Group Volunteering

 

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering to help maintain Greater Portland's trails. We would love to have your group on the trails! Please have your group leader fill out this form, and our Trail Volunteer Coordinator, Daniel, will be in touch as soon as possible. Please note, it may take up to 2 weeks before he can get back to you.
Below are some tips and a few answers to commonly asked questions:
What is Portland Trails' COVID-19 volunteer protocol? We strictly follow and enforce all current Maine CDC recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we adapt our policies as changes are announced. We will communicate exact protocol when we schedule your volunteer day. Please do not volunteer if:
-  You are ill or are experiencing even one symptom of COVID. See full symptom list for reference.
-  You have been told to in the last 14 days to quarantine or self-isolate.
-  You have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 or has had a positive COVID-19 test.
What does a typical volunteer day entail? No two trail work days are the same. Some common activities include: clipping/pruning plants, raking trail heads, building small bridges, moving and spreading trail surface material, and cutting and removing invasive species.
What will the process be? We will establish a date, time, project, and meeting place for your work day. Prior to volunteering, all members of your group will need to fill out the RSVP & waiver that we'll send you. On the day of, we will meet at the specified location and go over the details of the day's project. Then we'll get to work!
What should I bring/wear? Trail work can be dirty work. Please wear clothing appropriate for the weather and closed-toed shoes. Portland Trails will supply all the tools necessary but feel free to bring your own gloves. Also please bring water, snacks and any medications you might require for the duration of the activity. Note: please bring a face mask.
Where will the trail work be done? Locations and projects are dependent on the number of participants, when you want to volunteer, and which trails need attention. Once we establish these details, we will give you directions to the trail we'll will be working on. If your volunteer group is from one of our Adopt-a-Trail sponsors, we'll do our best to coordinate a work day on your adopted trail!
Are there other group volunteer opportunities besides trail work? Yes! We host a few annual events such as a Scavenger Hunt and a 5K race, where we always need extra help. We also conduct quarterly mailings in the office. These activities are much easier and more fun when we have many hands to help. If you'd like to help at one of our events or in the office, select your preference below.
If you have further questions, please reach out to Daniel at daniel@trails.org.
Sign-up instructions:
If your group would like to volunteer on a specific day/time, please enter your preference below. If you do not have a specific day, please enter as much information as possible and we will be in touch to get something scheduled. Let us know how many volunteers plan to participate, as well as whether any are under the age of 18.
Note: If your group is larger than 20 people, we may require a fee to offset volunteer coordinator time and resources. 

VOLUNTEER WAIVER

I realize that participating as a volunteer on trail work and/or at an event associated with it is a potentially hazardous activity. I agree to abide by any decision of a Portland Trails staff person relative to my ability to participate. I assume all risks associated with volunteering including, but not limited to, falls, contact with other volunteers/participants, the effects of weather including high heat or humidity; and all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your accepting my volunteer involvement, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release Portland Trails and sponsors, coordinating groups and any individuals associated with this volunteer work, their representatives, successors and assigns, and will hold them harmless from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation. I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use any photographs taken during trail work events for any legitimate purpose. I understand that I must be at least age 18 or be accompanied by a guardian in order to volunteer.