Volunteer Opportunities

Appalachian Trail Corridor Monitor | New York and New Jersey
VOLUNTEER OPENING

Have a passion for the Appalachian Trail? Become a monitor of the trail boundaries that surround this historic, beloved trail.

Catskills Lean-to LTC Chair |
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The Catskills Lean-to Local Trail Committee Chair (Lean-to Chair) is an important part of the Trail Conference. Our Lean-to Chair takes the big-picture view of a region and works with a Program Coordinator and the Lean-to Assistant Chair to build a positive future for all the lean-tos and volunteers they oversee. The Lean-to Chair empowers a team of volunteers and identifies the short- and long-term needs of the lean-tos in their assigned area to ensure the public has a safe and positive experience in the outdoors.  

Local Trail Committee (LTC) Chair | New York and New Jersey
VOLUNTEER OPENING

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
VOLUNTEER OPENING

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.

Events Committee Member |
VOLUNTEER OPENING

Have a knack for planning events and love hiking? A spot on the Trail Conference’s Event Committee is the place for you! 

Invasives Strike Force EcoQuest Challenge |
VOLUNTEER OPENING

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
VOLUNTEER OPENING

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
VOLUNTEER OPENING

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., 01/24/2022
No Worktrips were found matching your search criteria
E.g., 01/24/2022
The Heart of Philanthropy: For the Love of Trails Webinar| Webinar | 02-16-2022
Workshop

How charitable giving impacts our work + expert advice on making the most of your financial giving
Trail Insider: Civic Engagement Webinar| Webinar | 03-14-2022
Workshop

Learn about the Trail Conference's Conservation Corps and how the program has enhanced the organization

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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