Larimer County Parks & Open Lands
Volunteer Trail Maintenance
Or Trail Adoption Expectations

Department: Larimer County Parks and Open Lands
Program: Horsetooth and Blue Mountain Park Districts and Open Lands
Location: Horsetooth and Blue Mountain Park Districts, Open Space Areas: Devil's Backbone
Ramsay-Shockey, Fossil Creek and Eagle's Nest

Volunteers donate their time working with staff performing basic trail maintenance within our trail system according to Larimer County Parks and Open Lands trail standards. Adopting a trail is committing to performing trail work 3 times from April through October. It is required that two people from an adoption group attend the Trail Crew Leader training in the spring.

Duties vary, but can be a combination of the following:

• Be able to hike 2 to 4 miles
• Remove excessive berms created by trail use.
• Clean out existing waterbars
• Remove fallen trees, rocks, dirt, and debris from trails
• Trim overgrown branches along trails
• Fix eroded trails
• Re-vegetate when necessary

• Be friendly and courteous to staff, visitors, and volunteers and communicate clearly with them
• Provide own transportation
• Maintain good physical condition, strong back, and be able to hike 2 to 4 miles
• Be willing to work outdoors
• Be a team player, and work cooperatively in a group and with volunteers
• Be able to work a minimum of 5 hours on each trail work day
• Abide by Department regulations and safety guidelines
• Knowledge of trail maintenance and trail tools helpful, but not necessary

• Prepare and train volunteers through orientation and job specific training
• Provide safe working conditions
• Organize and schedule volunteers in an efficient and timely manner
• Provide necessary tools and trail supplies
• Evaluate volunteer training and improve each year
• Recognize and reward volunteers as valued team members

• Show up on trail workdays prepared and dressed appropriately, no sandals or open-toed shoes
• Bring water, work gloves, sack lunch and sunscreen
• Be on time
• Take ownership of your own safety and of the safety of others.
• Participate in the volunteer safety and tool training
• Treat staff, volunteers and visitors courteously and with respect
• Complete time sheets and turn them into the volunteer office
• Return tools and supplies to supervisor at the end of your shift
• Provide own transportation
• Provide own "creature comforts" as needed - hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, raingear, sack lunch & water

• Heat stress - bring and drink a lot of water
• Rattlesnakes are located on our parks and open spaces
• Sore muscles from lifting, raking, and pulling; and blisters on hands
• Injuries or damage from misuse of tools
• Inclement weather (lightening, rain, etc.)
• Disease, stings, or bites from insects, such as mosquitoes and spiders.

The Larimer County Parks & Open Lands Volunteer Program is not obligated to provide a placement, nor are you obligated to accept the position offered. Opportunities for volunteers are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or age. Larimer County is committed to equality of opportunity.