Welcome Mike Stenger

Please join us in welcoming Mike Stenger as WTA's new Trail Programs Director. Mike recently started and is leading WTA's renowned trail maintenance program. With more than 2200 volunteers and upwards of 100,000 volunteer hours this year, it is one of the largest volunteer-based trail programs in the country, second only to the Appalachian Mountain Club.

After a nationwide search, we were lucky enough to find Mike Stenger in our own backyard. He was the Trails Program Manager for the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust for seven years, working with WTA on many projects on the I-90 corridor. While at the Greenway, Mike worked closely with land managers to develop trail designs and projects that enhanced the Greenway trails network and that included quality experiences for volunteers. 

For two decades he has worked with non-profit organizations, land managers and volunteers on trail and environmental restoration projects. In addition to his work at the Greenway, Mike has also worked on trail and volunteer projects for EarthCorps and the Student Conservation Association. 

Mike is very excited to join WTA's team. He fully recognizes the challenges that our trails face - wear and tear from escalating use, long-term financial uncertainties, the weather and more. On his first day on the job he said, "I can’t think of a better response to these and other challenges than the trail maintenance programs found at WTA, and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to participate in guiding these efforts."

One of the first orders of business will be land manager meetings. Mike and other staff will be visiting all of the land management agencies with whom we currently work (it's quite a long list!). They will be going over the results of our projects in 2010 and setting priorities for the upcoming year.

In the meantime, he wants to share with you all that he is, "delighted to join the team at Washington Trails Association. I’m both honored and motivated by this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the many committed volunteers, partners and staff members that make WTA so special."

Mike Stenger can be reached at 206.971.9967 or mike@wta.org.