Trail Skills College Tasks and Timelines
This document brings together the shared experiences of two Trail Skills College trainings initiated in the White Mountain National Forest and duplicated on the Mark Twain National Forest.
Crew Training
Skill Definition
Implement a training program that provides crew members with the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that are necessary for high quality trail operations, the implementation of trail management goals, safe operations, overall effectiveness and team engagement
Entry Level Performance
- Demonstrate ability to identify and seek training opportunities that enable progression in one’s career
- Actively engage in the crew training program
Full Performance Level
- Provide training to a larger crew or multiple smaller crews, including members with limited experience, adjusting teaching strategies if necessary to maximize crew learning
- Conduct training for new crew members that embodies DEI principles (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
- Identify the training needs of individual crew members and the team
Expert Level Performance
- Create a training plan that provides crew members with the knowledge, skills, and experience to perform entry level skills in trail construction and maintenance on a trail project
- Identify higher level training opportunities for crew members seeking to build their skills and specialities
- Build capability within the crew to facilitate training and share expertise
Resources for Crew Training
Documents and
Media
• Video Trainings
• Training Programs
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Trail Skills Training Library
Recorded Trainings for Crew Training
Forging the Future for Trail Technicians: What We’ve Learned, What’s Next, and Why It Matters
Learn about the creation of the Trail Technician Level 1 certification and their curriculum—now a national benchmark for workforce development.
Volunteer Trail Builders: How to Attract Them and Retain Their Involvement Over the Years
This webinar will dive into what really works on the ground to cultivate a thriving volunteer culture, one that fuels trail stewardship and strengthens community connections.
Higher Education Trail Programs: Applying the Trail Competencies
This webinar will discuss the process of developing higher education trail programs that span the spectrum from one-off online certificates to two-year associate degrees and beyond.
Trail Competencies and Skills
This webinar will discuss the Trail Competency Framework and how they are being used for program and curriculum development, workforce development efforts, bolstering trail stewardship capacity, and professionalization of the trail industry.
Cultural Landscape Training Framework
This webinar will provide an exclusive first walk through of the Cultural Landscape Training Framework showcasing how outdoor professionals can embrace multiple perspectives of the Indigenous landscapes they work on.
Developing a Trail Competency Framework
Working across sectors to create shared language around trail skills and expertise.
Further Education
Training Programs for Crew Training
Advancing Trails Webinar Series
American Trails brings agencies, trail builders, planners, architects, advocates, and volunteers the latest in state-of-the-art information on all aspects of trails and greenways. Our webinars focus on a variety of trail topics, usually applicable…
Chinook Associates Trail Consulting
Chinook Associates offers stewardship skills workshops covering recreational trail planning, design, construction, maintenance, and visitor management. Courses are available either in-person, with fully customizable content combining classroom…
Jacksonville State University - Trail Science Institute (TSI)
The TSI focuses on the promotion of recreational trails, primarily in the State of Alabama, by providing educational experiences and providing services such as assessment, monitoring, management, planning, and construction. The TSI defines trails as…
Trail Academy
Trail Academy is our free class series that teaches students how to tackle any trail-related challenge. Courses are hosted both in the field and online, and are a great starting point for anyone looking to become a certified Trail Crew Leader or…
Trail Sustainability Institute
The Trail Sustainability Institute (TSI) is NWTA’s internal training classes for everything related to trail building. We want to make sure our trail builders are knowledgeable in not only how to build/maintain fun trails, but ensure those trails…
PCTA Trail Skills Course
Because wildfires, wind storms, floods, gravity, and vegetation growth are constant threats to the PCT, the annual maintenance and reconstruction of the trail is a never-ending and monumental undertaking. Such work, historically carried out by…
Custom Trainings
There are 49 trainers on TrailSkills
with Crew Training experience
Rick Landenberger
Morgantown, WV
Service Associate Professor and Science & Management Specialist for the West Virginia Land Trust
West Virginia University
Justin Poehnelt
Durango, CO
Hire Workers
There are 207 workers on TrailSkills
with Crew Training experience
Julian Wischniewski
Eureka, CA
AmeriCorps Grant Coordinator
California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program
Mitch Bishop
Reno, NV
Trails and Restoration Specialist - Nevada Conservation Corps
Great Basin Institute
Gaeron Gruber
North Charleston, SC
Restoration Field Manager
Sustainability Institute of South Carolina
Marisa Sprowles
Harrisburg, PA
Natural Resource Program Supervisor, Recreation Section Chief Bureau of Forestry
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Recreation & Conservation Partnerships Division
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Contact Us
Know of a good resource for this skill? Let us know! From webinars, to workshops, to PDFs, we'd like to add them to our resource library.
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