Want to learn more about trail building? The Friends of the Wissahickon is leading Volunteer Work Days and two Trail Building Workshops in Wissahickon Valley Park in March to improve trails at the Andorra Natural Area.

This work is part of their Sustainable Trails Initiative (STI), a multi-year project to make the 50 miles of National Recreation Trails in the Wissahickon a physically and socially sustainable system that works for all park users. STI is being executed in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

-- March 16: New Trail Corridor Clearing at Andorra Natural Area, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at Wissahickon Environmental Center (Andorra Tree House) FOW volunteers will establish a new trail corridor by cutting brush and removing debris and deadfall. This work will involve the use of hand saws, rakes, loppers, and some intermittent trash clean-up.

-- March 23 and 30: Trail Building Workshops at Andorra Natural Area, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet at Wissahickon Environmental Center (Andorra Tree House). Registration is required. Join FOW for these trail building workshops and trail maintenance work days with trail building expert Valerie Naylor, who will instruct volunteers on the basics of sustainable trail building, working with hand tools, and trail work and tool safety. Following instruction, volunteers will refine and finish sections of trail by cutting back slope, removing debris, compacting the trail surface, and possibly building small sections of a stone retaining wall.

To register please contact Outreach Manager Sarah Marley by sending email to: marley@fow.org.  Work days and workshops will be cancelled in the event of snow or heavy rain. Please check the FOW Facebook page or the FOW Upcoming Work Day page for cancellation information.

3/18/2013