Workshop: Hands-on trail planning, construction and maintenance skills

David tells me trail volunteers are needed, and here’s a training that will get you ready…read on:

Aspiring island volunteers have a chance to learn basic hands-on trail planning, construction and maintenance skills at a free workshop offered by the San Juan Island Trials Committee on May 29 and 30.

The workshop will consist of a three-hour classroom session from 6 to 9 pm on Friday, May 29 and a field session from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, May 30.  The interactive classroom session on May 29 will be held at the County fire station at 1011 Mullis St.  Location of the field project on May 30 is to be determined.

Attendees will learn about sustainable trail design, planning, layout and flagging, working safe, tool use, construction, maintenance, crew management, and accessibility.  The focus is on how to create non-motorized trails which are appropriate to our unique island environment.  The workshop is an entry-level course designed for newcomers to trail building.

Instructors, who are volunteering their time, bring decades of experience in resource management to this program:

•    Nick Teague’s professional work includes service with the Bureau of Land Management, including development of BLM’s National Trail Design training program and extensive volunteer work.

•    Doug McCutchen is a 12-year resident of San Juan Island and works as preserve steward for the Land Bank.  His responsibilities include trail planning, design and construction on Land Bank properties.  He holds a B.A. in Recreation from Western Washington University.

•    Steve Ulvi is a veteran of a 25-year career with the National Park Service in Alaska.  Steve has been responsible for park and resource management in several parks and worked with the NPS’ Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program facilitating five new greenspace/trail projects.  He holds a B.S. degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Alaska.

There will be many opportunities for volunteers to apply the skills they will learn by working to expand and maintain the island’s network of trails.  As the Trails Committee continues to identify and develop new trails, skilled volunteers will be in great demand to lead work parties and serve as trail stewards.

Register for the workshop by e-mail at [email protected].  To learn more about the Trails Committee and the work it is doing, visit www.sanjuanislandtrails.org.  To talk to a Trails Committee volunteer, call David Dehlendorf at 378-1082.

The San Juan Island Trails Committee is a committee of the San Juan Island Park and Recreation District (“Island Rec”).

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