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Trail Workshop – Classroom (CABQ Open Space) WAITLISTED
Contact Leader(s): Larry Benson, L.Benson@nmvfo.org; Christy Osmon, c.osmon@nmvfo.org with any questions.
RESULTS: In a project organized by Larry Benson and Christy Osmon, eighteen NMVFO volunteers and five members of the Albuquerque Open Space Division attended a classroom session in the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center in the morning. They then did some on-the-job training at the Tijeras Canyon Biozone, where under the guidance of Jim Sattler and his staff members from the Open Space Division, they excavated 15 drainage dips across an eroding uphill dirt road that serves as trail for hikers, bikers, and horse riders.
Description: Learn the fundamentals of building and maintaining trails with Larry, Christy, and Jim Sattler, the Deputy Superintendent of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division. This class is especially designed for beginners, although anyone who would like a skills refresher will be welcome. To follow-up on this introduction, a full-day field training project will be held one week later on Saturday, March 22.
Indoor Class. The workshop will begin with an indoor class at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center at 501 Elizabeth St SE (located shortly past where Juan Tabo Blvd. becomes Southern Blvd). Larry and Christy will each narrate NMVFO PowerPoint presentations that show the challenges and techniques of building and maintaining trails in terrain across New Mexico. Jim may add additional perspectives on the issues addressed in these slide shows and will follow up using a whiteboard to illustrate the specific trail problems to be dealt with during the outdoor session. You will also receive some handouts about doing trail work.
Outdoor Practice. After the classroom session, we will drive north on Southern Blvd, turn right on Central Ave, and go a few miles east on Old Route 66 (NM 333) to the Tijeras Biozone Open Space at 15600 Central Ave SE. We will meet in front of the old building located there. Jim will briefly summarize the recent expansion of this property, the colorful history of the existing facility, and the city’s plans for the area’s future. He will then demonstrate how to safely use the tools that we will carry a short distance to do some maintenance on an existing trail and (time permitting) build a new section of trail.
Preparations: Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy boots or work shoes, eye protection (glasses or sun glasses), caps or hats, and outer layers appropriate for the weather forecast. Bring work gloves if you have them (extras will be available to borrow) and a daypack with water, snacks, and sunscreen. An email update will be sent out during the week before the project. Please sign up no later than March 13.
Difficulty: 
Sign up by clicking the button below. If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find out more information at Volunteer FAQs. If you have any more questions, or would like to be put on a waitlist if the project is full, you can email the project leaders or call Larry at 505-821-7999.
Group Size: 20
Cost: Free!
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project. On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.