trail savers. . . f ight ing the good f ight IMBA Trail Building Schools Crisscross the Country
At endees at this recent IMBA trail-building school included Chickasaw National Park staff , bikers, nature enthusiasts, hikers, runners and equestrians.
While this two-day trail building
seminar is funded by the International Mountain Biking Association, all trail us- ers are welcome. Terri Folks, Trail Blazer Associate Editor for Trail Advocacy, re- cently attended a seminar to an audience of mostly bikers but also hikers, nature enthusiasts and equestrians who were included in the mix of attendees. The program is funded by Subaru and is host- ing more than 70 trail-building schools in 2010. The Trail Care crew travels in their Subaru Outbacks from Connecticut to California and Texas to Montana teaching the art and science of trail building. Trail building schools are generally
hosted by an IMBA-affi liated club and include a day and a half of classroom
AQHA’s STEP Program Funded by Tractor Supply Provides Grants to Trail Groups
STEP—Stewards for Trails, Education
and Partnerships—is a program under the American Quarter Horse Association formed to encourage good steward- ship and conservation of riding trails. The STEP program allows individuals to submit trail conservation project proposals nationwide. Tractor Supply is providing the funding for these projects. A committee consisting of offi cials from AQHA, Tractor Supply, Equestrian Land Conservation Resource and National Forest Service review each proposal, select projects for funding and assist in organizing volunteers for the completion of approved projects. Projects are selected based on the
potential impact for trail sustainability and community involvement. Additional benefi ts of STEP include helping national
78 June | July 2010 •
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and fi eld instruction. Each school com- bines interactive learning, hands-on trail work and top-notch instructors to develop skilled trail workers and trail work leaders. Topics covered include sustainable
trail design, basic construction, turns, drainage and bridges, trail reroutes, trail reclamation, rockwork, fostering volun- teer clubs and partnership and effective use of signage. Since 1997, IMA Trail Building Schools
have taught more than 150,000 people, including the land managers that make decisions about access. To find the schedule of these free schools, visit:
www.imba.com/tcc/trailschool.html
land managers recruit volunteers for trail stewardship, educating equestrians to be effective advocates for trail stewardship, maintaining goals for trails and trailheads with land management, improving stew- ardship of land owned by horseman adjacent to or critical to national land, and building and/or strengthening re- lationships between local equestrian communities and land managers for long- term stewardship of trails, trailheads and campgrounds. Land preservation is the responsible
thing to do, but as a horse enthusiast, it’s also in your best interest. There is simply no way to ensure access for trail riding unless you take over as a steward of the land. Get involved with AQHA’s STEP program to protect access for you and future generations. The deadline for the next round of
grant applications is August 1, 2010. For more information, visit:
www.ridegreen.aqha.com.
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