Trail Crew
Hanae Garrison (RRCT Stewardship Director) here! If you have any questions, concerns, or visions for Trail Crew, you can reach me at (973) 255-7513 or Hanae@RRCT.org.
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Wednesday, November 20th, 10:00 am – Today we’ll be at Fern Hollow Preserve in North Yarmouth! There is a short 1/4 mile out-and-back trail that threads through a shady conifer forest before running along a fern valley and floodplain. We’ll walk the trail and cut back low hanging branches and dead limbs. There’s still some sneaky invasive glossy buckthorn sprouts in the understory of the woods and shrubby honeysuckle around the trailhead area that we can hand-pull. The honeysuckle will be easy to spot as they retain their leaves longer than the native trees and shrubbery.
RRCT will bring loppers, pole saws, hand saws and tools to pull up larger honeysuckle plants. Bring work gloves, a water bottle and personal tools that would be helpful! Please wear blaze orange as it is hunting season.
Parking is available at the end of Cluff Road on the right. Look for a preserve sign at the end of the pavement. GPS address is 47 Cluff Rd, North Yarmouth, ME.
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Wednesday, November 27th – No Trail Crew, hope you have a good Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, December 4th, 10:00 am – Chandler Brook Preserve in North Yarmouth. More details to come.
Wednesday, December 11th, 10:00 am – Chandler Brook Preserve continued. More details to come.
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Royal River Conservation Trust’s weekly volunteer trail upkeep and construction program is prepped by volunteers or staff, and complements our annual stewardship field work. Work sessions are planned for two hours on Wednesdays at 10:00 am. Our work focuses on RRCT’s many public access properties, often spending several weeks in a row at the same site. RRCT is also happy to help out our trail neighbors when the Trail Crew has availability. Trail Crew attendance ranges from 2-10+ volunteers each week.
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. Trail Crew focuses on creatively, sustainably, safely, and efficiently completing RRCT’s physical work goals. Trail Crew tackles a variety of on-site trail building issues including route finding and trail alignment, brush and wood clearing, water management, wetland and stream crossings, tread stabilization, invasive species management, and signage. Beyond the trails, the Crew does projects relating to wildlife habitat and healthy ecosystems.
RRCT brings specific tools that will be helpful. We encourage volunteer crew members to bring their own tools. Hand saws, pole saws, and loppers are favorites. Crew members should bring a water bottle and should wear sturdy shoes, safety glasses, gloves, and the right clothes for the day. Tick checks are a must and bringing bug repellent ain’t a bad idea.
*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, you must notify RRCT at Info@rrct.org , and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.
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