VOLUNTEER WITH US

The association is completely run by volunteers: from board members to hike leaders and from trail maintenance workers to our webmaster and newsletter editor, we are all members who volunteer to help manage the club and the trails.  We are always looking for volunteers to help with short-term projects or to take on some of the ongoing roles required to run the club and to maintain the trails in good order. See our open positions below.

If you are available and can check one of these criteria: 

• You want to gain experience in a new skill
• You want to meet new people
• You are passionate about hiking
• You are interested in the environment and helping your community
• You want to see great hiking trails in this area 

Volunteers are always needed

If you have some time and would like to volunteer with us for administrative, hike leadership, trail maintenance activities, or would like more information, email us at volunteering@gvta.on.ca.

Open Positions

Trail Maintenance Volunteers

The GVTA develops and maintains an extensive trail system along the Grand River. These require grooming, removing fallen trees, cutting back overgrowth, installing boardwalks and bridges etc. This is all done by a fantastic group of volunteers. Consider joining us once or twice monthly for a few hours. Projects are posted on the web site so volunteers can select what interests them and work at their own pace. Meet the gang, learn new skills, have some fun, get some exercise and experience the satisfaction of contributing to our great outdoor community.

Here's some examples of the activities you might help with (not an exhaustive list!):

• Assist in rerouting and widening hiking trails
• Help construct access bridges and boardwalks
• Installing handrails to widen bridges for bicycles
• Placing blazes and trail signs
• Replacing supports for boardwalks
• Maintaining bridges and installing drain pipes
• Removing saplings from trails and footpaths
• Cutting away undergrowth
  
  

If you're interested in participating, please contact: trailmaintenance@gvta.on.ca

Trail Director, Carolininan Crest (Paris/Brantford)

We are looking for a trail director for the Carolinian Crest (Glen Morris / Paris / Brantford / Onondaga) section of the trail. The Trail Director coordinates the trail maintenance volunteers (mentioned above) and is responsible for ensuring that the designated section of the trail is well maintained and in safe condition. The range of activities includes recruiting and training maintenance workers, trail captains, assisting in organizing the trail maintenance tasks, initiating the process to reroute sections of the trail and maintaining relationships with landowners.

Time commitment is estimated at 8 hours/month, mostly in the spring and fall. Here's some examples of the activities you might help with (not an exhaustive list!):

• Identify hiking trails to be rerouted and widening
• Generate GPX maps for trail navigation
• Organize the construction of access bridges
• Dialogue with land owners, e.g., to allow us to open new trails
• Examining unpassable stretches
• Organizing work parties for trail maintenance

If you're interested in participating, please contact trailmaintenance@gvta.on.ca

Director, Volunteering 

The director of volunteering will

• manage our network of volunteers involved in trail maintenance and other activities
• plan, lead and implement volunteer recruitment activities
• organize volunteer training, recognition and retention activities
• maintain our database of volunteers

This position requires 5-15 hours per month, attending board meetings (10 times a year) and working and liaising with other board members.

If you're interested in this role, please contact info@gvta.on.ca