Create better trails.
Gain the knowledge that will turn the trails you dream of into a reality.
Learn the fundamentals of amazing trail experiences that grow your community.
Discover what it takes to create trails that will last and inspire more to be built.
Great trails make getting outside easier and more fun. But great trails don’t happen by accident. They are the result of planning, design, collaboration, construction, and maintenance.
This starts with quality education.
This winter our Online Trail School returns to bring you experience and wisdom from trail pros in an accessible and engaging format.
This series is an introduction to the fundamentals of trail theory, sustainability, and management.
You will learn
Theory and strategies behind modern trail development.
Guidelines for developing sustainable trails.
Strategies for improved trail user experience.
This series will take place online and will include the following sessions
Wednesday, Feb 12th
12 PM - 1 PM EST Foundations of Trail Theory
Wednesday, Feb 26th
12 PM - 1 PM EST Fundamentals of Sustainable Trails
Wednesday, March 5th
12 PM - 1 PM EST Introduction to Water Management
Wednesday, March 19th
12 PM - 1 PM EST
Trail Signage & User Experience
BONUS SESSION:
Wednesday, March 26th
12 PM - 1 PM EST *
Panel Discussion with Pro Builders
Each session will be facilitated by OSI’s Director of Trail Development and a team of guest presenters.
All sessions will be recorded.
*The bonus session is only available to participants who have attended one or more of the previous sessions.
Topics include
Understanding sustainable trail guidelines
Understanding the trail development life cycle
Elements of sustainable trail planning, design, construction, and maintenance
Learning trail anatomy and terminology
Investigating different recreational user types and experience goals
How to assess terrain both on your desktop and in the field
Understanding and comparing grade and slope, and how they apply to trails.
Strategies for successful trail development within communities
This course is open to anyone interested in learning more about trail development. No previous experience or knowledge is required. This is the perfect introduction for
Land trust volunteers & staff
Trail club members & staff
Land management agencies
New trail crew members and crew leaders
This course is being taught by OSI’s professional trail staff along with guest presenters from across the trails industry.
Steve Kasacek brings over 10 years of professional consulting experience to the Outdoor Sport Institute team. With an education and foundation in civil engineering focusing on stormwater management and restoration, Steve brings years of low impact design, natural resource protection, and sustainable trail expertise to OSI’s Trail Development initiatives.
Steve has worked in over 20 states helping communities navigate complex trail development projects from vision to management. He has assisted with more than 1000 miles of high-quality trails planning and design and has directly managed over 50 miles of trail construction, helping land managers, government agencies, organizations, and communities secure more than ten million dollars in funding for natural surface trail projects.
Steve brings his passion for local capacity building to the variety of workshops and trainings he leads for volunteers, land managers, and professionals. He is dedicated to growing local pipelines of leadership to support trail projects big and small.
Check Out What Others Have Said About Learning with OSI.
“The sessions were well done and provided a great base for any trail builder!”
“The presentations were thorough and increased my knowledge of the trail planning and construction process.”
“All instructors were extremely knowledgeable and were easily able to articulate all information during each session.”
“The course content was perfect.”
*Course Tuition - $45 / session or $150 for all sessions
Register and pay securely online. We stand by the education we provide. If you’re not satisfied with your experience, we’ll refund your money. It’s as simple as that.
The Outdoor Sport Institute & Our Community
Our mission is to empower resilient, active outdoor communities. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization. Through OSI you can access resources, support, and a network of peers to connect with and share ideas.
Questions?
Don’t hesitate to contact us at hello@outdoorsi.org.