Directed by the Canadian office of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and sponsored by Parks Canada, the IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew travels across the country in a Subaru Outback, giving workshops to IMBA-affiliate clubs and Parks Canada sites. The two-person team of professional trail builders educates Canadians on how to build and maintain
Banff National Park
IMBA CANADA Trail Care Crew sustainable trails, manage volunteers, and develop trails as valued community resources. Parks visits generally run three days – from Wednesday to Friday – and include a Benefit of Trails presentation, project assessment, and IMBA’s one-day Trail Building School. Additional events such as an assessment walkabout for trails staff, or a weekend volunteer work day can also be scheduled.
Visit Schedule WEDNESDAY Trail
Care Crew leaders AJ Strawson and Rachael Raven arrive in the morning and meet with management team for the mandatory Benefit of Trails presentation (1-2 hrs). After lunch, Crew travels to site(s) of prospective trail project to determine suitability, and plan the build (Allow up to 3 hrs). Maximum 2-3 staff in attendence. THURSDAY Each Trail Care Crew visit is anchored around IMBA’s highlyrespected Trail Building School, during which the Crew teaches sustainable trail construction, maintenance, and reclaimation practices via a classroom
session and hands-on trail work. Classroom runs 3 hrs in morning (9am12pm) while build takes place in afternoon (typically 1pm-4pm). FRIDAY
Option 1: Day can be spent continuing Thrusday’s trail work. Option 2: Trails staff can participate in an assessment walkabout with Crew. This hike is a brainstorming session for participants to identify key problem areas on trails, and discuss causes and solutions. WEEKEND (OPTIONAL) If there is sufficient interest, Crew leaders can
run a public Trail Building School for Park volunteers, community members, or local trail groups (Saturday, 9-4). Information about additional events and presentations, catered to the public, can be found on imbacanada.com/tcc. Since the week is generally jam*packed with meetings and time on the trail, we’d love the opportunity to explore your Park on the weekend! This allows us to experience your trails and recreation opportunities as a visitor would, and take photos and video to better promote your Park through IMBA’s blog and social media outlets.
Visit Promotion
Program Supporters MONTHS
View from the Auriol Trail, Kluane NP
Add the event to your calendar and website. Make sure to include the description, date, time, and location of any events that are open to the public. Display fliers around the community. This includes all local trail head kiosks, bike shops, outdoor stores, community centres, and coffee houses.
IMBA Canada has teamed up with Parks Canada to deliver the Trail Care Crew program for 2010 2015 seasons. Parks Canada is the government agency responsible for managing Canada’s National Parks, National Historic Sites, and National Marine Conservation Areas. With 6,624km of trails – 1,485km open to mountain biking – Canada’s National Parks are a great place to explore!
MONTH
Around the same time, send out a notice to your group’s email lists and put a notice on relevant web forums. If your local news outlets have online community event calendars, make sure you get on them too. Send out a reminder to your group’s email lists and bump up any forum postings.
WEEKS
Email press releases to local news editors, and send a reminder email to major contacts: land managers, city officials, etc. If you have time, make sure posted flyers are still up and visible. Send a final reminder to the club’s email lists and other important contacts you’ve invited.
DAYS
If you are willing and have time, call the media to remind them of the event. Stress volunteerism, healthy lifestyles, and family! Now sit back and relax! You’ve done a great job of promoting your event.
Official car sponsor
Official bike sponsor
Official racks and luggage sponsor Jasper NP
2
Frequently Asked Questions WHAT IS THE TRAIL CARE CREW?
The IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew is a two-person team who act as educators and catalysts for your trail community. When they arrive at each destination in their 2012 Subaru Outback, they are prepared to meet with clubs, land managers, and volunteers to teach IMBA Trail Building Schools, give Club Care Workshops and other presentations, and take part in other events. WHO WILL BE COMING TO MY EVENT?
AJ Strawson and Rachael Raven are IMBA Canada’s second Trail Care Crew. The duo from Ontario love everything about trails and two-wheeled adventures! Rachael has served as IMBA Canada’s Communications Specialist since 2010, while AJ has a degree in Environmental Studies, and certificates in GIS and Sustainable Trails, from Fleming College. IS THE TRAIL CARE CREW PROGRAM ONLY FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS AND CYCLING CLUBS?
No! The principals of sustainable trail design apply to all trails and all trail users, no matter if you are a hiker, a trail runner, an equestrian, or a mountain biker. We invite all members of the community to our events to learn something new, and meet fellow members of the trail community! DO WE NEED SOME BASIC TRAIL BUILDING EXPERIENCE?
While it is always helpful to have some volunteers or crew leaders with experience under their belt, we will teach
folks the foundation of trail building, from the theories behind designing trail to the techniques to build it. No experience necessary! WHAT TOOLS DO WE NEED?
Provide one tool for each volunteer: McLeods, pulaskis, mattocks, rakes, and shovels. Get a full list of trail building tools on p.4 of this document. HOW MUCH TRAIL WILL GET BUILT?
The primary goal of a Trail Building School is to teach proper technique, rather than to build as much trail as possible. The end result will depend on the type of project you choose, the number of volunteers, and how much coffee you drink! HOW MUCH WILL ALL THIS COST?
There is no charge for booking the Crew, however, you will need to arrange a venue, provide food/snacks plus tools for your volunteers, and accommodations and meals for the Crew. Many groups get these items donated by local businesses, or the chamber of commerce. WILL THE CREW HELP TO PLAN OUR TRAIL SYSTEM, OR GIVE ADVANCED CREW LEADER TRAINING?
If you require extensive trail assessment, planning, layout, and/or customized or advanced trail building education, please consider IMBA’s Trail Solutions program for professional trail consulting. More questions? Contact IMBA’s field programs coordinator Marty Caivano at 1-888-442-4622 ext.101 or marty.caivano@imba.com
Jasper NP
Impact An IMBA Canada Trail Care Crew visit can do a lot more than just train volunteers in sustainable trail building. Think “big picture” about how to leverage this event to make the most impact in your community. Take advantage of your Trail Care Crew visit to:
• Recruit new volunteers and rejuvenate dedicated ones.
• Train local land managers in
sustainable trail design and construction.
• Increase
publicity and support for your trail system.
• Educate city officials about the economic and wellness benefits of good trail systems.
• Forge connections between land management agencies and local trail groups.
• Establish greater trust in
IMBA, your organization and mountain biking in general.
PN Mauricie
3
Choosing a trail project
IDENTIFY A PROJECT THAT IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE:
POTENTIAL PROJECT SITES CAN INCLUDE:
• Less than 500 metres from the parking lot, or about 10- • Section of trail that is constantly muddy/wet 15 minute hike in.
• Remember, participants will be carrying sharp tools, so consider the easiest route, not necessarily the shortest route.
• Section of trail that is showing signs of user and water based erosion (trenching, braking bumps, trail widening)
• An area in which multiple trail corridors have been opened due to the above problems or because users have discovered a more efficient route.
• Less time hiking = more time building trail! LENGTH OF PROJECT :
• Dangerous entrances/exit points of the trail
• Aprox. 50-200 metres is recommended for a fresh build,
• Small reroutes to align trail intersections to improve
• A new volunteer will build approximately 1-2 metres of
• Area of conflict between users (blind corners/intersections)
or up to 1km of trail for various maintenance projects. trail per hour.
• In difficult terrain, rock armouring, berms or projects that require more labour will decrease output to less than 1 metre per person / per hour.
navigation
• Small reroutes to improve trail flow/user experience • New trail
Tool guide Here’s a list of hand tools and supplies commonly used for trail building. The most common ones are starred. DESIGN TOOLS
Clinometers* Rolls of flagging tape* Pin flags (pink or orange)* Spray cans of paint 100’ steel tape measure (to measure turn radius) Digital level Sharpie pens CLEARING TOOLS
Folding saw* Bow saw Kluane NP
4
Loppers* Fire rake* Leaf rake or bow rake EXCAVATING TOOLS
Rogue hoe* Pick mattock Cutter mattock Pulaski* Shovels ARMOURING
Rock bars* Wheel barrow Rock sling*
5-gallon buckets Stiff bristle broom Rock hammer Cold chisels Safety eye glasses* Come-along winch Straps FINISHING TOOLS
Mcleod/Lamberton rake* Bow rake Leaf rake Tampers*
Get more info on tools and trail building at www.imbacanada.com/resources
Host Checklist
PN Mauricie
Print this page and keep it handy to help you plan an awesome visit!
Choose location for aprox. 50 - 200 meters of trail work (See p. 4 for more info)
Get approval from necessary land managers to build or repair trail. Find out exactly where/what/when you have permission to build. Very important!!
Organize an indoor space for a classroom session with electricity, chairs, at least two tables, and the ability to darken the room for a power point presentation.
Create a schedule and finalize the locations and times for each event.
If public, publicize the visit to local bike and outdoors shops, other user groups (See p. 3 for more info)
Arrange and cover accommodations for the two-person Crew for the duration of their visit. A location with beds and access to a shower is necessary; internet is preferable.
Provide enough tools for staff/volunteers to use during field work.
Provide coffee and snacks for participants during the classroom session, and water during field session.
Provide/ plan lunch for volunteers during trail building school (solicit donations from local business, hold BBQ, or ask people ahead of time to ‘brown bag it’)
Send press releases to local news: newspaper, TV, radio, community magazines.
If you have any questions, please contact IMBA’s field programs coordinator Marty Caivano at 1-888-442-4622 ext.101 or marty.caivano@imba.com IMBA Canada | www.imbacanada.com | @imbacanada | facebook.com/imbacanada 5