Volunteer with the RCTC!

The RCTC is a 100% volunteer organization. Without the tireless service of our many volunteers, the trails we use and events we enjoy would not exist. There are countless opportunities encompassing a variety of tasks for volunteers to donate time, energy and experience to keep this footpath open and available to the public. Regardless of your skills or interests, there is definitely something for you! No task is too small or insignificant.  Last year, over 200 people volunteered almost 5,000 hours to the Conservancy.  So what are you waiting for? Come and join the fun! Make new friends and memories! Send an email to Volunteer Coordinator Donna Stolz today! And if you volunteered, please report your hours on the MyRCTC site (log in and click Volunteer at the top).

The 2025 Rachel Carson Trail Challenge: Event Volunteers 

Volunteering at this headliner event earns you a t-shirt, plenty of treats to eat and the gratitude of the participants who rely heavily on volunteers! (And you'll earn Karma!). The event takes place on Saturday, June 21, 2025.  We need volunteers throughout the day! There are a host of roles and different ways to help out. Literally: something for everyone!  People can volunteer for as few as two hours. The volunteer roster can be accessed here closer to the event date. The roster allows you to register for specific volunteer job(s) as well as durations of time. (Ignore any"phishing error messages; use rctc for both username and password if prompted) 

Trail Stewards

Stewards are trail maintainers assigned a particular region of the trail. Stewards are expected to monitor their section on a regular basis, keep the trail clear all year long, and request a work day if major upkeep is required. Stewards are provided with a basic set of tools. There are currently many steward positions open on the Baker Trail.

Trail Work Days

Major trail work involves clearing blowdowns with chainsaws, mowing, trail re-routes, trail repair and bridge building. These activities are scheduled as needed through out the year. Tools and training are provided by the Conservancy. Those interested, may take sawyer certification classes that allow volunteers to do chainsaw work on the trail. Registration costs are covered by the Conservancy. Sign up for Announcements on the home page of our website (scroll to bottom)!

Hike Leaders

In order to introduce new hikers to the trail as well as assist seasoned hikers during training hikes for the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge, we offer many sponsored hikes during the year. We also host full moon hikes, fall hikes, winter hikes, Black Friday hikes to get people   out on the trail all year long. If there is an area you particularly like to  hike or interests you would like to share (birdwatching, naturalism, trail running, etc.) and would like to share it with others, schedule an event!

Board of Directors

Our board meets monthly. Elections are held at our Annual Meeting, in May. For a list of current board members and their respective terms, please visit our About page. 

Committees

• Planning & Promotion Committee: This committee is responsible for the planning and marketing of RCTC's annual headliner events: The Rachel Carson Trail Challenge and the Baker Trail UltraChallenge, as well as ongoing events (e.g. training hikes, seasonal hikes, etc).  Some of the key pieces of work that fold into our ability to successfully plan and promote events include: 
  • Fundraising and sponsorships As a 100% volunteer non-profit, we are always looking for opportunities to raise funds and partner with like-minded organizations. If you are passionate about preserving green space and have experience in fundraising, we can use your help with securing sponsorships and donors.  
  • Social Media  We have a presence on Facebook and  Instagram. There are a host of ways to contribute to our pages. 
  • Photography Year-round, we are always interested in photos (and short videos) of our trails! Our headliner events (The Challenge and The Baker Trail UltraChallenge) require photographers, too. If you enjoy the trails and taking pictures, this could be a great fit!  
  • Writing  Short news stories and communications are needed year round. If you have experience writing, we welcome your contributions. 
  • Web Development  Our website needs to be updated regularly. 
  • General Marketing There are a host of ways to promote events. If you enjoy marketing, we welcome new ideas and strategies to better inform our community. 
  • Data Analysis Do you like running reports and analyzing data? We can use you! 
  • Outreach and Education  Volunteers are needed to represent the Conservancy at events, assist with preparation of educational materials and simply spread the word. Volunteers with writing and design skills are always needed.  If you’d like to exercise your communications skills to share your knowledge about nature, policy, trails talk to us!
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Strategize and implement ways to make our trails more inclusive and accessible to a wider demographic. Examples of our current diversity initiatives (which we could use help with) include:
  • Offering "beginner hikes" for individuals of all ages who may not be ready for long training hikes and would prefer a slower pace and shorter distance.
  • Promoting and encouraging women runners to try our Baker Trail UltraChallenge, a 50-mile race, historically dominated by male participants.
• Rachel Carson Trail Committee:  Our mission is to build, maintain and improve the RCT, which is only possible thanks to over 3 dozen Trail Stewards and dozens more volunteers who join our Work Crews. We're always looking for more help leading that team with; training, planning, project management, organization and support.
  
• Safer Trails Committee: Explore ways to improve trail-user safety, focusing on opportunities for moving trails off roads, and also identifying conflicts with trail bikes/ATVs, hunting, industry, and other hazards where remediation involves landowner permissions, licenses, easements, and/or acquisitions. The committee will develop and present mitigation proposals to the Board for review and approval. Meets in March, July, and November.
• Harmony Trail Committee: Working to promote and maintain the trail and the valley it runs through. Leading the effort to connect the Harmony Trail to the Rachel Carson Trail. Acquiring land and encouraging the extension of the trail both north and south. Meets monthly.