Keeping up with the physical changes that occur in the Fells is a daunting task! With over 100 miles of trails and more than 2,200 acres of space to monitor, the task of identifying issues, hazards, and maintenance needs is a constant challenge at the best of times! And limited staff and time (for both the Friends and DCR) means that we rely nearly completely on the efforts of our volunteers and Trail Adopters to accomplish these scouting duties.
While the scouting need of the Fells is always a major undertaking, the inclement weather of the past few weeks has made this a critical need for our community to take on right away. Trail damage and erosion, downed trees, limbs, or other blockages, missing trail markers and signs, or any dangerous/ potentially dangerous situations new to the forest need to be identified and reported in order for us and DCR to add these issues to our “to-do lists” as soon as possible! In just a few weeks, winter weather will set in and many of these issues cannot be addressed until the spring.
How can you help?
Scouting in the Fells is easy: take a hike, and report back to us what you see and where! There are two easy ways to report a scouting trip to us:
- Complete our Trail Adopters Report Form with as much information as you can, including uploading photos of the issue, or
- Email your observations to us at friends@fells.org
One of the most important details to include in a report of a trail issue is an accurate location for us to reference. The most accurate location marker to use is the closest DCR “trail intersection marker” or markers, like this one:
Every trail intersection in the Fells has been assigned a 3-digit label (“E4-5” in the example above), and can be referenced on the DCR Fells map, found online here. [Important note: these intersection markers are not currently included on any of the printed Friends of the Fells maps.]
GPS coordinates, trail names, and location relative to a trailhead or fire gate can also be very useful details to record and share, too.
In addition to trail and tree damage that is a current priority, scouts are always on the lookout for regular issues like:
- new invasive plant growth
- graffiti
- household waste or yard waste dumping
- rogue trails and habitat fragmentation
- unauthorized construction, damage, or misuse of the park
Trail scouting is a great way to get involved with our work, whether as someone new to the Fells and to outdoor volunteering, or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast with a keep eye for the forest!
If you have any questions, or to learn more about scouting in the Fells, contact maddie.morgan@fells.org.
In addition to our scouting needs, we are seeking the following volunteer assistance:
Seeking volunteer leaders to advance our communications and fundraising efforts
We’re looking for a communications professional to work directly with our staff to champion and help lead our communications work, including developing a strategic communications plan to better leverage our communications channels (email, social media, and new website presence) to engage our supporters, inspire volunteerism, and promote our programs and activities. If you have professional experience in communications and would like to learn more about this opportunity, contact Chris Redfern at chris.redfern@fells.org.
If you’re a nonprofit fundraiser who loves the Fells and would like to help us grow in our ability to meet our mission, we’d love to hear from you. We’re looking for a development professional who can help us develop relationships with the regional philanthropic community and identify strategies to fund initiatives in our Action Plan. To learn more about this opportunity, contact Chris Redfern at chris.redfern@fells.org.