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Trail Workshop – Classroom (CABQ Open Space)
Contact Leader(s): Larry Benson, L.Benson@nmvfo.org with any questions.
Description: Learn the fundamentals of building and maintaining trails with Larry, 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 21.
Indoor Class. The workshop will begin with an indoor class at the Holiday Park Community Center, 11710 Comanche Road NE (just south of Tramway Blvd). Larry will narrate NMVFO PowerPoint presentations that show the challenges and techniques of building and maintaining trails in terrain across New Mexico. Jim will present some background on the Tijeras Canyon Biozone Open Space and use 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 east to Tramway Blvd, south to Central Ave., and left for about a mile 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 then demonstrate how to safely use the tools that we will carry farther into the Open Space to do some maintenance on an existing trail and (time permitting) build a short 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 12.
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.