Trail Crew
Trail Crew meets every Wednesday from 9 am to 11 am, except during bad weather and around holidays. Details on upcoming Trail Crew sessions will be posted here. Our work focuses on RRCT’s many public access properties, sometimes spending several weeks in a row at the same site. RRCT is also happy to help out at partner properties when Trail Crew is available.
There is a job for everyone, no matter your shape, skills, or strength. Join us the one week you have time or interest, or put Trail Crew on your calendar as your regular Wednesday morning ritual. It's a great way to experience a new preserve, get to know someone new, and learn new trail work techniques. Trail Crew tackles a variety of trail projects including clearing trail corridors, invasive plant removal, route finding and trail alignment, trail marking, constructing bog bridging and bridges, and improving signage. RRCT brings specific tools that will be helpful. We encourage volunteers to bring personal tools as well. Hand saws, pole saws, and loppers are favorites. Crew members should bring a water bottle, and wear sturdy shoes, work gloves, and the right clothes for the day.
Trail Crew is led by RRCT's Stewardship Director Hanae Garrison. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at (973) 255-7513 or Hanae@RRCT.org
There is a job for everyone, no matter your shape, skills, or strength. Join us the one week you have time or interest, or put Trail Crew on your calendar as your regular Wednesday morning ritual. It's a great way to experience a new preserve, get to know someone new, and learn new trail work techniques. Trail Crew tackles a variety of trail projects including clearing trail corridors, invasive plant removal, route finding and trail alignment, trail marking, constructing bog bridging and bridges, and improving signage. RRCT brings specific tools that will be helpful. We encourage volunteers to bring personal tools as well. Hand saws, pole saws, and loppers are favorites. Crew members should bring a water bottle, and wear sturdy shoes, work gloves, and the right clothes for the day.
Trail Crew is led by RRCT's Stewardship Director Hanae Garrison. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach me at (973) 255-7513 or Hanae@RRCT.org
Upcoming Trail Crew Sessions:
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Wednesday, February 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – Today we will be at Pisgah Hill Preserve's North Trailhead in New Gloucester. A few weeks ago, we cleaned out four wood duck nesting boxes on the edges of the beaver ponds and replenished them with fresh cedar shavings. To prevent raccoons and other predators from reaching the duck boxes, we will install metal predator guards below the three boxes on snags.
We’ll take a short hike along the access trail to the powerline corridor, and head down the powerline trail to the frozen beaver ponds. There, we’ll cut any protruding branches below the duck boxes flush with the truck with a chainsaw or hand saw. Branches on other trees near the boxes should be cut as well. Racoons can climb these branches and jump to the box. Then, we’ll wrap the flashing sheets around the snag below the box and fasten it securely with screws. One of the duck boxes that haven’t been used in previous years will be moved to a better location.
RRCT will bring a sled to carry the supplies: flashing sheets, screws, drill, driver, safety glasses, hand saws, and a chainsaw. Feel free to bring personal tools that may be helpful, and work gloves, layers, and boots. The trail should be packed down, but Hanae can lead the way with snowshoes if needed.
There is a small parking lot at 159 North Pownal Road, New Gloucester. Be mindful of a private driveway near the parking area. If the parking lot fills up, park along the road shoulder on the same side of the road as the trail.
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Wednesday, February 25th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 4th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 11th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - River Elf Trail - Japanese knotweed knockdown day with Erik Lema from Basswood Environmental LLC and USFWS. More details to come.
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*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at Trail Crew may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, email Hanae@RRCT.org, and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.
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Wednesday, February 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – Today we will be at Pisgah Hill Preserve's North Trailhead in New Gloucester. A few weeks ago, we cleaned out four wood duck nesting boxes on the edges of the beaver ponds and replenished them with fresh cedar shavings. To prevent raccoons and other predators from reaching the duck boxes, we will install metal predator guards below the three boxes on snags.
We’ll take a short hike along the access trail to the powerline corridor, and head down the powerline trail to the frozen beaver ponds. There, we’ll cut any protruding branches below the duck boxes flush with the truck with a chainsaw or hand saw. Branches on other trees near the boxes should be cut as well. Racoons can climb these branches and jump to the box. Then, we’ll wrap the flashing sheets around the snag below the box and fasten it securely with screws. One of the duck boxes that haven’t been used in previous years will be moved to a better location.
RRCT will bring a sled to carry the supplies: flashing sheets, screws, drill, driver, safety glasses, hand saws, and a chainsaw. Feel free to bring personal tools that may be helpful, and work gloves, layers, and boots. The trail should be packed down, but Hanae can lead the way with snowshoes if needed.
There is a small parking lot at 159 North Pownal Road, New Gloucester. Be mindful of a private driveway near the parking area. If the parking lot fills up, park along the road shoulder on the same side of the road as the trail.
****************************
Wednesday, February 25th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 4th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 11th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, March 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - River Elf Trail - Japanese knotweed knockdown day with Erik Lema from Basswood Environmental LLC and USFWS. More details to come.
****************************
*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at Trail Crew may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, email Hanae@RRCT.org, and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.
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