Trail Crew Training on the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba
Last summer, Trans Canada Trail provided Trail Crew Training to Indigenous youth in collaboration with our friends at Dexterra’s Outland Youth Employment Program and Manitoba Parks. Youth participants aged 16 to 18 took part in a weeklong trail learning program. They learned about the trail sector, developed trail building skills and explored what it means to be a trail steward.
Overall, 6 camps in 4 provinces offered the Trail Crew Training program to a total of 119 Indigenous youth participants, who enhanced a total of 20 kilometers of trail.
Trail Crew Training at Duck Mountain
Located at Duck Mountain in northern Manitoba, the Trail Crew Training week was part of a longer paid summer camp that includes land-based education, training and work opportunities for high-school-aged Indigenous youth. In July 2024, 23 participants took part in Trail Crew Training, along with 3 crew leaders and 3 crew leaders in training, who led the group.
The group stayed in Birch River, Manitoba, located roughly 30 minutes north of Swan River. Participants gained hands-on experience through the Trail Crew Training curriculum, which covers the following core topics:
• Introduction to trails
• Basic tools and safety
• Sustainable Trail design and building basics
• Trail stewardship
• Signage essentials
• Careers in the trail sector
The week started off with introductions. “We took time to introduce everyone in the room and used google earth on a large display screen to zoom into the participants’ hometowns. We all enjoyed seeing where everyone was coming from for the program, indeed we had participants from all over the province; Winnipeg to Split Lake,” said David Simard, Western Region Trails Coordinator with Manitoba Trails.
Throughout the week, David noted that despite the hot weather, the participants’ spirits remained high. Early in the week, the group separated into two and gave themselves the names “Hard Heads” and “Trail Blazers” — which they used in radio communication for the remainder of the week!
Participants felled trees, cleared brush and wood, widened the trail, maintained signage and much more. At the end of the Trail Crew Training week, participants had earned their training certificates by completing over 30 hours of learning, gaining an understanding of core and elective content, and demonstrating hands-on field skills and non-technical skills needed to safely and effectively participate in trail crews.
What Trail Crew Training participants had to say
Here are a few testimonials from youth participants.
• “Trail week was such a fun experience. Getting to walk down the trails with one job set in mind doing the small clippings was very enjoyable.” — Dakota, age 16
• “My favourite part was using the brush saw since it kept away the bugs.” — Jacob, age 16
• “My favourite was experiencing it with everyone and learning about the equipment with the friends I made along the way.” — Darren, age 18
Before and after on the Trail
Through their learning modules, the trail crew got a lot done! Here’s a look at some of the work they accomplished.
Before and after: Trail cleared and widened
Before and after: Trees felled and trail cleared.
Creating outdoor employment opportunities for youth on trails
Trail Crew Training is one way Trans Canada Trail works to help create education and employment opportunities for youth on trails. Trail Builders of Tomorrow is generously supported by Power Corporation of Canada and The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. Our Trail Builders of Tomorrow initiative – supported by the Valerie Pringle Trail Builders of Tomorrow Fund – provides a combination of education and employment experiences and resources, while promoting inclusion in the trail sector and greater longevity in the trail workforce. This includes a National Youth Employment Program, which provides funding for youth facing barriers to employment who are looking to work in the trail sector.
Learn more about Trans Canada Trail’s commitment to reconciliation
Donate to the Valerie Pringle Trail Builders of Tomorrow Fund
