Supervisor's Best Practices

A supervisor's job is the care and feeding of maintainers

• Solve problems maintainers cannot or find someone who can
• Take advantage of Trail U workshops such as chainsaw certification, first aid, or trail construction

Safety First

• Read and follow the Trail Conference Outdoor Activity Safety Guidelines
• Say "NO" and walk away from any situation you determine to be an unacceptable risk; then notify your trails chair and park partner if it is a safety hazard to the general public.

Your Maintainers

• Work with maintainer to establish best practices.
• Walk the trail with new maintainers, relay your expectations, discuss any problems with them, and teach them how to report
• Know your maintainers; communicate at least twice a year and support their needs
• If maintainers are not doing trail work or fail to report, find out why and work to resolve the issue.
• Thank them and make sure they receive the Trail Maintenance Manual, a t-shirt, a maintainer patch, and any longevity awards.

Plan

• Assess trails based on your observations and maintainer reports
• Know what needs doing based on what your maintainers report and relay that information to your chair
• Compile a list of projects that can be completed by groups that want projects.

On the Ground

• Walk and inspect all trails under your supervision annually 
• Request help from your trails chair as needed
• Report trail misuse to your trails chair and by filing the online Illegal Usage Problem Report 

Off Trail

• Be familiar with the Trail Management Guide.
• Take TM 101 so that you know what is currently being taught
• Take Supervisor 101
• Receive, review, and act on semi annual trail maintenance reports
• File Supervisor Summary Report with trail chair in the required time
• Maintain records; 
• File trail vacancy and appointment forms in consultation with the trails chair,.
• Know how to submit a trail change and update when completed 
• Attend Trails Council and local committee meetings
• Supervise approved trail relocations.
• Update information for Trail Conference publications and maps
• Be familiar with the Volunteer Handbook and Youth Policy