In-Person Connections: 5 Ways WTA's Volunteer Ambassadors Helped Hikers

Regardless of what you are looking for on trail, WTA has something for you. Our work for the hiking community is broad and it all involves some kind of human connection. Community building happens on trail, online and in-person and it's an integral part fulfilling WTA’s mission. One way we're doing that work is thanks to our amazing WTA volunteer ambassadors, who are regularly making in-person connections.

2023 was the first full year that WTA ambassadors worked as outreach volunteers, talking with people across the state about opportunities to get involved with WTA and providing information about our resources. We rounded out the year at 58 ambassador-supported events, reaching over 4,000 people. The goals of different events vary, but all with the overarching goal of making meaningful connections with people interested in hiking and WTA. With 58 events, it’s hard to choose just a few, but here are five events that made an impact in different ways this year. 

Creating Trail Advocates 

Washington Trails Day is a state holiday to celebrate trails. This year, 23 ambassadors talked with hikers in nine locations across the state over two days. Volunteers talked with hundreds of hikers to increase support for the Trail Action Network. Washington Trails Day is an important opportunity for WTA to talk with the public about our advocacy efforts — and it would not be possible without volunteers. 


WTA volunteer ambassadors and staff pose behind their table at the Ingalls Creek trailhead on Washington Trails Day. Photo by Allie Tripp. 

Celebrating BIPOC in the Outdoors

Refuge Festival is a weekend-long event in its sixth year. Put on by Golden Bricks Events, a longtime partner of WTA, Refuge is a gathering and a celebration of BIPOC experiences in the outdoors. This year, WTA staff and volunteer ambassador Jenn Seva led a workshop on trip planning, presented a cross-cut saw demonstration, and spent time talking with people about hiking and WTA. 


Engaging in conversations about WTA and outdoor recreation at Refuge Fest. Photo by Tiffany Chou.  

Reaching People New to Hiking

One goal of outreach is to welcome people who are brand new to hiking, WTA or Washington into the WTA community. Trident Seafoods, a Seattle-based company, puts on a wellness fair each year where employees can learn about options for their health and wellness. Ambassadors heard a lot of appreciation for WTA at the event, and many were interested in getting involved. Three ambassadors, Bob Adler, Micki Kedzierski and Kathleen Lange, talked with over 100 people at this event. 


It was a chilly, blustery day at the Catherine Creek trailhead, where ambassadors talked with hikers and spread awareness about WTA and resources for recreating responsibly. Photo by Linda Martindell. 

Welcoming and Educating Hikers at Trailheads

Ambassadors Linda Martindell and Cathy Darrow talked to hikers at Lyle Cherry Orchard and Catherine Creek trailheads over a weekend in November. Braving rain and winds up to 35 mph, they talked with every hiker that passed by. Trailhead outreach is a chance to educate hikers about recreating safely and responsibly and how to take care of other humans and the environment. While on their own hike that weekend, ambassadors passed a couple they had spoken with the previous day. That couple said that they used the website that very day after they couldn’t get the information they needed from AllTrails. Small interactions like these prove the power of a conversation. In 2023, ambassadors talked with about 1,000 people at 12 trailheads across the state.  

Spreading the Word About Volunteering 

Sometimes meeting a volunteer who works on trails in real life is what a future volunteer needs to encourage them to register for a trail work party. Ambassadors Kim Struiksma and Richard Mellon talked to folks at the WWU Volunteer Fair and told them what it’s like to volunteer on trails. The people they talked to were interested in volunteering solo, setting up group work parties, and in partnering with WTA to serve the Bellingham community together. 

We are looking forward to spreading the word about WTA in 2024. The event calendar is filling up already. Stay connected with WTA to stay informed about events near you!