The Volunteer Trail Steward program engages volunteers to serve as trained points of contact at trailheads leading to alpine summits and on-trail alpine environments with high visitor counts. Volunteer Trail Stewards provide quality alpine interpretation and protection through effective public engagement strategies. This program is informed by and designed on the success of the GMC’s Backcountry Caretaker Program and the volunteer-run Barnes Camp Visitor Center in Smugglers’ Notch. By expanding the reach of our trained volunteers, this program will allow the club to deliver important alpine messaging to more of Mount Mansfield’s visitors and eventually visitors to other alpine summits.
For 2025, the program will operate at the Mount Mansfield Visitor Center at the top of the Stowe Auto Toll Road. In the future, we anticipate expanding the program to other locations.
Please review the position description below for more information. If you’re interested in taking part, complete the Volunteer Trail Steward Application found at the bottom of this page. We’ll follow up with you to schedule a screening call after receiving your application.
For further questions or inquiries about becoming a Volunteer Trail Steward, contact Emily Mosher, Visitor Services Manager.
Volunteer Trail Steward Position Description
The GMC’s Volunteer Trail Steward will provide visitor information to the general public. They will be stationed at popular trailheads on the Long Trail System during times of peak hiking traffic. Trailhead stewards will encourage hiker preparedness, safe hiking practices, and Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, all while providing general trail and hiking advice. This is a great opportunity to share your knowledge of the Long Trail System and improve public access to Vermont’s mountains. Volunteer Trail Stewards are the first line of education, conservation, and stewardship for the many hikers that use the Long Trail System.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Collect accurate trail use data and report this data in an online report to GMC’s Field Programs.
- At the trailhead, provide information on safe hiking practices, weather, Leave No Trace principles in the alpine zone to visitors before they begin their trip.
- Tactfully approach and educate visitors on pertinent topics while representing GMC.
- Provide information to hikers about the Long Trail System and the role of GMC and our agency partners in managing the area’s natural resources.
- Act as a resource for fellow hikers and an advocate for the trail, not as a “ranger.”
- Use an online calendar to sign up for your volunteer shifts.
- Submit a report at the end of each shift.
Desired Qualifications:
- Availability on weekends and holidays
- Friendly, self-motivated, mature, and able to adapt to a wide variety of social situations
- Patient and effective communicator able to connect to diverse groups of trail users
- Teaching and/or interpretive skills
- Familiarity with Long Trail System
- Familiarity with Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics
Additional Information
- GMC requests a minimum of three shifts from all Volunteer Trail Stewards
- Shifts are four hours 9-1 and 12-4
