2023 Trail Care Schedule
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May 4-7: Trail Care
MID STATE TRAIL - STATE COLLEGE REGION Bald Eagle State Forest Leaders: Kevin Busko / Jason Davis Camp: R.B. Winter State Park May 11-14: Trail Care WEST RIM TRAIL Tioga State Forest Leader: Wanda Shirk Camp: Twin Streams Campground, Morris May 18-21: Trail Care MID STATE TRAIL - EVERETT REGION Buchanan State Forest Leader: Chad North Camp: Tenley Park, Everett June 1-4: Trail Care ELK TRAIL Elk State Forest Leader: Joanne Heimer et al Camp: Hicks Run Campground |
June 8-11: Trail Care
MID STATE TRAIL - TIOGA REGION Tioga State Forest Leader: Pete Fleszar Camp: Hills Creek State Park Organized Group Tenting Area June 22-25: Trail Care BLACK FOREST TRAIL Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: Pump Station Fire Tower July 6-9 / 20-23?: Trail Care CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leaders: Ted Ligenza / Jenn Ulmer Camp: TBA August 10-13: Trail Care TRACY RIDGE TRAIL SYSTEM Allegheny National Forest Leader: Joe Hardisky Camp: Tracy Ridge Campground |
August 24-27: Trail Care
THUNDER SWAMP TRAIL SYSTEM Delaware State Forest Leader: Shira Blady & Brian MacNamara Camp: Resica Falls BSA Camp September 14-17 / 21-24?: Trail Care GOLDEN EAGLE TRAIL Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: TBA October 7: Code Orange 1-day GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK W/ Friends of Pinchot S.P. Leader: Steve Stroman Camp: TBA October 26-29: Trail Care PINCHOT TRAIL SYSTEM Pinchot State Forest Leader: Jeff Mitchell Camp: Manny Gordon Picnic Area sites |
| 2023_tentative_trail_care_schedule.pdf |
How to sign up
A new volunteer portal is in the works. Please contact Jenn Ulmer to sign up. If you sign up, we expect that you will keep your commitment to volunteer. We will arrange meals and housing based on the number of people who register. If you have to cancel for any reason, please give as much notice as possible. Detailed maps and directions will be provided to all who sign up.
Jenn Ulmer
Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training
717.766.9690
Ulmer@kta-hike.org
The Keystone Trail Association provides a place to camp, meals, tools, work gloves, safety equipment, and instruction by the crew leader. Volunteers are accepted for one day, a weekend, all week, or the entire season. There are tasks for everyone.
Jenn Ulmer
Manager of Trail Maintenance and Training
717.766.9690
Ulmer@kta-hike.org
The Keystone Trail Association provides a place to camp, meals, tools, work gloves, safety equipment, and instruction by the crew leader. Volunteers are accepted for one day, a weekend, all week, or the entire season. There are tasks for everyone.
Volunteer Options
Trail Care events will include Friday as a scheduled workday. Camping sites for Trail Care Weekends will be available on Thursday evenings for participants who want to roll-in and get set up. Two full days of trail work on Friday and Saturday are followed by evenings of campfire sociability and possibly dinner out at a local restaurant (Dutch treat). After a morning of additional trail work, the weekend concludes around noon on Sunday. Volunteers who cannot work the trail on Friday are still very welcome to come in Friday night for work on Saturday and/or Sunday. Participants provide their own camping gear and food.
Code Orange events are a one day event usually scheduled to work in a State Park. Camping may be available and food is sometimes provided.
Trail Crew events are 5 days. Hooked on trail work and a weekend's not enough? Plan on joining a week-long Trail Crew for an extended service trip. Choose one, or both of the Trail Crew opportunities in June and spend a full and fulfilling week doing trail work, with all meals provided! Can't get away for an entire week? Participants are welcome to sign up for the days and times their schedules allow.
If you can't attend an entire event, you can join the group for whatever portion is convenient. No experience or special skills are required. Tools and work gloves will be provided.
Code Orange events are a one day event usually scheduled to work in a State Park. Camping may be available and food is sometimes provided.
Trail Crew events are 5 days. Hooked on trail work and a weekend's not enough? Plan on joining a week-long Trail Crew for an extended service trip. Choose one, or both of the Trail Crew opportunities in June and spend a full and fulfilling week doing trail work, with all meals provided! Can't get away for an entire week? Participants are welcome to sign up for the days and times their schedules allow.
If you can't attend an entire event, you can join the group for whatever portion is convenient. No experience or special skills are required. Tools and work gloves will be provided.
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TRAIL CARE SCHEDULE
Thursday: Arrive in the late afternoon to evening. Dinner is on your own. Friday - Saturday: 6:00 a.m. Wake Up 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Morning Meeting and Departure 12:00 p.m. Lunch in the Field 4:00 p.m. Return to Camp 6:00 p.m. Dinner 10:00 p.m. Bedtime (recommended) Sunday: 6:00 a.m. Wake Up 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Morning Meeting and Departure 12:00 p.m. Pack up and head home |
TRAIL CREW SCHEDULE
Tuesday: 5:00 p.m. Arrival 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Orientation Meeting Wednesday - Sunday: 6:00 a.m. Wake Up 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Morning Meeting and Departure 12:00 p.m. Lunch in the Field 4:00 p.m. Return to Camp (2:00 p.m. on Sunday) 6:00 p.m. Dinner 10:00 p.m. Bedtime (recommended) |
What to Expect
WORK CONDITIONS
Trail building, clearing, and maintenance often involves vigorous work. This can include use of a chainsaw or brush cutter, moving tree limbs, doing rock work, digging treadway, or installing signage posts. The degree of difficulty of the work, however, varies with the task. Many volunteers perform less strenuous tasks, such as trimming back brush with hand loppers or blaze painting. Generally, there is plenty of work for every age, ability, and level of experience. Please let the leader know in advance about your work experience and the type of work that you can handle, so they can accommodate you. KTA will supply tools and equipment. You can bring your own tools if you wish.
Due to ever-changing weather conditions, it is necessary for all participants to prepare properly for the day ahead. All participants should carry no less than 2 quarts of water, a rain jacket, and light fleece or other insulating layer. It is also a good idea to have an energy bar or snack available. During the month of June, heavy rain and cool conditions can lead to hypothermia. Conversely, heat and humidity while working can cause heat exhaustion. The rule is: BE PREPARED FOR ALL CONDITIONS EACH AND EVERY WORK DAY.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Volunteers will sleep in campsites and/or cabins, or you can make your own arrangements to stay in a local motel. Accommodations will vary in each location, depending on the size and availability. There will be time in the evenings for relaxation and recreation.
KTA will supply all meals for Trail Crews only, but some Trail Care events may include meals. Contact the leader for more information. In order to ensure that all participants have a safe and enjoyable experience, any food intolerances, allergies, and medical conditions should be reported to the leader. If you wish, this information may be kept confidential between the leader and any other individual who has the need for this information.
Trail building, clearing, and maintenance often involves vigorous work. This can include use of a chainsaw or brush cutter, moving tree limbs, doing rock work, digging treadway, or installing signage posts. The degree of difficulty of the work, however, varies with the task. Many volunteers perform less strenuous tasks, such as trimming back brush with hand loppers or blaze painting. Generally, there is plenty of work for every age, ability, and level of experience. Please let the leader know in advance about your work experience and the type of work that you can handle, so they can accommodate you. KTA will supply tools and equipment. You can bring your own tools if you wish.
Due to ever-changing weather conditions, it is necessary for all participants to prepare properly for the day ahead. All participants should carry no less than 2 quarts of water, a rain jacket, and light fleece or other insulating layer. It is also a good idea to have an energy bar or snack available. During the month of June, heavy rain and cool conditions can lead to hypothermia. Conversely, heat and humidity while working can cause heat exhaustion. The rule is: BE PREPARED FOR ALL CONDITIONS EACH AND EVERY WORK DAY.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Volunteers will sleep in campsites and/or cabins, or you can make your own arrangements to stay in a local motel. Accommodations will vary in each location, depending on the size and availability. There will be time in the evenings for relaxation and recreation.
KTA will supply all meals for Trail Crews only, but some Trail Care events may include meals. Contact the leader for more information. In order to ensure that all participants have a safe and enjoyable experience, any food intolerances, allergies, and medical conditions should be reported to the leader. If you wish, this information may be kept confidential between the leader and any other individual who has the need for this information.
What to Bring
The list below is meant as a guide. Tweak it to fit your personal needs.
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Tent or camper vehicle
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History
Keystone Trails Association (KTA) launched its Trail Care program in 1985. This year, KTA will sponsor its 38th annual Trail Care season, dedicated to improving Pennsylvania’s hiking trails. Pennsylvania has thousands of miles of hiking trails. Helping to build and maintain these trails depends upon the commitment of volunteers from the hiking community. It’s up to us to keep our hiking trails in good condition. Join with KTA in giving some time back to Pennsylvania’s trails!
Volunteering to maintain Pennsylvania's extensive system of hiking trails can be the most important and rewarding way for individuals to connect with one of KTA’s core missions. Each year, on designated weekends between April and November, dedicated Trail Care volunteers gather, armed with blaze paint, limb loppers, pulaskis and brush cutters, they clear and upgrade hiking trail corridors and treadways.
The trail care program is for all ages and abilities, with no prior experience or special skills necessary. If you can handle a pair of loppers or wield a paintbrush, then your volunteer efforts will be much appreciated by everyone in the hiking community.
Thanks to past efforts of the KTA Summer Trail Crew and Trail Care weekend volunteers, Pennsylvania’s hiking community can justly be proud of the hiking experiences available on our state’s extensive system of footpaths.
We invite you to join in on this important and ongoing project. You’ll meet volunteers from many places, sharing time and camaraderie with them. You’ll learn to appreciate Pennsylvania’s hiking trails in a new way. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to this project. Invest your time in the future of Pennsylvania hiking trails, become a KTA Trail Care volunteer.
Volunteering to maintain Pennsylvania's extensive system of hiking trails can be the most important and rewarding way for individuals to connect with one of KTA’s core missions. Each year, on designated weekends between April and November, dedicated Trail Care volunteers gather, armed with blaze paint, limb loppers, pulaskis and brush cutters, they clear and upgrade hiking trail corridors and treadways.
The trail care program is for all ages and abilities, with no prior experience or special skills necessary. If you can handle a pair of loppers or wield a paintbrush, then your volunteer efforts will be much appreciated by everyone in the hiking community.
Thanks to past efforts of the KTA Summer Trail Crew and Trail Care weekend volunteers, Pennsylvania’s hiking community can justly be proud of the hiking experiences available on our state’s extensive system of footpaths.
We invite you to join in on this important and ongoing project. You’ll meet volunteers from many places, sharing time and camaraderie with them. You’ll learn to appreciate Pennsylvania’s hiking trails in a new way. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to this project. Invest your time in the future of Pennsylvania hiking trails, become a KTA Trail Care volunteer.
| KTA Trail Care - Covid 19 Guidance |
Although this guidance document has been compiled from reputable sources, it is not meant to be a substitute for common sense, nor is it exhaustive in anticipating situations that a volunteer may encounter. It does provide volunteers with basic sound advise about how to safely take part in a trail care event and how to interact with other volunteers while in camp and on the trail. Volunteers should always be mindful that the pandemic conditions may change, requiring additional or alternate responses.
Volunteers agree to the KTA Activity Waiver.
In addition to the events scheduled above, KTA also maintains a section of the Appalachian Trail in the Lehigh Gap area, north of Allentown. KTA's section includes 10 miles of the A.T. and 6 miles of side trails. For more information and to help us maintain the A.T., email us at ktalehighgapat@gmail.com or join the Facebook group.