International Mountain Bicycling Association

Trail Care Schools

THOR hosts IMBA-supported Trail Care Schools to provide learning and skill development opportunities for THOR staff, volunteers, community organizations, and land managers. These schools are designed to enhance the quality of our local trail systems and strengthen partnerships.

Experienced IMBA and THOR staff will guide daily classroom and field sessions to teach trail foundations, sustainable building and maintenance practices, and how to deliver quality trail experiences accessible to trail users of all types and levels.

2024 Trail Care Schools

THOR typically offers IMBA Trail Care Schools once or twice a year.

Omaha

July 26: Land Manager - CLASSROOM
July 27: Community - FIELD SESSION

Sioux City

August 2: Land Manager - CLASSROOM
August 3: Land Manager - FIELD SESSION
August 4: Community - CLASS & FIELD SESSION

Typical Schedule & Agenda

9 AM - 12 PM: Classroom

12:00 PM - 1 PM: Lunch

1 PM - 4 PM: Field Work

Sign up to be notified of registrations.

FAQs

  • 1) Volunteers supporting developing and maintaining natural surface trails and outdoor recreation.
    2) Community organization volunteers and staff supporting developing and maintaining natural surface trails and outdoor recreation.
    3) Land Managers (Parks Directors, Planners, and Maintenance Staff)
    4) Professionals in community or recreational planning and development.
    5) Professionals in outdoor retail and recreation.

  • 1) A willingness to learn.
    2) A notebook and writing utensils.
    3) Clothes appropriate for the weather and working outdoors.
    4) Closed-toe shoes, ideally a hiking or work boot.
    5) Water

  • The Field Exercises will be hands-on manual labor outdoors using shovels, rakes, picks, and other tools often used in lawn care and landscaping. Experience using these types of tools is preferred.

    If you cannot lift 25 lbs, comfortably work outside for several hours, or have other serious health conditions, a Trail Care School is probably not for you.

  • No, attendees must attend both the Classroom and Field Exercise portions of the Trail Care School.

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