The Season Starts Here — Gearing Up for 2026
A Look at the Ideas, Needs, and Opportunities Shaping the Volunteer Trail Program
From New Faces to Trail Veterans
Thank you to everyone who joined the preseason volunteer meeting and brought such thoughtful energy to the conversation. New faces mixed with familiar ones, the energy was good, and the enthusiasm for the work ahead was clear. We're still in a growth phase — adding capacity and creating opportunities — and things are moving in the right direction.
On the resources side, a strong theme was expanding access to power equipment — string trimmers, mowers, and permanent on-site tools — so volunteers can get to work without logistical delays. Alongside that, there's a clear need to define priority trail sections with Trail Leads so effort is focused where it matters most. Building volunteer capability is also a priority, and offering a chainsaw safety class was flagged as a meaningful step in that direction.
Where We're Headed This Season
Several opportunities have stood out for the upcoming season. We plan to identify and rank underserved trails with low volunteer engagement to direct attention where it is needed most. We aim to increase volunteer participation by offering training trail days and tracking volunteer hours via our mobile apps. Additionally, there is growing interest in developing new trail leader opportunities within state and city parks across Nebraska and Iowa.
One of the biggest highlights of the evening was the ideas wall — volunteers and attendees were invited to write down what mattered most to them and place their notes on the board for the team to review. The response was incredible, producing well over 50 ideas that will be reviewed and incorporated into the volunteer program this season!
Meeting Volunteers Where They Are
The conversation also surfaced an important nuance around volunteer needs. Short-term and spontaneous volunteers benefit most from clear communication, meaningful work, and a welcoming entry point. Long-term volunteers thrive with structure, access to resources and equipment, and a strong sense of community. Recognizing and designing for both will help the program grow sustainably.
On the communication front, two improvements rose to the top: adopting Bloomerang to better manage volunteer relationships and tracking, and encouraging Trail Leaders and volunteers to actively use Trailforks for reporting trail conditions and surfacing volunteer opportunities. Together, these tools will strengthen the connection between Trail Coordinators, Trail Leads, and the broader THOR team.
More details and resources are coming soon and the 2026 season calendar is live and reay for volunteers! Questions or ideas? Reach out to your Trail Lead or THOR Trail Crew directly.
Get Involved This Season
Ready to get out on the trails? Check out our upcoming volunteer opportunities and mark your calendar — our Trail Adoption Program (TAP) at Swanson Park has been rescheduled to Wednesday, May 6th. This program invites volunteers and local organizations to become trail stewards. We'd love to see you there.
