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. There is no registration or prior experience needed, just show up! 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. There is no registration or prior experience needed, just show up! 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, October 28th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we'll be at the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester!
We'll focus on pruning and removing invasive plants from the first 500 ft of the trail, which runs along an old stone wall with old apple trees. With the leaves still on most of the trees, we'll be able to differentiate which trees are actually invasive common buckthorn, and what limbs on the apple trees are dead and can be removed. There's also plenty of Asiatic bittersweet, shrubby honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, and other invasive plants to cut back/hand pull.
If folks want a different project, there's a slopped section of trail that can be leveled with a bench cut. We can also remove exposed roots and rocks that may be tripping hazards.
RRCT will bring hand saws, loppers, a pole saw, a rogue hoe, pick mattock, and a chainsaw. If you have personal tools and work gloves, bring them.
Parking: Meet at the trailhead parking lot at 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. Once the lot is full, park along the road shoulder on the same side as the parking lot.
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Friday, October 30th, 9:00 am to ~10:00 am - We need a couple of volunteers to help install signage and medium kiosks at the Village Path in New Gloucester. The Village Path will be shown off to trick or treaters on Halloween, so we want the trail to be looking it's best! It shouldn't take too long to install the signage, so if there's interest, we can rake out the trail tread and continue cutting back invasive plants as well.
Meet at the back of the parking lot behind the church at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, close to the swings and playground. Please let Hanae know if you plan to help out, either in person, over text (973-255-7513), or email (hanae@rrct.org).
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Wednesday, November 4th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
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Saturday, November 7th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Special weekend Trail Crew! Folks who normally can't attend regular Wednesday sessions are encouraged to join us! Location and more details to come.
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Wednesday, November 11th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - No Trail Crew. RRCT staff are off for Veteran's Day.
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Wednesday, November 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
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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.
Wednesday, October 28th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we'll be at the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester!
We'll focus on pruning and removing invasive plants from the first 500 ft of the trail, which runs along an old stone wall with old apple trees. With the leaves still on most of the trees, we'll be able to differentiate which trees are actually invasive common buckthorn, and what limbs on the apple trees are dead and can be removed. There's also plenty of Asiatic bittersweet, shrubby honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, and other invasive plants to cut back/hand pull.
If folks want a different project, there's a slopped section of trail that can be leveled with a bench cut. We can also remove exposed roots and rocks that may be tripping hazards.
RRCT will bring hand saws, loppers, a pole saw, a rogue hoe, pick mattock, and a chainsaw. If you have personal tools and work gloves, bring them.
Parking: Meet at the trailhead parking lot at 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. Once the lot is full, park along the road shoulder on the same side as the parking lot.
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Friday, October 30th, 9:00 am to ~10:00 am - We need a couple of volunteers to help install signage and medium kiosks at the Village Path in New Gloucester. The Village Path will be shown off to trick or treaters on Halloween, so we want the trail to be looking it's best! It shouldn't take too long to install the signage, so if there's interest, we can rake out the trail tread and continue cutting back invasive plants as well.
Meet at the back of the parking lot behind the church at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, close to the swings and playground. Please let Hanae know if you plan to help out, either in person, over text (973-255-7513), or email (hanae@rrct.org).
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Wednesday, November 4th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
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Saturday, November 7th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Special weekend Trail Crew! Folks who normally can't attend regular Wednesday sessions are encouraged to join us! Location and more details to come.
*********************************
Wednesday, November 11th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - No Trail Crew. RRCT staff are off for Veteran's Day.
*********************************
Wednesday, November 18th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
**********************************
*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.
Trail Crew at Mèmak Preserve, April 2026