Be a Trail Champion

As trail users, we put in many miles exploring the outdoors. It's easy to take for granted just how much work goes into keeping those trails we hike on maintained; the understory clear, healthy and open; and preserving each precious resource we are exploring on any given hike. Someone else is doing it (park staff, DNR folks, naturalists, volunteers) and we're grateful.

But I want to issue a challenge to all of us who hike. 

Can we step up to the plate and give back through volunteering our time or money to support these efforts to keep trails and outdoor resources open, usable and maintained? Can we be trail - and outdoor resources - champions?

Spring garlic mustard pulling

Perhaps you've heard the expression "many hands make light work."  In terms of trail work and resource management, that is golden. Much of the work of maintenance -  from cutting back overhanging branches and trail-crowding brush to removing invasives like garlic mustard, buckthorn, honeysuckle and Queen Anne's Lace to tree planting, trail building, mowing and seed collecting - isn't rocket science. It can easily be taught and supervised. 

A group of volunteers can make a huge difference in quickly getting the work done. Even an hour of volunteer time is helpful.

How do you get involved? There are a few ways:

Master Naturalist Certification
Consider becoming a certified MN Master Naturalist volunteer (MNV) through the University of MN Extension (WI and IA also have Master Naturalist training programs). Training sessions are held around each state. I'm excited to see a MN 40-hour Big Woods, Big River course is being offered in nearby Winona MN August 14-21 with a focus on the Mississippi River and the Driftless area. After your certification, you are required to volunteer 40 hours and do 8 hours of advanced training annually to maintain certification. You can do stewardship projects, citizen science projects, program support and education/interpretation. Plus you meet an an ever-expanding network of other Master Naturalists to keep learning with and from. It's easy to get those hours in since the MNV certification makes you a valued volunteer  - and there are a ton of opportunities to give back.*

Volunteer in Local Trails Groups

Clearing trails in summer

Volunteer with groups that have active programs to maintain and build trails, maintain prairie remnants, plant trees, remove invasives and so on. The Prairie Enthusiasts have a number of chapters in MN, WI, IL. Besides guided hikes, they do prescribed burns and invasives control throughout the Driftless region. They often partner with The Friends of the Blufflands who devote endless hours to battling invasives and restoring prairie remnants to health. WI's Mississippi Valley Conservancy has many opportunities for volunteers at all skill levels to help with projects. The Outdoor Recreation Alliance of La Crosse, which focuses mainly on mountain biking but supports all outdoor pursuits, does tons of trail maintenance. 

Volunteer in Nearby State Parks/Environmental Organizations
There are also opportunities to volunteer locally in Friends groups for parks, nature centers and environmental groups. You can support and do programs, volunteer at the information desk or help in leadership positions in those organizations.

Volunteer with Your Local Municipality

Late fall buckthorn
cutting/treatment

Talk to your local community leaders and let them know you would be happy to help in keeping local trails and wild areas healthy. Towns and cities that have Park boards or Natural Resource boards are always looking for members willing to give time, ideas and effort to make the community green spaces better. It's a great way to give back if physical work is difficult for you.

Support Financially
If your body says "Whoa, I can't handle physical trail maintenance kind of work," consider making donations to organizations that do the work. Your support makes a huge difference in what these organizations can do.

Spread the Word

If you're part of a hiking or walking group that uses any public trails, encourage other members to join you in doing an hour of two of volunteer work in parks, forests and on trails. If you are a group leader, see if you can organize a volunteer hour with your group once or twice a year in collaboration with local parks, municipalities or organizations to pull garlic mustard, plant trees, collect seeds, sow native plant seeds or help with larger trail maintenance or invasives control work. Ask your family members, friends and acquaintances to come along on trail projects or invasives control that you are doing. Spread the word in youth groups at church, school, scouting, 4-H about the need for hands to help with nature-enhancing projects. Your advocacy and enthusiasm can translate to more involvement with people you know and are active with.

City crew and volunteers
broadcasting native plant seeds

We can give back to ensure that our trails and outdoor resources remain robust and healthy. It only takes a little bit of time and effort. Hope you will be a trail champion too.

See you on the trails!

*I received my MNV certification in 2022. For my volunteer hours, I guide hikes, do interpretive nature programs, publish this blog, serve on two city nature-related boards and do invasives control work and other stewardship projects. It's super easy to go well beyond the expected 40 hours annually.

Queen's Anne Lace cleared from the left hand side of 
pollinator garden after three volunteers spent an hour pulling.
The pulled plants will be mowed
Image - Jason Ludwigsen

An Outdoor Group for EVERYONE

Have you ever been outdoors doing your thing - hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, birding, cross country skiing, rock climbing - and had the distinct feeling when you see others there that you are perhaps an "only"? The only woman; the only person of color; the only person with a disability; the only LGBTQIA+ person; the only older; the only younger? 

You can get that feeling too when you are using guiding services, in outdoor recreation stores or becoming involved in lots of outdoor groups or associations.

Being an "only" - or one of a very few - can be a discouraging feeling. It's easy to feel out of place; unsafe or challenged by not feeling like part of the dominant group that is recreating. And if you long to be outdoors more, it can be off-putting. 

That's why I was so excited to learn about the Winona Outdoor Collaborative. Their mission statement says it all: "to promote inclusion and accessibility through community partnerships, environmental stewardship, and educational programming directed at reducing barriers to outdoor recreation."  

When I read this, I just had to touch base with them. Recently I sat down with Alexa Shapiro , the executive director (and Director of Trailblazing), to learn more about their programs and focus. A warm and open person, she has a Masters in Recreational Management, is a Wilderness First Responder and has over 5000 miles of backpacking on her boots, along with a variety of outdoor experiences. I asked her how the Collaborative came about.

Syd and Alexa, cofounders
Image WOC website

Originally started in 2019 as a women-centered collaborative, that first volunteer group created events where women could find - and give - support to each other as well as be part of safe and inclusive outdoor opportunities. By 2020, cofounders Alexa Shapiro and Sydney Bockelman, created the nonprofit Winona Outdoor Collaborative, expanding their focus to include "all marginalized identities in outdoor recreation." 

Image WOC website

The collaborative holds monthly events, meetups and workshops on the outdoors including hiking, backing, paddling and rock climbing. They also have outdoor equipment rentals at a very affordable cost (average cost $4 for 24 hours of rental) and guided experiences in southeastern MN's Driftless region. They hold gear swaps periodically as well (a great way to re-purpose your no longer-needed gear or pick up needed used gear at a great price).

Image WOC website

One of the new exciting projects being worked on is Bigger Hearts Adaptive Cross Country Ski program. Designed for youth from 4-17 years old with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, the goal is to offer these young people a chance to an accessible winter outdoor experience.

Funded by memberships, donations, grants and modest program fees, the group works hard to create a creative and supportive culture that recognizes and celebrates the importance of representation. The Collaborative's focus on inclusion, integrity, collaboration, environmental education and conservation speaks to their values and aspirations. They work hard on equity and inclusion issues and do thoughtful strategic brainstorming to overcome barriers so that representation truly happens..

As someone who has long noted the preponderance of male perspectives in outdoor recreations and groups associated with the outdoors, the inclusive and collaborative focus of the Winona Outdoor Collaborative is a refreshing change. I hope you consider supporting this group with your membership or donation, volunteer time or by taking part in their activities. They are truly open to all!

Be sure to explore their website to learn more.