the group will go rock climbing with Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School - North Conway, NH, and Sunday will be a rest day that the group can plan among themselves and the leaders for the final week in the woods.
As the weeks progress, the volunteers will gain more responsibility for the group and each will be offered a leadership role in running the crew during their last week.
After each week on the trails, the crew will return to Camp Dodge for the Friday night barbecue. When the crew packs out on their third Friday of the program, they will have the opportunity to join the Trails Staff in our Friday Program Meeting to discuss, as leaders, their project work. Participants may leave Friday evening or Saturday morning – Friday night stay and Saturday morning breakfast is included in program cost.
What The Volunteers Say:
This program definitely met my expectations. The physical challenge of being in the woods and working hard on the trails is always balanced nicely with the amazing times we have hanging out on the weekends and at night after work. As always, I love the people I meet here, and I love that the leaders actually let us have responsibility and treat us like equals. Leah (2008 Teen Trails Leadership Participant)
Excellent food, understanding, and friendly Crew Leaders. And the best: meeting teenagers like me who are interested in forest work and trail maintenance. Learning about LNT (Leave No Trace) was great because it was both a way to preserve the trails and mountains, and a way to lessen my personal impact on the environment. These past weeks have been the best weeks I have ever spent in the outdoors. Ben (2008 Teen Trails Leadership Participant)
I loved the leaders, the food, and the tarps. I loved waking up each morning to this close-knit community of friends and teachers. Seth (2008 Teen Trails Leadership Participant)
2009 Dates:
July 24 - August 14
Contribution:
$875 (AMC-members)
$950 (non-members)
Register Today!
View Full 2009 Schedule
