The class dates for next trail school cycle are as follows. Please email Walt to enroll!
Crew Leader Training: March 24, 2007

The next round will start in April.
Design & Layout: April 7th
Construction: April 21st
Maintenance: May 12th
Crew Leader Training: May 26th

Trail School and Crew Leader Training Courses

For all trail and off-road enthusiasts, land agencies, and aspiring advocacy groups. This course will be taught at Gainesville State College in Oakwood, Georgia.

The focus of the course is on shared-use trails however some specialized single use applications will also be addressed. This course is designed around current, modern, low impact trail design and construction practices and complies with current specifications by most land agencies.

Session one: Trail Design and Layout

The classroom portion will cover all aspects of how to properly design and layout a trail. We will discuss issues on how to avoid erosion, user conflicts, and impact problems through design. It will give you a good working knowledge of what causes trails to erode through water/soil relationships. A Test on the subjects covered will be taken just before lunch.

The field portion will entail putting what we covered in the class to work by actually laying out a new section of trail.

Session two: Trail Construction

The classroom portion will cover corridor clearing for all types of use and proper trail tread construction. Different types of tread construction, cribbing and raised tread sections, switchbacks and a section on bridges and boardwalks are also included.

A Test on the subjects covered will be taken just before lunch.

The field portion will put your construction knowledge to work clearing and constructing the trail we laid out in the previous session.

Session three: Trail Maintenance

The classroom portion will cover maintenance issues on well-designed and poorly designed trails. We will discuss how to make long-term repairs, and lower environmental impacts. Trail hardening materials and techniques along with rehabilitation of disused trails will also be covered. A test on the subjects covered will be taken just before lunch.

The field session will concentrate on rehabilitating an old section of trail and building a series of water control devices near the site of the previous class work.

Session four: Crew Leader Training

This final session will be held outdoors and broken into three portions; organizing the workday, selecting and getting your crew to the work site, overseeing the project and then returning to the trailhead. Safety and efficiency are the focus of this session. Because of the nature of this level of leadership, all participants in this session will be required to pass the test in all three previous sessions before attending.

Graduation for all that qualify will be held at the end of this session.

Class Information

The minimum age for the course is 18. The course will be limited to a maximum of 15 participants. The Trail Solutions book and an interactive power point show will be provided. The sessions will run approximately 6 hours long (2-1/2 classroom, 1 lunch, 2-1/2 field).

The cost is $100 for the full round of four classes or $25 per class. Any employees of the Georgia DNR will receive complementary admission. Out of state participants are encouraged to come and a $200 fee per person (full course) will apply or $50 per class. Make check payable to Gainesville College Foundation.

*Note: SORBA members get one free class if they attend all four. That make the total cost $75.
Please come prepared for the type of weather expected that day. You will need to bring boots, gloves, and something to write with. All classes will start at 9:30am and end around 3:30pm. Lunch will be on your own. All participants must complete a class application, attached to this message.

Walter Bready
Georgia Trails Education Specialist
Gainesville State College
404.423.7257
walterbready@bellsouth.net

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