Youth Trail Stewards
We believe it’s essential to invest in and educate youth on how to care for our trails, become stewards of public lands, and enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Through the Youth Trail Stewards program, young people gain hands-on experience, learn conservation principles, and contribute meaningfully to the trails they love.
What the Program Teaches
Our Youth Trail Stewards program offers:
Trail Maintenance & Skills
Participants learn basic trail construction and sustainable maintenance techniques—including using tools like McLeods and loppers, trail tread repair, drainage improvement, and corridor clearing.
Outdoor Ethics & Stewardship Principles
Youth are introduced to:
- Trail etiquette and responsible recreation
- Leave No Trace principles
- The importance of conserving natural resources
- Respect for public lands and diverse trail users
Community & Teamwork
Trail work days instantly build confidence, teamwork, leadership, and a deeper connection to nature and community. Youth often return as ambassadors and leaders for future stewardship activities.
Career Awareness
Older participants explore outdoor and conservation careers through immersive experiences, including partnerships like the Eagle County Youth Corps, which provides paid, real-world stewardship experience for local teens.
These lessons happen both in the classroom and out on the trail.
How the Program Works
We engage youth through a variety of formats, including:
School Partnerships & Youth Organizations
We work with schools and groups such as The Cycle Effect, YouthPower 365, Walking Mountains Science Center, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, and more to bring trail stewardship into educational and recreational settings.
Trail Work Events & Camps
Throughout the spring and summer, we host hands-on trail days, immersive stewardship camps, and themed projects like:
- Trail improvement days at bike parks and local trails
- Environmental education hikes and outdoor lessons
- Trail Talks on conservation and responsible recreation
Classroom & Outdoor Learning
Education extends beyond tools and boots — we discuss ecology, trail design, sustainability, and how small actions make big impacts.
2025 Season Highlights
Following a record-breaking season for VVMTA’s Adopt A Trail and volunteer programs, our Youth Trail Stewards have once again proven that the future of outdoor stewardship in Eagle County is bright. This year, over 370 youth volunteers contributed 945 volunteer hours of hands-on trail work and environmental education across 15+ events, from Avon to Eagle and beyond.
Through school partnerships, youth organizations, and community programs, these young trail lovers didn’t just learn to swing a McLeod — they learned to care for their public lands, their trails, and one another.
- Had 372 participants
- Completed 945.5 volunteer hours
- Covered 9.6 miles of trail
- Cleared or created 66 drains
- Repaired 1,950 feet of tread
- Cleared over 10,000 feet of corridor
- Removed trash, weeds, and rogue social trails across more than a dozen sites.
Interested in scheduling a program?
