Adopt a trail or portion of a trail and be responsible for keeping it free from debris, pruning back plants that encroach on the trail, and reporting down trees or other obstructions that make the trail unsafe or unpassable.
Preference for trail adoptions goes to the person who was assigned the previous year, but trails become available each year as monitors retire from their trail roles.
Trail Monitor Guide - Habitat Action Team
Thank you for your interest in being a Trail Monitor at Nixon County Park. Below is a guide to help you understand the ways you can help improve our trails and support the efforts of the Habitat Action Team.
1) Suggested Tools: bag for trash; pruning shears; folding saw; garden hoe; garden gloves (Supplies available in the nature center volunteer office if you choose to monitor during open hours.)
2) Walk the trail every other week if possible and try to walk the trail after major storms. Most damage occurs after storms.
3) Clean up any hiker debris that you might find along the trails. Since there is no dumpster at Nixon – trash can be placed in entry way trash bin during Nature Center hours or taken to dumpsters at Lake Redman boat launch.
4) Carry a pair of pruning shears to trim back briars and other plant life that grow out across the trail. A folding saw can be used for larger jobs. (Make sure all cut branches get moved off the trail.)
5) Remove branches that have fallen and block the trail.
6) Clean out any water diverting swales that become clogged. A trails' biggest threat is water. We must keep water from traveling long distances on the trail. As water picks up speed, the trail has a greater tendency to erode. A garden hoe is a great tool for cleaning out swales.
7) Check drainage pipes underneath the trail and clean out any that become clogged.
8) Contact Kelsey Frey, Manager of Education, to inform:
- that you have inspected the trail and note your volunteer hours.
- any problem areas that require support like big tree down or severe erosion problems. Send a photo if possible and specific area of problem.
- ideas to improve the trail and user experience or concerns about invasive plants
- If you're ready to level up your trail adoption by learning which plants are native (cut back less), and which plants are invasive exotics (cut back stronger).
Your trail efforts to improve the park user experience and your observations help us improve
wildlife habitat. Contact Kelsey if you are ever interested in a “walk along” to discuss your trail and
habitat.
Kelsey Frey, Manager of Education - KAFrey@YorkCountyPA.gov or call 717-428-1961 x3
or text 717-341-9564
