Use the right techniques in the right way for the right outcomes.
Work smarter, be more efficient, effective, and safe in the field.
Learn how to improve trail experiences that grow your community.
Learn how to maintain trails that will last, and inspire more to be built.
Take your trail skills to the next level.
Great trails make getting outside easier and more fun. But great trails don’t happen by accident. They are the result of planning, design, collaboration, construction, and ongoing maintenance.
This starts with quality education.
This course is a complete introduction to maintaining trails for paid and volunteer trail crew members and crew leaders.
This hands-on training will teach a wide variety of trail maintenance and construction skills using hand tools.
You will learn
Critical safety & risk management in trail work settings
Maintaining essential elements of sustainable trails
Water management
Trail assessment
Basic maintenance and construction techniques
Proper safety and tool handling
Course Preparation
Previous experience with trail construction is not required for this training. We do, however, strongly encourage participants to attend our Introduction to Trail Development workshop to get exposure to foundational theory and terminology, or find equivalent content elsewhere.
Thanks to our hosting partner, Elliotsville Foundation, this course will take place over two and a half days at the Peavey Brook Outdoor Center near Patten, ME, and will include
Interactive classroom sessions
Hands-on guided field-based sessions
Open Q&A with instructors and peers
Opportunities to assess and discuss your own local trail challenges with pros
Itinerary
Day 1 - AM Classroom Session, PM Field Session - trail tour and tools overview
Day 2 - AM & PM Field Session - safety and maintenance techniques
Day 3 - AM Field Session - applied maintenance on trail
Topics Include
Safety & Risk Management Practices for crews and crew leaders
Understanding and interpreting trail corridor specifications for construction and maintenance
Completing essential maintenance on sustainable trails including re-establishing bench and backslope, fixing cupping and erosion issues, armoring sensitive areas, and capping exposed obstacles.
Safely performing corridor clearing and managing sightlines
Proper handling, use, and care of common trail tools
Measuring and documenting completed trail work
This course is open to anyone interested in learning more about working on their local trails including land managers, trail managers, trail crew leaders, crew members, and volunteers.
Content will focus on doing hand work on shared-used non-motorized trails. Participants can earn the new Level 1 Trail Foundations Badge and Level 2 Trail Crew Basics Badge through the Katahdin Higher Education Center.
Check Out What Others Have Said About Learning in OSI’s Trail School Workshops.
“The sessions were well done and provided a great base for any trail builder!”
“I really enjoyed the combination of classroom time and time spent in the field. It made it much easier to understand and process the information being taught.”
“All instructors were extremely knowledgeable and were easily able to articulate all information during each session.”
“The course content was perfect.”
This course is being taught by OSI’s Professional Trails Staff.
Steve Kasacek, Director of Trail Development & Education
Steve Kasacek brings over 10 years of professional consulting experience to the Outdoor Sport Institute team. With an education and foundation in civil engineering focusing on stormwater management and restoration, Steve brings years of low impact design, natural resource protection, and sustainable trail expertise to OSI’s Trail Development initiatives.
Steve has worked in over 20 states helping communities navigate complex trail development projects from vision to management. He has assisted with more than 1000 miles of high-quality trails planning and design and has directly managed over 50 miles of trail construction, helping land managers, government agencies, organizations, and communities secure more than ten million dollars in funding for natural surface trail projects.
Steve brings his passion for local capacity building to the variety of workshops and trainings he leads for volunteers, land managers, and professionals. He is dedicated to growing local pipelines of leadership to support trail projects big and small.
Dan Rogan, Katahdin Region Coordinator
Dan Rogan holds a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management from Northern Michigan University, but his abilities have been molded through a myriad of experiences working and playing in the outdoors. No stranger to hard work, Dan has lead conservations crews, served as an EMT, worked in commercial kitchens, operated Zamboni machines, and even participated in the world’s longest paddle race, the Yukon 1000.
His passion for teaching and working with others, however, has allowed him to make a career out of connecting people with the outdoors. He has guided canoe expeditions in Maine and the Boundary Waters, lead dogsledding adventures and winter camping trips in northern Minnesota and run backpacking trips in the desert southwest. As an EMT Dan also serves as a wilderness medicine instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Dan brings a holistic perspective to outdoor access and education. His comfort teaching and supporting others allows him to instantly serve as an ally and advocate in building local capacity. Whether it’s designing youth programs, supporting community gear libraries, or teaching volunteers to build trail, Dan is able to humbly and effectively provide the knowledge and skill needed.
*Course Tuition - $345
Tuition includes -
All classroom and field sessions
Lunch each day
Free camping on-site (tent space w/ access to indoor bathrooms)
Register and pay securely online. We stand by the education we provide. If you’re not satisfied with your experience, we’ll refund your money. It’s as simple as that.
Course Preparation: Previous experience with trail construction is not required for this training. We do, however, strongly encourage participants to attend our Introduction to Trail Development workshop to get exposure to foundational theory and terminology, or find equivalent content elsewhere.
Our hosting partner for this training is Elliotsville Foundation.
All sessions will be held at the Peavey Brook Outdoor Center & Trails, outside of Patten, ME.
The Outdoor Sport Institute & Our Community
Our mission is to empower resilient, active outdoor communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. Through OSI you can access resources, support, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.