Education and Public Outreach

Skill Definition

Develop and conduct workshops, seminars and other training for employees, public and private sector partners, volunteers, and the public on trail skills, land management issues and priorities, and policy that impacts trails

Entry Level Performance

Demonstrate ability to teach volunteers simple trail construction and maintenance tasks

Full Performance Level

Implement trail educational programs that builds stewardship capacity through hands-on skill building
Conduct public education on the program or project to build community support, identify stewardship support, and ensure that the public understands the management regime
Schedule and organize the sessions in an education program
Integrate strategies that maximize impact with diverse learners

Expert Level Performance

Create and implement a comprehensive education program
Integrate strategies that embody DEI principles (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) into the education
Train all educators on teaching strategies that maximize impact with diverse learners
Effectively communicate with the media to aid in trail management, convey educational information to the public, and manage trail related emergencies.

Resources for Education and Public Outreach

Documents and Media • Video Trainings • Training Programs • Calendar
Find Trainers • Find Workers

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Documents and Media for Education and Public Outreach

Understanding of History - Exclusion of BIPOC People on Public Land

Advocacy for policies promoting equitable access to public lands, including increased funding for outreach and programming in marginalized communities.

Listening Session - How Do I Make My Invitations to Marginalized Communities to Engage in Stewardship?

Advocacy for policies promoting equitable access to public lands, including increased funding for outreach and programming in marginalized communities.

Skilled Volunteers and Roles Training

This guide addresses ways your organization can create and implement strategies to develop skilled volunteer leaders. After reading this guide, you will be able to assess your volunteer leadership needs, identify training resources and begin…

Community Outreach

There are many opportunities to get the word out to your community about your programs and projects – and many ways to ensure you are sharing valuable information and stories about where your programs and projects are taking place, what the…

Leave No Trace

The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace provide an easily understood framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors.

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Trail Skills Training Library

Recorded Trainings for Education and Public Outreach

Economic Benefits (and More) of Horse Trails in the American Economy

Learn about considerations on how your community can leverage the horse community to advocate for investments in the space that can get you the ROI needed.

Helping Communities Tell Their Outdoor Recreation Economic Story: Wisconsin’s DIY Economic Impact Program

Learn how the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation developed a written guide and implemented a program that equips communities and organizations to collect and analyze data necessary to calculate their economic impact.

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.

Branding 101: The Importance of Finding Your Why

This webinar will dive into some fundamentals and exercises to draw out foundational why's for your own organization to help create a brand your audience wants to support and champion.

Increasing LGBTQIA2S+ Inclusivity & Competency in the Outdoors

This webinar explores how outdoor programs, camps, and recreation organizations can move beyond access and toward true inclusivity—creating environments where LGBTQIA+ individuals feel not only welcome but genuinely seen and supported.

Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking in the U.S.

This webinar will present the findings from a study conducted to better understand the economic benefits of mountain biking in the U.S. and will also identify potential challenges that outdoor recreation communities face regarding increased…

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Further Education

Training Programs for Education and Public Outreach

Sustainable Trails Development

The Sustainable Trails curriculum welcomes students from various fields who are interested in trails development, programming and management, as well as design.

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…

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Skill Library