Successful Trail Maintenance?

[peterdbikes]

Our chapter (Seacoast -now Southern NH) had a great year with our trail days. We did some awesome work especially at Pawtuckaway, Ft Rock and Bear Brook. Looking back, I see we also could do better job planning and coordinating our work.

The biggest pain seems to be it setting up our trail schedule. Usually we meet in the spring and choose 8 dates ( 2 for each area we maintain)...four in the spring and four in the fall. We then choose which area on which date. We want to set up the schedule so we can publicize it early.

The problem is we never seem to stick to the schedule. Problems in one area crop up and we move that area to the next available date.

So this year, I plan on just picking dates in the spring. We usually pick Sunday mornings. We can decide a few weeks ahead which area gets the work day. That way, big projects can keep the momentum rolling and small issues can be dealt with as needed.

My questions are:

Any other day(s) work better for your group?

A later start...say noon?

How about a mid-week evening work group?

Do you do TM during the summer too?

[MTBME]

My questions are:
Any other day(s) work better for your group?

I've always gone with Saturdays but then you miss out on the soccer dads or little league etc. Switch to Sundays and church or family issues might get in the way. So that's a real toss up.

A later start...say noon?
That might be tough to pull off. You might gain an extra worker here or there but you might also lose more than you gain.

How about a mid-week evening work group?
After a full day of work you could only squeeze in a few hours. Although the Nam boyz seem to pull it off.

Do you do TM during the summer too?
Yes. But avoid a couple of weeks around the 4th of July.

[C.P.]

Any other day(s) work better for your group?

Sunday has always been a better take IMO. I've scheduled plenty of both, and too many folks just dont make it to Sat work days.


A later start...say noon?
We've had good luck with announcing 8:30 meet time, then a 9 Start time...For 8:30+ arrivals, we make sure to provide plenty of java and sometimes munchies to get sleepy volunteers goin'


How about a mid-week evening work group?
This one is proving to be a realy good way to get a few short hard working sessions in with "core" volunteers. I've done a few to finish a bridge, after the main day wasn't enough. And, afterall, we like to ride on W/E's too!


Do you do TM during the summer too?
Personally haven't scheduled my own, and typically dont schedule work in the hot weather, mostly b/c people are at the beach or whatever, it just seems like I'd be working by myself...I did attend a 'Nam "tuesday" eve work day this summer.

[Superb Man]

In addition to numerous smaller ride areas-out here in the Pioneer Valley we have 3 bigger trail networks-Bachelor St/ Earl's Trails-(Holyoke skinner range), The DAR SF, and The emerging Wendell SF.

The Trail work-maintainance and construction-is done by a pretty small group of dedicated indivudual's at each location (often by single specific people). Though there are a few Posted larger TM days-in truth the lion's share of work is done when the dedicated indivuduals and their close crews are so motivated (it's amazing how much of bachelor st is built by one man and his dog!). The 'goto' guys at each park put out a call to arms whenever they see the need--rarely is there a large work crew at any of these areas...

Does this work? Yep. We have a lot of trails-and the're all very well maintained and miles of new single track pop up every season.

I've spearheaded much of the work at Wendell-I call work days usually a week in advance at best as my schedule permits-the usual suspects show up and sometime a handful of others-the work gets done--people go riding. I always start work in the early morning (If I call a work day for an 8:00am start-me and the wendell crew are usually on the trails getting stuff done by 5:30-6:00..no lie). I think the most people I've had at a work day is 11--it was about 3 too many.

I believe Mr Vangel at bachelor st, Earl at Skinner and Rich labombard at the DAR work on similar principals-the work is done around their schedules as need/ desire arises, which makes great sense as they are the driving forces behind those stellar trail systems.

I know, I know-those big "event" work days, with free food and drinks are good PR and make members feel warm and fuzzy, and we'll post a few in the spring to be--but I'd rather put that kind of "sell-NEMBA" organizational effort into Event rides than into event trail days-and rely on the committed faithful to do the bulk of the hump work.

And so...In answer to your questions

Peter, if you're the man on the scene at each Park-plan TM events for whatever and whenever is most convenient to you and don't worry about accomodating everyone else's schedule--if there interested they'll show--or not, either way-it's probably just up to you and your tight crew to maintain/ create the trails your region enjoys.

I think your specifying just the day and not the place in advance is a good idea

Mornings work better for me-so that's when I call work days

Yeah-we do maintenance in the summer---but not that much.

Mid-week evening group??? We have a midweek crack of dawn group---two hours of trail work before actual work in the late spring does a trail system good.

Liam

[peterdbikes]

I agree it is usually the same group that continually show up. Sometimes I wonder if all the effort in promoting and planning a large TM day is worth the effort. Although, you never know when a new person will show up and he will be "hooked" in to a life time of giving back to the trails.

[Husqvarna]

I think the current format is working well for us, we did have to shuffle the dates and move a couple of locations, this past year. But for promotional purposes we need should pick locations over the next couple of months. The trail ambassordors need to start planning there large projects soon, and come to the winter meetings to get them on the schedule. I'm for sticking with the current format, 8:00 on Sundays, so that it doesn't conflict with FOMBA Saturdays. But instead of spring/fall, i say lets plan for promoting one large project a month April - Nov, and spread it out over the eastern and western region. I also wouldn't be opposed to a lunch break, then extending the work day into the afternoon for a few hours, maybe to 3:00. Which still leaves time for ride. It would also be nice to give one of those months to help out the crew at CentralNH, with a large project. Kathy and I, meeting at Bear Brook this weekend to plan for work on Sentinel Pine and Upper Chipmunk. Both are appearing to be enormous projects. For the smaller projects, let the trail ambassordors do impromptu days, so long as they are coordinated and don't conflict. Save the evenings for emergency work and planning work.

[MTBME]

"I also wouldn't be opposed to a lunch break, then extending the work day into the afternoon for a few hours, maybe to 3:00. Which still leaves time for ride."

So trail work from 8 to 3 with a lunch break in between, and then squeeze in a ride after 3? I wonder how many people feel up for a ride or have time for a ride after 7 plus hours in the woods? That would pretty much take up somebodys whole day. That might not work for a lot of people.

[radair]

For the last few years White Mtns NEMBA has been running one event per month from April thru September. Sunday mornings work OK for us, with a 9 am start. We also have done one weeknight each week the past two summers, but it's usually just 1 to 4 of us who show up, with the occasional week garnering 6 or 8. Good excuse to drink beer anway.

For some reason I get really motivated in late Oct & Nov. I've spent the past 6 weekends getting lots of stuff done early mornings on Sat & Sun. The ground froze this week, so I guess the digging season is pretty much over. :(

We've had good success with our weekend event each year, but it definitely takes more planning and coordination to make sure people aren't standing around and getting bored. This year we focused on engaging more locals and less on bringing in folks from out of town (though they're always welcome). It's good to get new faces out there, especially getting the younger kids excited about what we're doing. Building stuff like log rides, berms, and technical features helps.

[Slappy]

Building stuff like log rides, berms, and technical features helps.

:rad:

[BG]

"I also wouldn't be opposed to a lunch break, then extending the work day into the afternoon for a few hours, maybe to 3:00. Which still leaves time for ride."

So trail work from 8 to 3 with a lunch break in between, and then squeeze in a ride after 3? I wonder how many people feel up for a ride or have time for a ride after 7 plus hours in the woods? That would pretty much take up somebodys whole day. That might not work for a lot of people.


Works for me!!!

BG

[peterdbikes]

I was also thinking of doing a monday night TM series. Maybe from June -August. 12 weeks and 12 different areas. That way the TA would only have to commit to one. 2 hours of light brushing, deberming or whatever. We could hit some areas that we don't normally get to....Salem, Hampstead, Musquash, etc.. Try do develop new people into TA's in new locations.

[steve_b]

The Tuesday night TM at 'Nam has been very beneficial, and a lot of stuff would not have been built in 2005 or 2006 without them. We get a solid turnout every week, and it's not just the 'Nam Land Management committee who shows up - we have had as many as 15 people on a Tuesday night. We do the same type of TM work on Tuesday's as we do on the full day TM events. It had to suck as a farmer back in the Colonial days.

We work from 5:00pm until dark and get almost a half day of TM in most weeks. It appears for some people that it's easier to put in 3 hours during the week then on a weekend day when there's a million other things going on.

Another big thanks to all who came out and helped this year. :rad:

[kernel crash]

It appears for some people that it's easier to put in 3 hours during the week then on a weekend day when there's a million other things going on.

I agree 100%. I suspect for 95% of us, if your working a full time job those 2 weekend days are very precious. Your looking at housework, homework, yardwork. The car needs an oil change, tire rotation, a radiator flush. Take the kids to soccer practice, little league practice, stickball practice. Take the little princess to dance class, dance recitals, and school sport activities. Boy scouts, Cub scouts, Brownies and Girl scouts Oh My. And don't forget the significant other. (Don't think she's not paying attention). Now set aside a little time to get a serious ride in before the weekend disapears. Now there's a couple of TM's you would like to help out with. Do you do the 4 hour TM or the 8 hour TM? Quick. Make a decision. The weekends almost over.

[DVRider]

In the past year, I've attended:
3 hour riding TMs
3 hour TMs
4 hour TMs
6 hour TMs
Included were weekday nights, Sat, and Sun.
This is what I noticed:

I find that trail maintenance events over 4 hours are not worth the extra time.

I think a lot can get done on weekday nights, but you have to have pretty much the same group of people come every week and it's probably harder to get new volunteers "trained" to do the work.

The riding TMs are good to sweep the trails, you can get a lot of small stuff done, like face slappers, log removal, and if you have a Bob trailer(Find CP's post) you can bring additional tools, but this will slow the group a bit and may cause them to bite off more than they can chew.

Three hour TMs work the best, you get people to show up on time, bang out 1 or more projects depending on how many folks show up, then most people eat lunch and then head for a ride. This format works the best to get new people involved because, the 3 hours goes by relatively quickly if you keep them busy. They meet a bunch of new people. Get to feel like they accomplished something. Get fed. and Go for a fun ride, usually while admiring their own work. They leave the day feeling good about what they did. Every time they ride the trail/bridge/TTF that they built, they have a new appreciation for the trail. Most of the people I ride with are people I met through Trail Maintenance.

Four hour trail maintenance usually start off as three hours sessions but the project is just about done, so you stay and finish.

I think Six hours sessions are too long. I find that people peak at about the 3hr time, if you feed them(since 3hrs marks noon), they become lethargic and move at a slower pace. I've also fallen prey to the notion that hey I have 6 hours to do this so let's try to do it right whereas I could have produced the same finished product in a 3 hr time frame if that were my goal. No one rides after the 6hr sessions because they are too beat so they don't get that same feeling of comradery with their fellow volunteers.

Schwag is also a bonus. In the past year I've received a couple shirts, a pump, a trail pass, and a couple other things.

When the day is over, pics of the work and volunteers(before and after) should be posted somewhere.

[SteveC]

Yes! I agree with Dave--3 hours is more than enough to expect from people!!
It's better to get as many bodies as possible, get the tasks done, then get to riding/socializing/family duties after a good lunch!! With all due props to the people who want to spend more time working---alot of us have just a 3 or 4-hour pass(as any MWC can relate..) and need to maximize our time.......
Schwag and food rate high on the attendance scale....and pre-work coffee/conversation in the parking lot is always a bonus......
SC

[fishingwithghandi]

I agree with 3 hours as well as having a realistic goal for the day's project. Starting too many projects in one day and not finishing them i.e. leaving them unrideable is a real drag for those helping out. Being able to see/ride what you've just built makes the experience more enjoyable and makes whoever is helping more apt to offer help again.
Having said that, some projects can't be finished in one three hour session.

[Husqvarna]

A three hour session is fine if your tools and materials are in close proximity of your work site. But when the work site is a half hour hike or more. I'd much rather take the additional time to finish the project, if it can be done in a few more hours. Rather than having the resource hours get wasted on schlepping tools back and forth multiple times. Volunteers need to remember that they are always welcome to come and go as there own schedule permits. No hostages taken.
I typically plan a project that is little larger then what the average number of volunteers that usually show can do, just so that no one is bored from lack of work. I'm not sure what kind of turnouts other chapters get. But in Southern NH, the average turnout is about 5-8. On a good day a dozen. In the past 8 years I have only experienced two or three work events where there have been 15 or more volunteers. Planning a project for 6 or 8 volunteers and having a dozen show up, usually leaves some feeling that there help really wasn't needed.
Where very fortunate to have a core group of 8-10 very dedicated, capable and well trained volunteers that are almost always there regardless of which park where working at. Then half of that same core is also doing double duty over at FOMBA. Every year we seem to gain a few, but also loose a few from the core group. Our volunteer base doesn't seem to grow. Without that core group to depend on i don't think we would ever finish any projects.

What are other chapters doing to get more of there members volunteering?