The
natural world is an important part of individual and community health
and well-being, and people of all ages, especially students, have taken a
greater interest in ecology and are looking for ways to proactively
protect, preserve, and restore our environment. That’s where the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA) steps in. Established in 1999, the
nonprofit advocates for the use, maintenance, and development of trails
in 43 communities on both sides of the Connecticut River. Through
education, outreach, and stewardship, UTVA promotes active lifestyles
through year-round trail use, connects people and places through a
regional trail network, and leads a coalition of local trail groups and
advocates. According to Executive Director Russell Hirschler, especially
during COVID, “Trails were the lifeline for people who couldn’t do
anything but get outside and recreate.”
Creating the Next Generation of Trail Stewards
To
engage students to spend time outdoors and learn about land
conservation and trail building in a sustainable way, Russell and a
former colleague spearheaded the UV High School Trail Corps Program in
2013 which includes students from 12 local high schools. “There was an
interest in creating the next generation of trail stewards and giving
students the opportunity to be part of a bigger project,” explains
Russell, who notes the length of the program has grown over the years
from two weeks to five weeks. The program has been described as “first
job meets summer camp.”
Similar
to college, students must apply to the program and provide job
experience and references. Once accepted, participants sign up to
participate in one of five weeks in July and August and work Monday
through Friday, rain or shine, from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm on trails
throughout the Upper Valley. They receive a weekly stipend and 40 hours
of community service. Both work and recreation are built into each day
with a college student serving as the main liaison between the crew and
the organization. Some participants have returned to work as Summer Crew
leaders.
Working Hard, Playing Hard
Students
work on projects ranging from building wood structures and constructing
stone walls to creating brand-new trails and completing routine
maintenance under the tutelage of
qualified UVTA staff members. At the end of the program, they come away
with a range of skills and experiences including knowledge of sustainability
practices and land conservation, proper tool usage and construction
techniques, social interaction and team building with like-minded
students from other towns and schools across the Upper Valley, and much
more. Each day ends with an hour of fun outdoor adventures, such as
canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or sometimes an ice cream social. “The
kids work hard and play hard, but we also let them be teenagers. The
experience for all of us has been magical. It’s been a great way to
expand our capacity and have dedicated volunteer trail crews. It’s a
win-win,” says Russell.
The
UVTA is leading the way to providing all residents access to an
extensive, accessible, and integrated Upper Valley trail system, and
through its student
programs and other initiatives, it’s developing a rising generation of
trail stewards. “We’ve seen a growing interest from schools and students
who want to connect to nature and the outdoors,” says Russell, who also
notes the organization’s Passport to Winter Fun, a fitness program
aimed at elementary school students and their families that promotes
outdoor physical education and has reached more than 50,000 children in
the last decade. “The way you appreciate ecology is by being outdoors,
and our programs give people an avenue to go outside. You can get more
out of hiking than just sitting and looking at a textbook.”
