Higher Education Trail Programs: Applying the Trail Competencies

Webinar Outline

In July 2024, the Trail Skills Project released an updated Trail Competency Framework with new competencies and further defined the skills (entry, full, expert) associated with each competency. This work was informed by the needs of several key colleges, universities, and programs across the country. Join this webinar as a panel of speakers discuss the many ways that the Competency Framework has been used, or could be used, to create innovative higher education programs that build the next generation of trail professionals.

Speakers will discuss the process of developing programs that span the spectrum from one-off online certificates to two-year associate degrees and beyond.  They will discuss the challenges faced in creating programs as well as the demand that has been expressed for these types of programs. Speakers will also discuss how they see the future of trail training programs playing out in the years to come and what we can all look forward to as a result of these and future program efforts.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Trail Competency Framework, the competencies, and skills breakouts by level
• Define the spectrum of currently available programs in trail construction, maintenance, planning, and design.
• Understand the role of higher education programs in legitimizing the trails industry and how that will impact the future of trails.

Trail Competencies

• Crew Management
• • Crew Training

• Program Administration
• • Education and Public Outreach

Relevant Trail Types

General. All trail types are relevant.