I would like to invite you and your chapter members to the upcoming
Georgia Trail School. Please share this message with your chapter
members. I've been working with IMBA to present the most up to date
information available on sustainable trails. Each student that
enrolls for all four classes will receive a copy of "Trail Solutions,
IMBA's Guide to Building Sweet Singletrack", our class text book.

The class dates for next two trail school cycle are as follows. This
is a new Saturday/Sunday date format to allow course completion in al
shorter timeframe. Please reply to this message to enroll in any or
all of these classes.

Design & Layout





June 14, 2008

Trail Construction





June 15, 2008

Trail Maintenance





June 28, 2008

Crew Leader Training





June 29, 2008

Trail School and Crew Leader Training Classes

For all trail and off-road enthusiasts, land agencies, and aspiring
advocacy groups. This course will be taught at Gainesville State
College in Oakwood, Georgia.

The focus of the course is on shared-use trails however some
specialized single use applications will also be addressed. This
course is designed around current, modern, low impact trail design and
construction practices and complies with current specifications by
most land agencies.

Session one: Trail Design and Layout

The classroom portion will cover all aspects of how to properly design
and layout a trail. We will discuss issues on how to avoid erosion,
user conflicts, and impact problems through design. It will give you a
good working knowledge of what causes trails to erode through
water/soil relationships. A test on the subjects covered will be taken
just before lunch. The field portion will entail putting what we
covered in the class to work by actually laying out a new section of
trail.

Session two: Trail Construction

The classroom portion will cover corridor clearing for all types of
use and proper trail tread construction. Different types of tread
construction, cribbing and raised tread sections, switchbacks and a
section on bridges and boardwalks are also included. A test on the
subjects covered will be taken just before lunch. The field portion
will put your construction knowledge to work clearing and/or
constructing a section of trail.

Session three: Trail Maintenance

The classroom portion will cover maintenance issues on well-designed
and poorly designed trails. We will discuss how to make long-term
repairs, and lower environmental impacts. Trail hardening materials
and techniques along with rehabilitation of disused trails will also
be covered. A test on the subjects covered will be taken just before
lunch. The field session will concentrate on any number of maintenance
activities.

Session four: Crew Leader Training

This final session will be held outdoors and broken into three
portions; organizing the workday, selecting and getting your crew to
the work site, overseeing the project and then returning to the
trailhead. Safety and efficiency are the focus of this session.
Because of the nature of this level of leadership, all participants in
this session will be required to pass the test in all three previous
sessions before attending. Graduation for all that qualify will be
held at the end of this session.

Class Information

The minimum age for the course is 18. The course will be limited to a
maximum of 15 participants. The Trail Solutions book and an
interactive power point show will be provided. The sessions will run
approximately 6 hours long (2-1/2 classroom, 1 lunch, 2-1/2 field).

The cost is $100 for the full round of four classes. Out of state
participants are encouraged to come and a $200 fee per person (full
course) will apply. There is a 25% discount for SORBA members that
attend all four classes of the Trail School. The fourth class will be
free. Make checks payable to Gainesville College Foundation.

Please come prepared for the type of weather expected that day. You
will need to bring boots, gloves, and something to write with. All
classes will start at 9:30am and end at 3:30pm. Lunch will be on your own.