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, July 29, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – Trail Crew is on! Looks like the rain will hold off until this evening. Join us at Intervale Preserve Lower Village, New Gloucester to prepare for the Community Picnic on Sunday, Aug 2!
Our primary goal is making sure the Community Gathering Area, where the picnic will take place, is nicely mowed/weedwhacked and ready for Sunday. Volunteer Geoff King has built us three new beautiful picnic tables that are already assembled at the gathering area. We can move them around as needed. We'll also walk the Steven's Brook Trail through the woods and the connecting Interurban and Foxcroft Trails, trimming back encroaching or overhanging vegetation as we go.
If we finish early, we can head back up to the church parking area to continue clearing the Village Path.
RRCT will bring a weedwhacker, loppers, hand saws, and a pole pruner. Feel free to bring personal tools that may be helpful!
Parking: Meet at the church parking lot at 19 Gloucester Hill Road. We'll then walk down to the Lower Village parcel together.
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Community Picnic - Sunday, August 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Join us for a Community Picnic in the Community Gathering Area in the Lower Village parcel of Intervale Preserve! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fun afternoon celebrating community and the outdoors.
Enjoy live bluegrass music by Cumberland Crossing while we grill burgers and hot dogs. You're also welcome to bring a side dish or dessert to share. There will be ice cream, lawn games, and plenty of open space to relax, explore, and connect with fellow RRCT supporters.
There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, but RRCT volunteers and a guest attend free! Please RSVP if you plan to come. View more event details here.
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Wednesday, August 5th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will hike the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester, doing trail improvement projects and pruning along the way.
Our tasks will include:
· Brush back the trails - trim overhanging branches and lateral branches extending into the trail. Limbs on trees should be cut at the branch’s bark collar so the tree can compartmentalize and heal over correctly. Remove exposed trip roots and stumps. Cut new growth flush to the ground.
· Clear natural drainage channels and small streams clogged with leaf litter and organic material. Drainage channels should be “U” shaped and ~12” wide.
· Reshape and level out the trail tread in slopped areas.
RRCT will have loppers, hand saws, hand pruners, rakes, a grub hoe, shovels, and a pick mattock, Bring boots, work gloves, water, and personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: Meet at the parking lot is 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. Once the parking lot fills up, park along the road shoulder, on the same side as the trail.
Wednesday, August 12th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, August 19th, 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.
****************************
Wednesday, July 29, 9:00 am to 11:00 am – Trail Crew is on! Looks like the rain will hold off until this evening. Join us at Intervale Preserve Lower Village, New Gloucester to prepare for the Community Picnic on Sunday, Aug 2!
Our primary goal is making sure the Community Gathering Area, where the picnic will take place, is nicely mowed/weedwhacked and ready for Sunday. Volunteer Geoff King has built us three new beautiful picnic tables that are already assembled at the gathering area. We can move them around as needed. We'll also walk the Steven's Brook Trail through the woods and the connecting Interurban and Foxcroft Trails, trimming back encroaching or overhanging vegetation as we go.
If we finish early, we can head back up to the church parking area to continue clearing the Village Path.
RRCT will bring a weedwhacker, loppers, hand saws, and a pole pruner. Feel free to bring personal tools that may be helpful!
Parking: Meet at the church parking lot at 19 Gloucester Hill Road. We'll then walk down to the Lower Village parcel together.
************************************
Community Picnic - Sunday, August 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Join us for a Community Picnic in the Community Gathering Area in the Lower Village parcel of Intervale Preserve! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a fun afternoon celebrating community and the outdoors.
Enjoy live bluegrass music by Cumberland Crossing while we grill burgers and hot dogs. You're also welcome to bring a side dish or dessert to share. There will be ice cream, lawn games, and plenty of open space to relax, explore, and connect with fellow RRCT supporters.
There is a suggested donation of $5 per person, but RRCT volunteers and a guest attend free! Please RSVP if you plan to come. View more event details here.
***********************************
Wednesday, August 5th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will hike the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester, doing trail improvement projects and pruning along the way.
Our tasks will include:
· Brush back the trails - trim overhanging branches and lateral branches extending into the trail. Limbs on trees should be cut at the branch’s bark collar so the tree can compartmentalize and heal over correctly. Remove exposed trip roots and stumps. Cut new growth flush to the ground.
· Clear natural drainage channels and small streams clogged with leaf litter and organic material. Drainage channels should be “U” shaped and ~12” wide.
· Reshape and level out the trail tread in slopped areas.
RRCT will have loppers, hand saws, hand pruners, rakes, a grub hoe, shovels, and a pick mattock, Bring boots, work gloves, water, and personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: Meet at the parking lot is 400 Cobbs Bridge Rd, New Gloucester. Once the parking lot fills up, park along the road shoulder, on the same side as the trail.
Wednesday, August 12th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - TBD
Wednesday, August 19th, 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