VOBA Professional Trail Skills Training–Water Management|Montpelier Cohort

Location: Montpelier. Exact location TBA upon acceptance to the cohort.

Description: Are you a current or prospective staff member of a Vermont organization, business, or municipality working on the maintenance or construction of natural surface trails?

This free 2-day training is designed for those entering or currently employed in trail jobs involving trail construction and/or maintenance in Vermont. The training will develop skills in reading the landscape to determine drainage patterns and how to accommodate them to create or maintain sustainable natural surface trails. In a mixture of classroom and field time, participants will learn and apply skills in identifying and assessing drainage patterns and learn best practices for how to plan and accomodate for adequate drainage using a variety of methods and structures.

The training curriculum is anchored in Professional Trail Builders Association’s (PTBA) skills competencies and the applicable multi-use Best Management Practices (BMPs) from Vermont Mountain Bike Association. Instruction will be provided by veteran professional trail builders from L&D Trailworks.

With increasing frequency and severity of climate-related hydrological events in Vermont, designing and maintaining trails with adequate drainge structures is key to the resiliency of our trail networks and communities. Professionalize and prepare to meet this challenge head on by learning the necessary skills through this free training.

PTBA Trail Skills and Competencies:

Construction:

• Demonstrate understanding of basic natural and stormwater induced drainage effects on trails

Maintenance:

• Demonstrate understanding of natural and stormwater induced drainage effects on trails
• Identify locations and the appropriate drainage feature with supervision

Sustainability:

• Demonstrate understanding of trail sustainability as it relates to physical durability, resource conservation, user expectations and experience, and ongoing management

The training is organized by the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance. Thank you to Montpelier Parks & Trees Department for hosting the training.

Other Details:

• Apply by 12pm on May 13, 2026.
• Confirmation of acceptance will be emailed May 14. Registration does not guarantee admission to the cohort.
• Please do not register if you cannot commit to full participation of the two days.
• Maximum class size is 10.
• At the end of each day, there will be plenty of time to ride. Bring your bike!

Eligibility:

• Priority will be given to those currently employed and those seeking trail employment.
• Priority will be given to under-represented communities in the occupation (women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, New Americans, persons of all abilities, etc.)

If you have any questions, please email Brian or Kelly at [email protected] or [email protected].

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Host or Publisher Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance