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, June 17th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at Elmwood Trails in Pownal! First, we will install a new 12’ yardarm sign by the Elmwood Rd parking lot. Then, we will head over to the Elmwood Woodlot Trail across the street to do some trail pruning and remove invasive plants including shrubby honeysuckle and Japanese barberry.
RRCT will bring shovels, a post hole digger, the yardarm sign, hand saws, pole saws, hand pruners, rakes, and an extractagator (for yanking out big invasive plants). Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, work gloves, and any personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: We’ll meet at the Elmwood Trails parking lot at 819 Elmwood Road, Pownal.
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Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at the River Elf property in New Gloucester! RRCT has received a grant to remove patches of invasive Japanese knotweed along the banks of the Royal River to improve nesting habitat for wood turtles, a species of special concern in Maine.
In March, we completed the first step of this project - an initial knockdown of last year’s dead knotweed stems. Today, we will cut down the new knotweed growth and move them out of the way with Erik Lema from Basswood Environmental. In August and September 2026, Erik will apply herbicide treatment to the knotweed stems that sprout up once again.
The knotweed target areas are in the floodplain areas on either side of the Royal River, close to the inactive railroad tracks. Be prepared to hike off trail on uneven and likely slippery or muddy terrain.
RRCT will bring tools to cut the knotweed stems. If you have tools that may come in handy like a machete, please bring them. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, boots, and work gloves.
Parking: Meet at the River Elf Trail parking lot at 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. We will then carpool or shuttle folks to a smaller parking area by the railroad tracks.
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Wednesday, July 1st, 9:00 am to 11:00 - Old Town House Park, North Yarmouth. Today we will construct a series of infiltration steps down a steep section of the Riverbank Trail. 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, June 17th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at Elmwood Trails in Pownal! First, we will install a new 12’ yardarm sign by the Elmwood Rd parking lot. Then, we will head over to the Elmwood Woodlot Trail across the street to do some trail pruning and remove invasive plants including shrubby honeysuckle and Japanese barberry.
RRCT will bring shovels, a post hole digger, the yardarm sign, hand saws, pole saws, hand pruners, rakes, and an extractagator (for yanking out big invasive plants). Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, work gloves, and any personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: We’ll meet at the Elmwood Trails parking lot at 819 Elmwood Road, Pownal.
*************************************
Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Join us at the River Elf property in New Gloucester! RRCT has received a grant to remove patches of invasive Japanese knotweed along the banks of the Royal River to improve nesting habitat for wood turtles, a species of special concern in Maine.
In March, we completed the first step of this project - an initial knockdown of last year’s dead knotweed stems. Today, we will cut down the new knotweed growth and move them out of the way with Erik Lema from Basswood Environmental. In August and September 2026, Erik will apply herbicide treatment to the knotweed stems that sprout up once again.
The knotweed target areas are in the floodplain areas on either side of the Royal River, close to the inactive railroad tracks. Be prepared to hike off trail on uneven and likely slippery or muddy terrain.
RRCT will bring tools to cut the knotweed stems. If you have tools that may come in handy like a machete, please bring them. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, boots, and work gloves.
Parking: Meet at the River Elf Trail parking lot at 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. We will then carpool or shuttle folks to a smaller parking area by the railroad tracks.
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Wednesday, July 1st, 9:00 am to 11:00 - Old Town House Park, North Yarmouth. Today we will construct a series of infiltration steps down a steep section of the Riverbank Trail. 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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Trail Crew at Mèmak Preserve, April 2026