2024 West Cascades Trail Skills College

The West Cascades Trail Skills College is a free weekend event for volunteers to learn about trail maintenance and stewardship.

Trail Skills College is offered free of charge in an effort to inspire stewardship of trails. In exchange for attending a training session, we encourage you to volunteer at least 8 hours of work on trail projects in the coming year.

The 2024 West Cascades Trail Skills College is hosted in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, offered with support from Travel Oregon.

When is it?

May 3-5, 2024

Where is it?

Camp White Branch, OR (Google Maps Link)

How much does it cost?

Trail Skills College is free of charge.

Are meals and lodging provided?

Camping and bunkhouses will be available Friday and Saturday nights.
Dinner will be provided on Friday and Saturday.
A simple breakfast will be available on Saturday and Sunday mornings, coffee will also be provided.
Please plan to bring your own food for Lunch on all three days.

What classes are being offered?

Some or all of the following classes:

Brushing

Scouting

Tread & Drainage

Basic Trail Design

Drainage Design and Drain Dips

Waterbars & Checks

Cooking & Camping with crew

Tread Reconstruction

Trail Decommission & Wildland Restoration

Trail Sign Installation & Inventory

Rock Retaining Walls

Stream Crossing

Working with Packers & Packstock

Radio Protocol & Communicating with Dispatch

Chainsaw Maintenance

Introduction to Crosscut Saws

Tree identification

How do I register?

Registration is now open! Register by clicking here.

Can’t wait?

Don’t forget, you can learn new trail maintenance skills by volunteering on a Cascade Volunteers affiliate trail crew any time. Most crews don’t require any previous trail maintenance experience. Knowledgeable and experienced crew leaders are on site to teach you the necessary skills.

If you have questions about Trail Skills College or volunteering, contact Cascade Volunteers at volunteer@cascadevols.org.