The Gift of Time: Why Volunteering Is the Heart of Trail Stewardship
By Del Albright //delalbright.com
When it comes to preserving access to public lands and keeping trails open, one resource is more precious than all the rest: your time.
Sure, monetary donations to land use groups and off-road organizations are important. Joining these groups as a member strengthens our collective voice. But nothing compares to the boots-on-the-ground commitment of volunteering — giving your time, your sweat, and your energy to causes you truly believe in.
This photo captures a powerful moment. It’s not just dirt and rocks. It’s passion. It’s teamwork. It’s people from all walks of life coming together to rebuild a trail, protect an access route, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the same freedoms we do today.
Time is a limited resource. We can always make more money. But we can’t make more time.
So, when you spend a day or a weekend helping with trail restoration, clearing brush, filling erosion ruts, stopping off-trail travel, or improving a route, you’re doing something that money can’t buy. You’re making an investment in the land, in your sport, and in your community with your personal time.
Want to make a difference?
- Join a local trail cleanup or work party.
- Bring a friend and make it a day to remember.
- Support the organizations leading these efforts with your dues and donations.
- But most of all… show up.
Volunteering your time is the heart of trail stewarship, and is the most powerful statement you can make.
Learn all you need to know about volunteerism, landuse, and keeping our trails open in my book now available on Amazon here.
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL’S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL’S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
- MEETINGS:
- RUN A BETTER MEETING
- LETTERS:
- WRITE A LETTER
- SPEECHES:
- GIVE A SPEECH
- FACILITATE:
- FACILITATE MEETINGS
- JOIN:
- JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
- LEAD:
- LEAD VOLUNTEERS