Trail Building Workshop Will Begin Indoors, Then Go Hands-On Outdoors

Newtown Trails Committee will sponsor a Trail Building School Saturday, October 30, at Cyrenius H. Booth Library.

The free, one-day workshop will cover many aspects of shared use sustainable trails such as design, building low maintenance trails, tool safety, working with volunteers, and working with land managers. The class is open to anyone with an interest in trails, age 12 and older, and is highly recommended for scouts, and recreational and conservation organizations.

The morning session will be indoors, and after lunch (bring your own), participants will head out for field work at a local park in Newtown. Plan to wear long pants, and bring work gloves, water, and snacks.

The program will run from 9 am until 3 pm.

Presenter Paula Burton is a local trail builder who has consulted, built, given workshops for many local conservation and recreation organizations and the Connecticut Department of Conservation. She has taught trail building and design in various places in New England. She is trails advocate for the Connecticut chapter of New England Mountain Biking Association, and is an avid mountain biker and hiker.

Please note registration is required for this workshop. To do so, send your name, address, e-mail and phone number to newtowntrails@gmail.com. There is space for 30 participants, and Boy Scouts are asked to identify themselves.

Registration can also be done online, through Newtown Parks and Recreation’s website. Go to newtown-ct.gov, then click on the link for Parks & Recreation Department, then Newtown Trails, and then Trail Building Class.

For more information e-mail Paula Burton at peburton@aol.com.