workshops | HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Workshops listed below were held at our 2022 MassTrails Conference which took place November 5 through 12. If you would like to stay informed of future MassTrails events, make sure to join our e-blast mailing list, by clicking here.
SAFER CHAINSAW OPERATION FOR TRAIL STEWARDS
SATURDAY AND SUNday, NOVEMBER 5 AND 6 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (TWO DayS)
DESCRIPTION: Come away with a greater appreciation for what it takes to safely and effectively use chainsaws as tools for trail clearing and maintenance. Workshop participants will get a solid foundation in the basics of chainsaw operations, and the dynamics of trees. Focus will be on preplanning, ergonomics, and body positioning. This workshop is designed for both the experienced sawyers as well as for people who have never used a saw. Attendees should supply their own chainsaw and safety gear. Workshop will include:
WALKER KORBY - Owner, Terramor, LLC and Certified Treecare Safety Professional
LOCATION: Meet at: Barrett Park, 40 Barrett Parkway, Leominster
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring lunch, water and snacks; Restrooms are available and there will be some indoor, classroom style instruction as part of the workshop.
NOTE: this is a two day workshop; fee covers both days; you must attend both days
COST: $150
CAPACITY: 16
- Concepts of Hazard Mitigation, Accident Factors
- Role of PPE
- Emergency Response and Pre-Planning
- Chainsaw Inspection and General Maintenance
- Ergonomics and Body Positioning
- Starting and Saw Handling
- Cutting Techniques
- Understanding Wood Dynamics
- Bucking and Limbing Techniques
- Low Complexity Directional Felling
- Identifying, Avoiding, and Mitigating Hazard Situations
WALKER KORBY - Owner, Terramor, LLC and Certified Treecare Safety Professional
LOCATION: Meet at: Barrett Park, 40 Barrett Parkway, Leominster
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring lunch, water and snacks; Restrooms are available and there will be some indoor, classroom style instruction as part of the workshop.
NOTE: this is a two day workshop; fee covers both days; you must attend both days
COST: $150
CAPACITY: 16
MASSTRAILS CONFERENCE KICK-OFF (virtual session)
WEDNEsday, NOVEMBER 9 | 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM VIA ZOOM
DESCRIPTION: Take part in our virtual kick-off discussion as we open the 2022 MassTrails Conference. We'll go over the schedule, hit on some highlights and new features, and take your questions. Be sure to stick around for the follow up workshop that features an incredible panel of trails and planning professionals as they discuss Trails for All Ages and Abilities.
PRESENTERS:
AMANDA LEWIS and LIBBY KNOTT - DCR MassTrails
LOCATION: Held virtually via Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1612221397
COST: $0
CAPACITY: 300
PRESENTERS:
AMANDA LEWIS and LIBBY KNOTT - DCR MassTrails
LOCATION: Held virtually via Zoom link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1612221397
COST: $0
CAPACITY: 300
TRAILS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES (VIRTUAL SESSION)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 | 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM VIA ZOOM
DESCRIPTION: Population demographics are changing as people live longer and have fewer children. As people age, there is an increased likelihood that they may face balance issues, mobility limitations, or cognitive decline. The panelists for this session will touch on an initiative that the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is leading to plan for Age and Dementia Friendly Communities and will provide examples that communities in the region and elsewhere are working on to enable older trail users to have a quality outdoor experience.
In addition to the senior planner from PVPC who is leading the Age and Dementia Friendly Pioneer Valley Initiative, panelists include planners from South Hadley and Easthampton who will discuss recent accessible trail projects and initiatives to engage older adults in trail use and design; a landscape architect who is working on making accessible trails engaging and aesthetically pleasing; and the founder of Unpaved Trails for All, a Northampton-based advocacy group that is working to educate communities and all levels of government about standards for accessible unpaved trail design and to advocate for more spending on trails that are accessible to all users.
PANELISTS:
BECKY BASCH - Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
REBEKAH CORNELL - Town of South Hadley
JEFFREY BAGG - City of Easthampton
MEG BANDARRA - Unpaved Trails for All
PETER FLINKER - Dodson & Flinker Landscape Architecture and Planning
ANDREW KILDUFF - Terra-Genesis
LOCATION: Held virtually via Zoom link (to be posted soon!)
COST: $0
CAPACITY: 300
In addition to the senior planner from PVPC who is leading the Age and Dementia Friendly Pioneer Valley Initiative, panelists include planners from South Hadley and Easthampton who will discuss recent accessible trail projects and initiatives to engage older adults in trail use and design; a landscape architect who is working on making accessible trails engaging and aesthetically pleasing; and the founder of Unpaved Trails for All, a Northampton-based advocacy group that is working to educate communities and all levels of government about standards for accessible unpaved trail design and to advocate for more spending on trails that are accessible to all users.
PANELISTS:
BECKY BASCH - Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
REBEKAH CORNELL - Town of South Hadley
JEFFREY BAGG - City of Easthampton
MEG BANDARRA - Unpaved Trails for All
PETER FLINKER - Dodson & Flinker Landscape Architecture and Planning
ANDREW KILDUFF - Terra-Genesis
LOCATION: Held virtually via Zoom link (to be posted soon!)
COST: $0
CAPACITY: 300
RUN A PRODUCTIVE GRIPHOIST HIGHLINE CREW TO SAFELY SET ROCK STEPS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (FULL DAY)
DESCRIPTION: Ever wonder how those stone steps were installed at that location deep along your favorite woodland trail? Well in this workshop, we'll show you how using a griphoist highline wire system at Wachusett Mountain State Reservation's Pine Hill Trail. This hands-on, full-day workshop is a great way to literally roll your sleeves up and learn about rock work on trails. Tools, hard hats, and all the equipment necessary will be provided. Participants should dress appropriately for weather with long pants, work boots, and heavy duty work gloves a must. Bring your own lunch, water, and snacks. You're going to work up an appetite!
INSTRUCTOR:
STEVE CROWE - Sunshine Landscaping, Trail Work Leader and Volunteer Project Coordinator for the Pine Hill Trail Restoration Project
LOCATION: Meet at: Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, Visitor Center, 345 Mountain Road, Princeton
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring your own lunch, water, and snacks; Wear weather appropriate work clothes, hard hat, eye protection, sturdy, waterproof shoes/boots; work gloves. Restrooms at Visitor Center, a 15-minute hike from workshop site.
COST: $20
CAPACITY: 12
INSTRUCTOR:
STEVE CROWE - Sunshine Landscaping, Trail Work Leader and Volunteer Project Coordinator for the Pine Hill Trail Restoration Project
LOCATION: Meet at: Wachusett Mountain State Reservation, Visitor Center, 345 Mountain Road, Princeton
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring your own lunch, water, and snacks; Wear weather appropriate work clothes, hard hat, eye protection, sturdy, waterproof shoes/boots; work gloves. Restrooms at Visitor Center, a 15-minute hike from workshop site.
COST: $20
CAPACITY: 12
MORE SUSTAINABLE TRAILS THROUGH BETTER WATER MANAGEMENT
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (HALF DAY)
DESCRIPTION: This tour and demonstration will use the trail network at Barrett Park, Leominster to identify some common water problems on trails and propose solutions to these issues. Conservation Works senior staff will lead this tour and discuss the issues and solutions. Attendees are encouraged to share their experience and views on solutions as well. CW staff and participants will install fixes for some of the problem areas on the trail. CW staff will also discuss the key role good trail design and location play in achieving sustainable trails. Come ready to get dirty and share your experience. All tools and supplies will be provided for any fixes we undertake.
INSTRUCTORS:
PETE WESTOVER and DICK O'BRIEN - Conservation Works
LOCATION: Meet at: Barrett Park, 40 Barrett Parkway, Leominster
LOGISTICS: Meet at location in main parking area; Dress for trail work and the weather! Water and snack bars will be provided, but bring your own if you prefer. Restrooms available on site.
NOTE: Trails at this location are not universally accessible
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 20
INSTRUCTORS:
PETE WESTOVER and DICK O'BRIEN - Conservation Works
LOCATION: Meet at: Barrett Park, 40 Barrett Parkway, Leominster
LOGISTICS: Meet at location in main parking area; Dress for trail work and the weather! Water and snack bars will be provided, but bring your own if you prefer. Restrooms available on site.
NOTE: Trails at this location are not universally accessible
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 20
CREATING A SELF-GUIDED TRAIL EXPERIENCE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (HALF DAY)
DESCRIPTION: Sometimes visitors would like to know about the things around them on a trail, but guided experiences are not practical. This workshop will provide an overview of how to set up an interpretive experience on an existing trail. Materials covered will include the definition of interpretation in this context, the process to follow when creating a self-guided experience, and different tools that can be used for self-guided experiences. Participants will leave with a planning process flowchart, example materials, and other helpful interpretive resources to aide in their own interpretive trail planning projects.
INSTRUCTOR:
MATT VILLAMAINO - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
LOCATION: Great Wolf Lodge; Meet in the Conference Center foyer
LOGISTICS: Bring water and snacks as needed.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 20
INSTRUCTOR:
MATT VILLAMAINO - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
LOCATION: Great Wolf Lodge; Meet in the Conference Center foyer
LOGISTICS: Bring water and snacks as needed.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 20
DCR UNIVERSAL ACCESS PROGRAM ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 | 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (HALF DAY)
DESCRIPTION: The Department of Conservation and Recreation's Universal Access Program offers year-round adaptive recreation programs to ensure equal access to outdoor recreation in Massachusetts state parks. The program is always working to improve and update sites and buildings for visitors of all abilities to enjoy. It also has specialized recreation equipment for visitors' use and in this workshop attendees will get to demo some of this adaptive equipment for themselves on the Twin Cities Rail Trail.
INSTRUCTOR:
MATT MITCHELL - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Universal Access Program
LOCATION: Dunn Pond, Gardner, MA
LOGISTICS: Bring water and snacks as needed; Restrooms available on site.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
INSTRUCTOR:
MATT MITCHELL - Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Universal Access Program
LOCATION: Dunn Pond, Gardner, MA
LOGISTICS: Bring water and snacks as needed; Restrooms available on site.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
PLANNING, LAYING OUT, AND BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE TRAIL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (FULL DAY)
DESCRIPTION: Attendees to this hands-on workshop will discuss the factors that go into a good sustainable trail design and then apply them to a piece of conservation land in Ashburnham by laying out the trail on the ground and then beginning its constructing. This experience is for those who want to see what it's like to start at square one, on the ground, and begin trail design and lay out in situ.
INSTRUCTORS:
ANNA WILKINS - North County Land Trust; CHRIS PICONE - Ashburnham Conservation Commission; CEC SNOW - Ashburnham Open Space Committee; MEAD BINHAMMER - The Trustees of Reservations
LOCATION: Bear Meadow Brook Conservation Area, Ashburnham, MA
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring lunch, water, and snacks; Wear weather appropriate work clothes and waterproof shoes/boots; Camp chair if you have one! Portable restroom on site.
COST: $20
CAPACITY: 15
INSTRUCTORS:
ANNA WILKINS - North County Land Trust; CHRIS PICONE - Ashburnham Conservation Commission; CEC SNOW - Ashburnham Open Space Committee; MEAD BINHAMMER - The Trustees of Reservations
LOCATION: Bear Meadow Brook Conservation Area, Ashburnham, MA
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring lunch, water, and snacks; Wear weather appropriate work clothes and waterproof shoes/boots; Camp chair if you have one! Portable restroom on site.
COST: $20
CAPACITY: 15
working the stone!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 | 1:00 AM - 4:00 PM (half DAY)
DESCRIPTION: This workshop will focus on the basics of splitting stone, moving it with rock bars, and winching it with a Griphoist. Participants are encouraged to participate in all aspects of this workshop to gain as much experience as possible during the half day session. Attendees can expect to get right into the how-to of splitting split granite, moving stone with rock bars, moving granite using winches and Griphoist, and the ever-important aspect of working as a team when doing such precise, potentially hazardous stone work on a trail. This workshop can be labor intensive and will require participants to wear proper clothing (see list below).
INSTRUCTORS:
BRYCE SPARE and JULIA GRAHAM - Student Conservation Association
LOCATION: Rock Walk Trail at Rollstone Hill Quarry, Fitchburg
GEAR: Participants must bring their own work gloves, work pants, and work boots. Hardhats, eye protection, and ear protection will be provided, though participants are welcome to bring their own. No restrooms on site.
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring water and snacks
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 10
INSTRUCTORS:
BRYCE SPARE and JULIA GRAHAM - Student Conservation Association
LOCATION: Rock Walk Trail at Rollstone Hill Quarry, Fitchburg
GEAR: Participants must bring their own work gloves, work pants, and work boots. Hardhats, eye protection, and ear protection will be provided, though participants are welcome to bring their own. No restrooms on site.
LOGISTICS: Meet at location and bring water and snacks
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 10
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The MassTrails Conference is funded through the Recreational Trails Program / MassTrails, a grant program supporting trail and trail-related facility construction and enhancement projects across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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