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.