Volunteer News

The stories of our volunteers and trail maintenance around the state.

Stories about volunteers and trail maintenance.

You can also read WTA volunteer stories, meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

Where are They Now? Alex Compeau, Youth Ambassador

Jun 29, 2018

Learn how a past Youth Ambassador has used his experience with WTA to further his passion for trails, outdoor recreation, and the sciences.

Volunteer for Teanaway Community Forest's Stewardship Day

Jun 11, 2018

On June 23, join Washington Trails Association and many of our partners for a fun day of service at the Teanaway Community Forest.

Where Are They Now? Seasonal Crew Leader Jacob Mandell

Jul 16, 2018

Jacob Mandell worked at WTA for two years and his enthusiasm, gentle leadership and big smile were big motivators for the many volunteers he worked with. He's since taken his expertise to Colorado, where he's on a trail maintenance crew in the Routt National Forest.

Our Graduates Are Out-standing In Their Field

May 24, 2018

It's the crew leader and assistant crew leaders (many of them volunteers) who have helped WTA's trail maintenance program become what it is today. Learn how we train the people who lead you on trail.

Like a Boss -- One Youth Volunteer Learns to Lead on Trail

May 22, 2018

Learn how Haylee Darby went from volunteer to youth ambassador to assistant crew leader.

Where Are They Now: Arlen Bogaards

Oct 31, 2018

Arlen Bogaards is our Northwest Regional Manager, but he started his career at WTA as a volunteer.

Where Are They Now? Seasonal Crew Leader Margaret Ullman-Hess

May 24, 2018

Now working for Mountains to Sound Greenway, Margaret Ullman-Hess got her first taste of trail work as a seasonal crew leader with WTA. We asked her what hooked her, and how she took what she learned at WTA into her professional career.

Where Are They Now? Seasonal Crew Leader Lauren Glass

May 29, 2018

Lauren Glass joined WTA two years ago with an impressive resume from working with youth. After two years crew leading with us, she headed to Colorado to manage the youth program at Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. We caught up with her to see how it's going.

Learning Skills, Building Strength on All-Girls Work Parties

Apr 04, 2018

For 10 years, WTA's all-girl trips have empowered young women on trail.

Take Care of the Places You Love

Apr 12, 2018

Managing marine debris and keeping Washington's coastal beaches in pristine condition is tough work. Last year, with the help of Washington CoastSavers volunteers, over 20 tons of debris were removed from 60 beaches across the coast.

Volunteer Profile: Pat Limberg

Mar 27, 2018

Pat Limberg has been volunteering on trail since WTA's trail maintenance program was a relatively new part of our work. She's stuck around, both on-trail and as an office volunteer, and is happy to see that WTA is still devoted to trails and the wide range of people who care deeply about protecting the places they love to play.

Fairhaven Forest Saved for Future

Mar 16, 2018

With the help of WTA volunteers, Recreation Northwest and Bellingham Parks and Recreation, the lush utopia of cedar, willow, fir and cottonwood trees known as the Fairhaven Forest is a little bit more accessible.

Two WTA Volunteers Recognized by Friends of Olympic National Park

Mar 23, 2018

WTA crew leader Rebecca Wanagel and Washington Trails contributor Kelsie Donleycott have been recognized as super-volunteers this year. Read why.

Online Hiking Community Comes Together to Make a Difference on Trail

Feb 21, 2018

Last week, 24 members of the local online hiking community, Pacific Northwest Outdoor Women, braved the rain and near-freezing temps for a day of trail work on the Grand Ridge trail in the Issaquah Highlands.

Calling All WTA Ambassadors

Feb 16, 2018

Want to be a champion for trails and public lands? Apply to be a WTA Ambassador and take your volunteerism to a new level. You’ll help WTA be a voice for hikers statewide by doing outreach and advocacy in your local community.

Prepare Yourself: Backcountry Trip Signups Are Coming

Jan 23, 2018

WTA's backcountry trips are some of the most popular volunteer events we host. Learn how you can be the best prepared for when registration opens.

How to Write a Trip Report That Helps WTA and Land Managers

Jan 18, 2018

WTA trip reports can help land managers identify trails that need help. Here's how to write trip reports that can help trails get the work they need.

7 Signs Your Trail is in Trouble & What to Do About it

Jan 12, 2018

Recognize the common ways healthy trails deteriorate and how you can help.

Behind the Scenes Before the Fun

Jan 03, 2018

Backcountry trip registration opens soon, but it's a full-time job at WTA.

An Effort to Clear the Path in Goat Rocks Wilderness

Feb 07, 2018

Years of storm damage, fallen trees and road washouts have dwindled the Goat Rocks accessibility to a handful of trailheads. WTA volunteer trail maintenance crews spent weeks throughout the summer working across the Goat Rocks trail system, clearing logs, fixing tread and roughing-in re-routes in the hopes of expanding the number of available trails and dispersing hikers to lessen the impact on this delicate ecosystem.

How 3 Unique Volunteers Help Fuel WTA

Jan 22, 2018

Meet three volunteers who are helping out across the organization, and learn how they're making a difference for Washington's trails.

Youth Volunteers Restore Years of Neglect on Ingalls Creek Trail

Feb 23, 2018

This past summer, a group of 10 dedicated teens spent sixteen days camped beside Ingalls Creek, improving one of the key access routes to the Stuart Range and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

A Day in the Life of a Winter Crew Leader

Between building new trails and repairing damaged ones in preparation for the coming spring and summer, WTA crew leaders have multiple projects to balance when the weather turns cold and rainy. | Story and photos by Erika Haugen-Goodman

Lost Trails Found: Regaining Access to the North Fork Sullivan

Dec 13, 2017

Strong partnerships and a lot of hard work in the field makes for big improvements in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

Building Bridges

All over the state, WTA is fostering stronger connections between people and places | by Anna Roth

Saving Lost Trails, One Step at a Time

Nov 06, 2017

WTA launched our Lost Trails Found campaign, with the goal of restoring trails that are slowly but surely disappearing. Key trails were identified and WTA marched onward with the ambitious goal of rehabilitating at least three lost trails.

Good News for Hikers Near Spokane

Nov 03, 2017

Thanks to funding from REI, WTA tackled more Spokane-area trails in 2017. Working closely with Spokane County Parks, Washington State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management, WTA identified several Spokane-area trails for high-priority trail work this year.

New Trail Opens on Heybrook Ridge

Dec 21, 2017

In 2017, a total of 230 volunteers spent 21 days working at Heybrook Ridge County Park near Index. All of that work has paid off. On Oct. 21, volunteers and representatives from Friends of Heybrook Ridge, Snohomish County and WTA gathered at the trailhead to celebrate the project’s completion.

Be a Part of the Gorge Trails Recovery Team

Oct 17, 2017

There is no question as to why the Gorge is seen as a gateway to all outdoor adventure. Over the past month this beautiful place has been devastated by intense wildfire. Now is the time to rebuild! Learn how you can help be apart of the trail restoration efforts in the Columbia River Gorge.

Two WTA Grants Help Support Trailwork in the Southwest and Olympics

Sep 12, 2017

The National Forest Foundation and the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance support WTA's work in parts of the state where trails need the most love.