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:
******************************
Wednesday, June 3rd, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will be at the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester! With recent heavy rain, we can see where there are drainage issues to address. We will clear and improve a drainage ditch around the parking lot where there is standing water, and at a few locations along the trail.
More details to come after Hanae does a site visit on Friday, 5/29.
The trailhead parking lot is at 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, June 10th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will be at Thayer Brook Preserve in Gray! We will be joined by Thayer Brook’s Lead Trail Steward, Steve McPike and RRCT’s new summer intern, Lanna.
Our goals will be to:
· Replace the existing yardarm post with a longer, 12’ post to improve sign visibility.
· Construct a bog bridge over a drainage channel on the Far Side Trail, 0.5 mi from the parking lot.
· Dig drainage channels at wet spots on the Mill Trail to direct water off the trail. In some areas, we will construct a bog bridge or place stepping stones instead.
· Rake in ATV ruts - ATVs are no longer allowed on the Mill Trail. There continues to be occasional ATV use, and an ATV has done a donut circle (100 ft diameter) on the Mill Trail. We will rake in the ATV ruts and drag in brush to block off the circle.
· Prune overhanging branches and lateral branches extending into the trail as we walk. Limbs on trees should be cut at the branch’s bark collar so the tree can compartmentalize and heal over correctly.
RRCT will bring shovels, a post hole digger, a level, rogue hoe, pick mattock, rakes, hand saws, pole saws, and lumber and screws for the bog bridges. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, work gloves, and any personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: We’ll meet at the trailhead parking lot at 92 Ramsdell Rd, Gray.
***********************************
Wednesday, June 17th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Elmwood Trails in Pownal. More details to come.
Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Invasive Japanese knotweed cutting at River Elf property in New Gloucester. More details to come.
******************************
*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, June 3rd, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will be at the River Elf Trail in New Gloucester! With recent heavy rain, we can see where there are drainage issues to address. We will clear and improve a drainage ditch around the parking lot where there is standing water, and at a few locations along the trail.
More details to come after Hanae does a site visit on Friday, 5/29.
The trailhead parking lot is at 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, June 10th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Today we will be at Thayer Brook Preserve in Gray! We will be joined by Thayer Brook’s Lead Trail Steward, Steve McPike and RRCT’s new summer intern, Lanna.
Our goals will be to:
· Replace the existing yardarm post with a longer, 12’ post to improve sign visibility.
· Construct a bog bridge over a drainage channel on the Far Side Trail, 0.5 mi from the parking lot.
· Dig drainage channels at wet spots on the Mill Trail to direct water off the trail. In some areas, we will construct a bog bridge or place stepping stones instead.
· Rake in ATV ruts - ATVs are no longer allowed on the Mill Trail. There continues to be occasional ATV use, and an ATV has done a donut circle (100 ft diameter) on the Mill Trail. We will rake in the ATV ruts and drag in brush to block off the circle.
· Prune overhanging branches and lateral branches extending into the trail as we walk. Limbs on trees should be cut at the branch’s bark collar so the tree can compartmentalize and heal over correctly.
RRCT will bring shovels, a post hole digger, a level, rogue hoe, pick mattock, rakes, hand saws, pole saws, and lumber and screws for the bog bridges. Bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, work gloves, and any personal tools that may be helpful.
Parking: We’ll meet at the trailhead parking lot at 92 Ramsdell Rd, Gray.
***********************************
Wednesday, June 17th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Elmwood Trails in Pownal. More details to come.
Wednesday, June 24th, 9:00 am to 11:00 am - Invasive Japanese knotweed cutting at River Elf property in New Gloucester. More details to come.
******************************
*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.
****************************
Trail Crew at Mèmak Preserve, April 2026