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, September 23rd, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at Intervale Preserve's Warbler Trail in New Gloucester!
As you’ve probably heard, RRCT has received funds from the Maine Trails Program to complete several trail improvement projects at Intervale Preserve. The 0.5-mile Warbler Trail will be upgraded to Universal Access standards, replacing the bog bridges with an 85’ boardwalk and a 5-foot-wide firm trail surface. A 6-space gravel parking lot will be constructed by the trailhead, creating a continuous accessible route from the parking lot to the trail and its marsh viewpoints. Read more about the project.
In preparation for construction to begin this October, we'll walk through the Warbler loop trail, trimming back vegetation and overhanging branches so that the trail is 5 feet wide. We'll also dismantle the existing 80’ of bog bridging and set them aside in the woods. The contractor, True North Trailworks, will need to pass through this area and bring in gravel for the earthwork. Depending on when this component of the project wraps up, we may be able to construct the new boardwalk in November before the ground freezes. If not, we will reassemble the bog bridging once the earthwork and parking lot construction are complete.
RRCT will bring loppers, hand saws, a pole saw, rakes, and a rogue hoe for leveling out the dirt once we remove the bog bridging. Bring work gloves, water, and any personal tools that may come in handy.
Parking: Meet at the informal parking area on the wide road shoulder at 568 Intervale Rd, New Gloucester.
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Wednesday, September 30th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Help us finish building a Village Path from the New Gloucester Town Hall to the Church parking area!
Since we were last here, an excavator forestry cutter came through and ground up the brush piles along the trail. The trail is looking much better, and the understory is more open. Now, we can rake the woody debris out of the way and tamp down the dirt to create a firm trail tread. We can continue pulling down vines and removing invasive plants from the area.
RRCT will bring rakes, hand saws, loppers, tamping tools, a pole saw, a chainsaw, and gloves. If you have extra metal rakes, bring them! Don't forget to bring plenty of water.
Meet at the back of the parking lot behind the church at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, close to the swings and playground.
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Wednesday, October 7th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 14th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 21st, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 28th, 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.
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at Intervale Preserve's Warbler Trail in New Gloucester!
As you’ve probably heard, RRCT has received funds from the Maine Trails Program to complete several trail improvement projects at Intervale Preserve. The 0.5-mile Warbler Trail will be upgraded to Universal Access standards, replacing the bog bridges with an 85’ boardwalk and a 5-foot-wide firm trail surface. A 6-space gravel parking lot will be constructed by the trailhead, creating a continuous accessible route from the parking lot to the trail and its marsh viewpoints. Read more about the project.
In preparation for construction to begin this October, we'll walk through the Warbler loop trail, trimming back vegetation and overhanging branches so that the trail is 5 feet wide. We'll also dismantle the existing 80’ of bog bridging and set them aside in the woods. The contractor, True North Trailworks, will need to pass through this area and bring in gravel for the earthwork. Depending on when this component of the project wraps up, we may be able to construct the new boardwalk in November before the ground freezes. If not, we will reassemble the bog bridging once the earthwork and parking lot construction are complete.
RRCT will bring loppers, hand saws, a pole saw, rakes, and a rogue hoe for leveling out the dirt once we remove the bog bridging. Bring work gloves, water, and any personal tools that may come in handy.
Parking: Meet at the informal parking area on the wide road shoulder at 568 Intervale Rd, New Gloucester.
*********************************
Wednesday, September 30th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Help us finish building a Village Path from the New Gloucester Town Hall to the Church parking area!
Since we were last here, an excavator forestry cutter came through and ground up the brush piles along the trail. The trail is looking much better, and the understory is more open. Now, we can rake the woody debris out of the way and tamp down the dirt to create a firm trail tread. We can continue pulling down vines and removing invasive plants from the area.
RRCT will bring rakes, hand saws, loppers, tamping tools, a pole saw, a chainsaw, and gloves. If you have extra metal rakes, bring them! Don't forget to bring plenty of water.
Meet at the back of the parking lot behind the church at 19 Gloucester Hill Road, close to the swings and playground.
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Wednesday, October 7th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 14th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 21st, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, October 28th, 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.
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Trail Crew at Mèmak Preserve, April 2026