Dig In & Work Trail

Late fall through early spring are the best days for trailwork. PFTrails is still building our tool chest, so no work days have been scheduled. When we have tools in place, work days will be announced here and on social media. We are planning to use the Golden volunteer app to register trailworkers. During the spectre of COVID, we will work to keep crews smaller, so early registration will ensure you can participate.

Expect to get dirty, and expect to use your muscles and your brain. You can prepare for workdays by:

• Downloading the Golden app for your phone/tablet, or use the Golden website to look for opportunities. Invite others to prepare, too.
• Watch the Trail Overview video, when available. This short video will give you a taste of trail building!
• Enroll in a Trail Builder course, when available. This will probably be scheduled for Saturday mornings, and online only, for now. Once things loosen up from COVID restrictions, these classes will be in-person and hands on with the tools. They will also likely coincide with a workday, so you can apply what you’ve learned right away.
• Register using Golden (or whatever we have worked out at the time) and sign the waiver.
• Be dressed for the job: sturdy shoes or boots, jeans, layers appropriate for the weather, leather work gloves. If you have your own hard hat or bike helmet, its a good idea to bring it.
• Bring snacks and water, insect repellent and sunscreen.
• Have a great time! Find jobs you enjoy and take further training to join special teams or become a leader.

Trailwork by volunteers leads to the goal of new, expanded, and sustained trails across Northwest Kansas. Even as we are just getting started, Prairie Frontier Trails is committed to the construction of sustainable and responsible trails. We accomplish this through volunteer training, to ensure everyone is working together, safely, for the common goal. Training is also being designed. We will offer training in a variety of trail skills, to provide opportunities for everyone to get involved.

We are working on our training schedule for 2021. One of the first classes will be general trail-building skills. Watch our upcoming events for notification of training opportunities.

Additional training will be offered for participation in leadership and special teams. Some of the teams/training we are contemplating are:

Rapid Strike Team (RST). The RST will respond to trail repair issues that affect trail-user safety, such as downed branches or trail surface damage. RST members are trained volunteers who have demonstrated a thorough knowledge of trail construction techniques, and can perform repair work without the need for instruction or supervision. They also have flexible schedules to be able to respond quickly to safety issues.

Other teams include the Survey Teams. Laid back but procedurally-precise, Survey Teams uses specialized tools to help chart the course of proposed trail projects. Survey goals are assigned, and the team works at their own pace to complete the process. These volunteers enjoy working with technology, and low-intensity outdoor activity. Teams may consist of Land Survey, Ecological Survey, and Biological Survey teams.

The Drone Operations, and Drone Support teams are very new. Much has yet to be determined, but the Operations team will conduct drone flights as requested by a flight director, and the Support team will provide assistance and relief during extended flights, and perform maintenance work when the drone is in storage. Members will be cross-trained for both teams. A single Operations team will be on standby for a given period, then rotated to Support for an extended period while other Operations teams are on standby.

As teams become available, we’ll describe them in our news feed.