Buckeye Trail Association

HOME PAGE	SECTION BY SECTION	UPCOMING EVENTS	BTA WORK PARTIES	CIRCUIT HIKE
ON-LINE STORE	TRAIL ALERTS	PHOTO GALLERY	FEATURED HIKE	SHORT HIKES

Volunteer Needs of the Buckeye Trail Association

The Buckeye Trail Association is made up of volunteers. It needs the specialized talents of its members. You do not have to be out maintaining trail to volunteer. We have needs that can be handled from your home. If you can volunteer some time, we need your assistance!

In addition to the specific requests listed below, other areas where we could use your help include: membership promotion, grants and/or fundraising, public relations, leading hikes, trail maintenance, serving as a trustee, and trail building.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Garry Dill, BTA Volunteer Coordinator at then321elm@att.net or download the Volunteer Data Form and mail it. Thank you!

The following volunteer postions are available:

The Trail Promotion Committee is the group that works on every aspect of promoting the trail to both Buckeye Trail Association members and others interested in hiking the Buckeye Trail. These areas include hiking and backpacking events, social media, website, newsletter and even the items we sell in the BTA Store. Perhaps you have ideas about how we can get more hikers using the Buckeye Trail. Maybe you have an idea about items we can sell in the store. Perhaps you are eager to organize events and advertise events along the BT. If you have the drive and commitment to bring your ideas forth and help those ideas come to life, then the Trail Promotion Committee is a great opportunity to give back and enhance the trail experience for others! Contact Darryl Smith if you are interested in finding out more. He can be reached via email at socialmedia@buckeyetrail.org.
Wanted - a volunteer to be the Co-chairperson for the Scholarship Committee. An individual who has experience in college administration or high school guidance would be preferred. Duties will be to assist in the search for qualified applicants by advertising the availability of the scholarship in the TrailBlazer and on the Website and to assist in the selection of the successful candidates from the qualified applicants. For further information about the BTA Scholarships and the qualifications for them, see the Scholarship page on the BTA website.
Wanted - a volunteer to maintain trail for the new trail being built at West Branch State Park in the Mogadore Section.

The following describes what trail maintenenace is all about:

There are many sections of trail throughout the State of Ohio that need trail adopters. The sections come in a variety - off-road, on-road, hilly, flat, rural, and urban. All of them need someone who cares enough about hiking to ensure that anyone who wants to do so, will have an enjoyable experience hiking on that trail. This relationship is most successful when the adopter/s takes pride in their trail as if it were their child. BTA calls this adopting the trail. As do all aspects of parenthood this requires work and commitment. The off-road trail adopter must hike his or her trail at least 3 or 4 times a year so that they can ensure that the blazes are accurate and clear, that the hike is not a battle with thorns and other greenery and that the deadfall is removed or routed around. Even road sections need to be checked annually to ensure that the blazes are visible.

Late winter and early spring are ideal times to adopt a piece of the trial because without the undergrowth it is easy to follow and make friends with it. Soon it will be warm enough that the paint won't freeze and we can refresh or replace blazes. Now is the time to call on and schedule the chain saw crew to remove down trees. It will never be easier to beat back the briars and dig out the wild roses thus getting a head start on the summer's maintenance. This could be a great way to start the New Year.

We all like to hike the Buckeye Trail. Please give up four days a year to maintain it for all of us. You will have a good time, get outdoors and get good exercise. No one is more important to the trail than the adopters who do their job and ensure that it is fun to hike.

To receive more information about the Buckeye Trail, send an E-Mail to info@buckeyetrail.org.