Volunteer Blogs
Washington Trails Association news about Volunteers and Trail Maintenance on The Signpost Blog.
Washington Trails Association news about Volunteers and Trail Maintenance on The Signpost Blog.
- Volunteer on National Trails Day (Jun 1)
- This June 1, rally together with hikers across the nation to celebrate National Trails Day by volunteering on a work party with WTA on a number of great trails from Ape Cave to Beckler Peak.
- Teens Needed on Trail for Two Great Summer Trips
- Do you know a high school student (age 14 - 18) who loves the outdoors? This summer, join WTA on one of two amazing trips for teens who need to complete their service hours or who just want to get into the backcountry with their friends in a super-fun, safe and teamwork-oriented environment. White River and Troublesome Creek both need your help!
- Lopez Island Locals Trained in the Art of Trail Maintenance
- The San Juan Islands are a treasure trove of hiking trails and natural wonders. But it can be a logistical challenge to get regular trail maintenance volunteers onto the San Juan Islands, so Washington Trails Association recently traveled to Lopez Island to train the Lopez Community Trails Network (LCTN) in leadership and trail skills.
- How to Sign Up When a Work Party Is Full
- With such a great selection of trails to volunteer on with WTA this summer, don't let that glaring red "Full" on our sign-ups page deter you. How to get on a waitlist for a trip you want to go on.
- Giving Back to Trails: A First Time Volunteer Experience
- Sara Kiesler recently signed up to volunteer for her first day of trail maintenance, and then she blogged about the experience. From carpooling to learning about a cross-cut saw, read what it's like the first time you put on a green hat with Washington Trails Association.
- Join Zachary, WTA's New Seattle-Area Blue Hat, on Trail
- Meet Zachary McBride, an experienced crew leader who will be leading most day trips in the Puget Sound area all year long. When you end up on trail with Zachary, you're guaranteed to have fun while you get the work done.
- First Volunteer Vacation: Sun, Fun on Second Beach Trail
- The first WTA Volunteer Vacation of the season set out this week, working under blue skies to rebuild a trail on Second Beach. Read about the trip and check out the featured Volunteer Vacations that still have a few spots available.
- Crew Leader Mike Owens Retires
- After 13 years of crew leading day trips in the Puget Sound area, Mike Owens is finally retiring from Washington Trails Association. What's next for this trail work legend? Volunteering on trail, of course.
- A Trail Is ... Made by You
- A trail is made with laughter, with family and with friends. A trail is made by hikers, by climbers, by runners, by students and grandparents. A trail is made by all of us, together. A trail is made by you.
- Then and Now: 100 Years at Kayak Point Park
- With short beach strolls, evergreen forest, views of picturesque Port Susan and yurt camping, Kayak Point Park has attracted fun and families for more than a century. Explore a slideshow of scenes from the park in the early 1900's, and then sign up for a volunteer work party to take part in shaping the modern day trails on Kayak Point.
- Volunteer for Two New Trail Projects in Local Parks
- Be the first to leave your mark on two new-for-WTA projects. Both Cedar Creek and Kayak Point are day trips working in small neighborhood parks, and both trails are in critical need of your help to make them accessible to local trail users. Read more about each of these project below to figure out which one to tackle this March!
- Volunteers to Improve Trails at Coyote Wall
- Through a project made possible by the National Forest Foundation and Skamania Lodge, WTA is restoring trails in the popular Coyote Wall and Catherine Creek areas in the Columbia River Gorge.
- Teens: Get Outside this Winter
- Teens can earn community service hours with WTA this spring. We are offering Saturday Teen Work Parties one Saturday each month from February through June and two weeks of spring break April 8-12 and April 15-19.
- WTA Unveils Backcountry Schedule 2013
- Preview WTA's Volunteer Vacation, Youth Vacation and Back Country Response Team schedule for 2013. Sign-ups will open Feb 4, so review our schedule and decide which trips to sign up for this year!
- WTA Is Hiring Seasonal Field Staff
- Do you love working outdoors with great people? Do you have a passion for hiking trails and teaching others how to maintain them? Do you dream about spending the summer in Washington's wild places? Are you looking for seasonal employment?
- Two Teens Advocate for Getting Outside, WTA
- Meet two high school seniors (and long-term volunteers) who will be adding their voices to the Youth Committee at Washington Trails Association. In the coming gear, Helen Miller and Tzuria Falkenberg will work with WTA board members and staff to develop and improve WTA’s youth programs for families, teens, and young adults.
- WTA Celebrates Volunteers in 2012
- Washington Trails Association celebrates the 2,600 volunteers who worked to keep 170 trails passable this year at events around the state. In 2012, WTA saw a record number of 1,700 first-time volunteers. After venturing out on five work parties, more than 300 volunteers earned their hard hats this year. Check out the volunteer hall of fame and upcoming events.
- Family & Youth Fall Work Parties Full of Fun, Surprises
- Enjoy the crunchy leaves and crisp air with your family while volunteering on trail.
- Wildfires and Trails: Q&A with WTA Field Director
- Until the wildfires burning across Washington are out and the Forest Service begins to assess their damage, we won't know the impact to hikers' favorite trails. But WTA has a lot of experience helping reestablish trails in burned forests. So, we sat down for five minutes with Alan Carter Mortimer, WTA's Field Director, to ask about the impact fires can have on trails and what helping a trail recover involves.
- Thank You for Protecting Our Trails
- Every volunteer, member, and person who uses and values our trails is absolutely essential to the mission of Washington Trails Association. Thank you for protecting our trails.
