Volunteer Opportunities

Appalachian Trail Corridor Monitor | New York and New Jersey
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Have a passion for the Appalachian Trail? Become a monitor of the trail boundaries that surround this historic, beloved trail.

Invasives Strike Force Surveyor |
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Help find the next problem invaders that threaten our region's natural areas...Become an Invasives Strike Force (ISF) citizen science volunteer!

We are excited to announce and unroll our newly refined ISF survey program for 2022! Many of you have helped contribute to our standard, intermediate, and blockbuster surveys that were the hallmark of our ISF survey program for the past 10 years. This robust decadal data set has served as the foundation necessary to map and manage both the common and some key emerging invasive species along with our region’s trail system.  

The next iteration of our citizen science survey programming will now exclusively target species that have been identified as high priority species by Lower Hudson PRISM partners and other regional and state agency collaborators.

 

Local Trail Committee (LTC) Chair | New York and New Jersey
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The Local Trail Committee Chair (Trail Chair) is an important part of the Trail Conference. Our Trail Chairs take the big-picture view of a region and work with a Program Coordinator to build a positive future for all the trails and volunteers they oversee. Trail Chairs support and empower a team of Trail Supervisors and identify the short- and long-term needs of the trails in their assigned area to ensure the public has a safe and positive experience in the outdoors.

Trail Supervisor | New York and New Jersey
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Trail Supervisors are a key part of the Trail Conference. They are the boots on the ground that oversee a team of Trail Maintainers and ensure the trails in their assigned area are maintained in good condition.

Publications Field Checker |
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Get out on the trails and also help with our maps and books by becoming a Publications Field Checker! You can play an important role in the production of our maps and books by helping to review and verify maps, trail descriptions, and information about a park as part of a map or book project.

Publications Committee Member |
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Do you have an interest in our maps and books and want to help with their production? The Publications Committee is a group of trail-loving volunteers who work hard to produce quality publications, and we could use your help!

Publications Author |
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If you love writing and are passionate about the trails, join our Publications Committee's efforts to produce high-quality guidebooks and hike descriptions for the region! A Publications Author is responsible for creating new content or updating existing content for our guidebooks, maps, online hike descriptions, or other resources.

Publications Project Manager |
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If you have an interest in helping to manage the production of a map or book, consider becoming a Publications Project Manager! The duties vary depending on the type and scope of each project, but the Project Manager plays a key role in organizing the project and seeing it through to completion.

Invasives Strike Force EcoQuest Challenge |
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Do you love being outdoors and searching for interesting critters and plants in nature? Or maybe you love taking photos when you are out hiking or gardening? Or maybe you just love scavenger hunts! Our EcoQuest surveys allow you to become a part of the action and help us document invasive species in our region while having fun in the process!

Roving Trail Team | New York and New Jersey
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Looking for group volunteer adventures across our regions that are convenient for your schedule?

Trail Crew Member | New York and New Jersey
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Join one of our Trail Crews for a day or a full season restoring and building sustainable trails for all!

Trail Maintainer | New York and New Jersey
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Become a part of the Trail Conference family and adopt a trail of your very own!

Habitat Helpers | Trail Conference Headquarters
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Do you want to help protect our native habitats? Do you want to learn how to garden for wildlife? Join the Habitat Helpers to care for native plantings at the Trail Conference headquarters!

E.g., 10/03/2022
Catskills Trail Crew Worktrip at Indian Head | Catskill Mountains - Platte Clove Preserve | 10-07-2022
Worktrip

Join the Catskills Trail Crew for some fun in the mud on the Long Path at the base of Indian Head!
Palisades Trail Crew - New Trail Construction | Sterling Forest - Laurel Pond Meadow Parking Lot | 10-08-2022
Worktrip

Join the Palisades Trail Crew to learn all about how to use simple hand tools to construct sustainable trail tread, and keep it in good shape for the long haul!
Catskills Trail Crew Worktrip at Indian Head | Catskill Mountains - Platte Clove Preserve | 10-08-2022
Worktrip

Join the Catskills Trail Crew for some fun in the mud on the Long Path at the base of Indian Head!
Catskills Trail Crew Worktrip at Indian Head | Catskill Mountains - Platte Clove Preserve | 10-09-2022
Worktrip

Join the Catskills Trail Crew for some fun in the mud on the Long Path at the base of Indian Head!
Habitat Helpers - Native Landscaping Workday | Trail Conference Headquarters | 10-09-2022
Worktrip

Come help us care for the native plant landscape at the Trail Conference headquarters! Sign up here.
Harriman Trail Crew - Trail Building | Harriman State Park - Kanawauke Road | 10-16-2022
Worktrip

Ever wonder how trails are built and restored? If you aren’t afraid to get a little dirty, this hands-on look at how great trails are made is for you!
Catskills Trail Crew Worktrip at Indian Head | Catskill Mountains - Platte Clove Preserve | 10-16-2022
Worktrip

Join the Catskills Trail Crew for some fun in the mud on the Long Path at the base of Indian Head!
Habitat Helpers - Native Landscaping Workday | Trail Conference Headquarters | 10-16-2022
Worktrip

Come help us care for the native plant landscape at the Trail Conference headquarters! Sign up here.
Bear Mountain Fall Cleanup | Bear Mountain State Park - Bear Mountain Inn | 11-05-2022
Worktrip

Come help us remove litter at Bear Mountain!
E.g., 10/03/2022
Stone Splitting and Shaping Workshop| Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve - Wilkinson Memorial Trail | 10-08-2022
Workshop

Have you noticed that some trails are more eroded than others? Ever felt like the trail you were following was a stream bed? Take this workshop to find out why and learn how this can be prevented!
Tread Construction and Repair| Sterling Forest - Laurel Pond Meadow Parking Lot | 10-09-2022
Workshop

Ever wonder how trails are built and restored? If you aren’t afraid to get a little dirty, this hands-on look at how great trails are made is for you!
Rigging for Trail Work Workshop| Welch Trail Education Center LT-1 | 10-09-2022
Workshop

Ever wonder how trail builders move large stone and logs to build trail structures? Join us to learn how!
TrailBound Project: Map & Compass Navigation| 600 Ramapo Valley Rd | 10-09-2022
Workshop

We are partnering with The TrailBound Project Outdoor School to provide free intro-level courses to help prepare you for your next adventure!
Trail Structures Workshop: Native Stone Steps| Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve - Wilkinson Memorial Trail | 10-15-2022
Workshop

Have you noticed the stone structures on a trail such as stairs, walls, or stepping stones? Ever wonder how or why they are there? Take this workshop to find out!
Tread Construction and Repair Workshop| Sterling Forest - Laurel Pond Meadow Parking Lot | 10-16-2022
Workshop

Join the Palisades Trail Crew to learn all about how to use simple hand tools to construct sustainable trail tread, and keep it in good shape for the long haul!
Catskills Trail Maintenance Workshop| Cathedral Glen Trail - Trailhead Parking Lot | 10-16-2022
Workshop

Interested in becoming a volunteer Trail Maintainer? Take this workshop to get involved!
TrailBound Project: Hiking Gear, Basics, and Safety Workshop| 600 Ramapo Valley Rd | 10-28-2022
Workshop

We are partnering with The TrailBound Project Outdoor School to provide free intro-level courses to help prepare you for your next adventure!
Trail Layout and Design Workshop| | 10-30-2022
Workshop

Ever wonder why we place and build trails where they are, why it twists and turns, or why it is not the most direct route? Join Senior Trail Builder Ben Sugar for this part classroom, part field-based workshop to learn about designing and laying out routes for sustainable trails.
TrailBound Project: Hiking Gear, Basics, and Safety Workshop| 600 Ramapo Valley Rd | 10-30-2022
Workshop

We are partnering with The TrailBound Project Outdoor School to provide free intro-level courses to help prepare you for your next adventure!

Our Volunteers Rock

COVID-19 Volunteer Protocols
As caretakers of the region’s trails and natural areas, the Trail Conference puts the safety of our service members, staff, and trail users first and foremost.
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Questions?
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about volunteering with the Trail Conference.
FAQs
 

Building, Maintaining, and Protecting Trails

The Trail Conference is supported by more than 1,700 volunteers who annually donate over 93,000 hours of time to keep trails open, safe, and enjoyable for the public.

Our volunteers are hard at work in the field...

  • Building new trails and rehabilitating old ones 
  • Keeping trails accessible for fellow users
  • Monitoring and removing invasive species

... and off-trail

  • Protecting trail lands through advocacy, conservation, and stewardship efforts
  • Using their professional skills to help support our mission

Outside or inside, close to home or at your go-to weekend trail destination, we aim to connect you with the volunteer opportunity that is right for you. Tell us how you'd like to be involved!

Volunteer
Adopt A Trail
There's trail out there that needs you! Volunteers who "adopt" a trail do the on-the-ground work to ensure it remains open and safe for fellow users. 
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Get Out With Us
We're a community of volunteers who build and maintain hiking trails. Grab your workgloves and spent a day on a trail crew. Or, we can match your group to the right trail project.
Find a Trail Crew
Trail U
We build trails and teach on-trails skill to our volunteers. Our classes range from Intro level in basic trail maintenance to advanced training in trail layout & design, rock work, and more. Workshops are usually held in the field on real trail projects.
Workshops
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