The Magic of Trails

Trails are magical places. They are portals to different times and places. They provide solitude and comfort. They disconnect us from the noise and stress of our everyday lives and connect us to the vastness of the universe.  
  
My friends walk local trails, small detours off of parks that introduce them to rivers and ravines. I have a friend in California who hikes the mountains, the deserts, the coastline and these hikes reinforce a strong conviction she holds. That conviction is that California is the most wonderful of places. I have friends who hike the mountains of Maine, the shorelines of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the life marking hike of the Appalachian Trail.  
 
I have hiked deserts, mountains, shorelines, forests, rainforests, mangrove forests, and wetlands. I have hiked among ancient ruins, old forts, and animal preserves. I hiked at three in the morning, ascending to greet the rising of the sun over the Himalayas.  

Some of these trails were pristine, others were abused or neglected and in need of care and restoration. Many trails had stories to tell, and others need the help of others to tell their stories.  Luckily, as a Master Naturalist I have had the opportunity to receive training to care for trails as a Trail Steward. I have also had training to help tell the stories of trails as a Trail Guide.  
 
As a volunteer at Little River Wetlands Project and specifically Eagle Marsh I received training on caring for the trails. This is often the work others do not see you do. They do see the result of your efforts and assume it was always so. A steward's job is to care for the trail. That means removing debris, trimming branches that block a trail. It means telling management when a trail needs to be closed due to flooding or downed trees. You are both lands keeper and intelligence officer.  
 
Your job is to help keep the trails safe. That means also keeping yourself safe. That requires you to check the weather before going out to the trail. It means informing someone where you are and when you expect to be done. It also means knowing when sunset is, so you are not left alone, in the dark, on an isolated trail.  
 
Trail stewards arrive with specific supplies. That includes insect repellant, long sleeve shirts and light color clothing so ticks can be easily seen. It includes a compass, a monitoring sheet, water, sunscreen, and raingear. Additionally, trimers, trail tape and a camera are essential. 
 
You identify any invasive plants  or animals. You report on any notable finds. That might be a new species in the area or a new plant. That might mean babies or new nests or lodges. You report on any blocked trails. You are careful not to touch any poisonous plants.  
 
Your phone becomes an important tool. The camera is vital. So are the apps. This may include iNaturalist to help identify plants and animals, EDD Maps to identify invasives, and Merlin to help identify birds. There are also programs, manuals, and articles online to help develop your skills as a trail guide. 
 
At our agency trail stewards are expected to hike their assigned trail a minimum of twice a month. To be effective the report must be timely.  

Fox Island County Park and the Allen County Parks and Recs Department also provide training to become a trail guide. Trail guides may provide services for people of all ages and levels of education. However, for County Parks the focus is mainly on younger children in elementary school. The goal is not to provide hard data or facts but rather to help the child ask questions and make sense out of what they are experiencing. 
 
This approach to addressing the child’s exploration of the trail is Nature Interpretation. Its goal is to provide relationships (between environment and plant or animal behavior) and meanings. It utilizes hands-on experiences using original objects (branches, rocks, scat, etc.) and when appropriate media to share factual information. It aims to help the child wonder, ask questions, to make guesses. Nature Interpretation is a learned skill. The National Association of Interpreters provides training and various levels of professional certification. This is not necessary or required for entry level trail guides. However, for the trail guide who plans on this being the focus of their vocation it is a pathway to becoming a more engaging and interesting storyteller and guide.   
 
The guide needs to practice their skills. That includes walking the trail prior to guiding others. It is knowing about the human history of the land, the geology, and the natural life of the trail. Areas of interest might include animal lifespan, habitats, adaptation to seasons, living communities, and tress.  
 
Hands-on or action techniques might include pond dipping to show the smaller life of the water. Holding pinecones, branches, rocks and shells, or animal collections. Topics of discussion might include scat, children often appreciate a good poop talk! Other discussions might include wildflowers and poisonous plants. However, almost anything is open to discussion including history, geology, and wildlife.  
 
The goal is not for the guide to know everything, that is not possible. It is for the guide to encourage the children to think, guess, and engage the information the trail provides. 
 
The trainings were useful. I look forward to caring for my assigned trail. I also look forward to engaging with new hikers as they discover the wonder of hiking a trail.