Please join us for our annual trailhead and back country steward training session at Plymouth State University on April 6th. Registration will take place from 800-830AM. The morning session will focus on the history and structure of our program, our impact and our partner agencies, Hike Safe and Leave No Trace programs. The afternoon session provides real-world scenarios, public interaction and additional training for those interested in taking those messages on the trail. Speakers from U. S. Forest Service, NH Fish and Game, as well as seasoned stewards from prior years provide an engaging and interactive discussion of White Mountain HikeSafe recommendations, search and rescue incidents as well as how stewards help to reduce these incidents and their stories.

This session is required for all those wanting to volunteer as a Trailhead or Backcountry Steward in 2019. While this training is required to volunteer during the season, attendance at training does not equate a commitment to become a volunteer for the season. The Trailhead and Backcountry Steward Programs encourage outdoor safety and conservation in the WMNF by engaging with hikers, backpackers and climbers at trailheads and on the trail to promote responsible enjoyment and protection of public land. The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is a recreation destination for hikers around the world. With over 1,200 miles of trails, the WMNF sees over 5 million visitors a year, and numbers are on the rise! This increased visitation has also brought an uptick in the number of search and rescue (SAR) incidents as more unprepared hikers hit the trail. This program has been successful at reducing the number of hiking-related SAR missions.