Volunteer News

Washington Trails Association news about volunteers and trail maintenance on The Signpost Blog.

You can also meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

New Youth Volunteer Vacation Trip! Pacific Crest Trail at Goodwin Meadows August 20-27

Jul 21, 2016

Finish your summer off right with a week in the beautiful William O. Douglas Wilderness. WTA has added an incredible late summer hiking, backpacking and trail maintenance opportunity to work on the Pacific Crest Trail. This trip is open to teens ages 15 to 18 with some previous trail maintenance experience.

Slideshow: Where We've Worked (So Far) This Summer

Jul 12, 2016

Many trails have already benefited from volunteer work crews this summer. See where we've been, and where you can join us for the rest of the season.

New Trail Links Recreation Areas near Anacortes

May 24, 2016

The nearly-complete John Tursi Trail is a vision decades in the making. WTA volunteers have helped make this connector between Deception Pass and Anacortes a reality, and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for June 4.

Forest Service Hires WTA Volunteer for Trail Crew

May 24, 2016

This summer, WTA assistant crew leader Cindy Nguyen will join the Gifford Pinchot National Forest as a member of a wilderness trail crew. We asked her how WTA helped shape her path, and get her to where she is now.

Backcountry Trips, New Exhibit at Mount St. Helens

May 17, 2016

Backpack and give back to Mount St. Helens with a backcountry volunteer trip. Or visit to a new photo exhibit opening around the 36th anniversary of Mount St. Helen's eruption.

New Partnerships Strengthen WTA's Volunteer Education

May 01, 2016

WTA has partnered with the Mount St. Helens Institute and other organizations to improve our impact on trails as well as the community in Southwest Washington.

Raising Tomorrow's Trail Stewards

Apr 11, 2016

The Homeschool Stewardship Squad allows kids and parents to volunteer, play and learn together outside. Heidi Watters organized the squad in 2011, and we asked her some history and tips for encouraging your own little ones.

Outdoor Adventures for Girls: Sign Up for a Summer Volunteer Vacation

Mar 31, 2016

6 Tips to Stay Happy When Its Wet on Trail

Mar 17, 2016

Check out WTA's tips that will help you stay happy and warm on those days when the sun isn't shining.

To Prevent Lost Trails, Training Tomorrow's Backcountry Stewards

Mar 11, 2016

Trails get lost in a variety of ways and volunteers have the skills to find them. But how does a person actually learn to care for our treasured places?

3 Easy Steps to Prep for WTA's Backcountry Trip Registration

Feb 17, 2016

Signups open Feburary 20 for WTA's summer backcountry work parties. Get to know the new process and be sure fill out your forms.

WTA Selected to Receive Grant from Boeing

Jan 26, 2016

WTA will receive $40,000 each year for two years to develop and expand our trail volunteer program from a significant grant provided by the Boeing Company.

Jim Springberg: 1,000 Work Parties and Counting

Jan 21, 2016

WTA welcomes Jim Springberg to the Golden Rock Bar Club. These folks have given 1,000 days of volunteer work to trails.

Volunteers Help Open New Trail at Liberty Lake, Foster Strong Trail Parterships

Nov 02, 2015

Spokane has been a hub of trail maintenance activity this year. WTA volunteers have fostered partnerships and opened new trails, a huge success for trails this year.

Snowall BCRT: We're Gonna Need a Bigger Saw

Aug 27, 2015

Thirteen miles, four days, eight volunteers and more trees across a trail than you could count.

My 2,500 Mile Journey to Build Trails

Aug 24, 2015

Youth volunteer Elizabeth Hopmann traveled from Texas to participate in two youth volunteer vacations this summer. Read her perspective of the experience.

Red Bluff BCRT: Saving Trails in Colville National Forest

Aug 05, 2015

Take a look at what a WTA volunteer crew can accomplish in four days! This 10-person crew replaced a worn-out bridge with a sturdy new turnpike on the Red Bluff Trail in the Colville National Forest. Want to join us? We've got another BCRT heading out that way August 21-23. Sign up today!

A Week in the Woods: Volunteering in the Backcountry

Jul 29, 2015

Tasty food, good company, and the thrill of adventure are just a few of the reasons why a Volunteer Vacation is a great way to spend a week in some of the most beautiful locations in Washington helping repair trails.

Two New Knothead Views of the Little Spokane

Jul 08, 2015

In the last few years, WTA's trail maintenance volunteers have been working improving and expanding the extensive trail system at Riverside State Park outside Spokane. Volunteers broke ground on the new Knothead Trail in 2013. This spring, they completed work on a new section of the trail that takes hikers to two scenic viewpoints overlooking the Little Spokane River.

Meet WTA’s Remarkable Volunteer Crew Leaders

Jul 08, 2015

WTA's assistant crew leaders are committed to keeping our volunteer community growing and thriving.

Camp and Clean Up Trails in an Enchanting Place

Jun 12, 2015

Anywhere that hikers flock to, you'll find WTA keeping the trails up. Join us July 17-19 and maintain several of the trails that provide access to areas like the Enchantments and Icicle Ridge. Camp at the Chatter Creek Guard Station and save the long morning commute.

Fireside Circle Members Go to Work for Trails

Jun 11, 2015

Last Sunday, several enthusiastic members of WTA's Fireside Circle gathered to participate in a work party on the Pratt Connector Trail, located in the newly-expanded Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Already popular, trails in this area are expected to see increasing use in the coming years once paving of the Middle Fork Road is complete.

Trending: Kids and Teens Fix Up Trails

May 26, 2015

In April and May, WTA supported a record number of 449 trail maintenance experiences with kids and teens! In addition, we worked with a total of 15 school and community groups, some more than once.

Trail Work as Quality Family Time

May 20, 2015

Volunteering with your kids on trail can be a very rewarding experience. It instills in them a sense of responsibility, and helps them take pride in a job well done. WTA Board member Joe Gregg periodically volunteers with his kids and offered a few words of wisdom about the value of getting young ones into volunteering at a young age.

Summer School: WTA's Crew Leader College

May 20, 2015

How do the people you volunteer with know so much about trail maintenance? They went to college -- Crew Leader College, hosted annually by WTA.

Volunteer Twice, Earn a Free Pass

May 20, 2015

When you participate in two work parties on National Forest land, you'll earn an annual Northwest Forest Pass—the $30 pass that you need to park at many trailheads in the state.

Before & After: Repairing a Blanchard Mountain Route to Oyster Dome

May 07, 2015

A popular hiking route to Oyster Dome was all but impassible before WTA crews cleared the way earlier this year. Now, a Backcountry Response Team crew camping nearby will put in four intensive days of additional work on the Blanchard Mountain trail system.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in May

May 07, 2015

This month WTA is working in several locations that need some special attention, and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love. No experience is needed to join a work party, and anyone is welcome. We'll teach you what you need to know and find the right job for you. For more information on what to expect when you join us on trail, check out our FAQ page.

Taking Steps to Repair a Popular Peninsula Trail

May 20, 2015

After a volunteer work party on the Lena Lake Trail, it became apparent that popular trails need some extra maintenance help. Whether you're hiking or volunteering, here's what you can do to keep these trails in great shape.

Seeking Creative, Determined Girls: Join a WTA Youth Volunteer Vacation Today

May 07, 2015

WTA's youth volunteer vacations are a great opportunity for girls to try something new, learn a new skill, and have a ton of fun in on some of Washington’s most beautiful trails this summer. Sign up solo and meet a whole crew of new friends, or bring a friend and have an adventure together.