CTF Education
Education is part of our CTF mission. Much of what we do in maintaining and providing The Colorado Trail is educational. The sophistication of CTF volunteer trail work helps shape volunteerism in the Rocky Mountain region. It helps teach other organizations to utilize volunteers to build other trails, enhance open spaces, and accomplish great things in the great outdoors.
The following are some examples of the educational components of what we do:
Volunteer Trail Crews
- Training on volunteer crews – trail work techniques, tools, etc.
- Instruction for camping and cooking
- Handbooks educate leaders and other volunteers on construction methods and more
- Health and safety refreshers
- Leave no Trace principles and low-impact ethics
Volunteer Trail Adopters
- Adopter trainings
- Handbooks guide Adopter volunteers and their helpers
- On-Trail learning guided by the CTF
Trail Users
- The CTF educates Colorado Trail users via the office, e-blasts, website, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
- Resource networking – the CTF links people with questions to knowledgeable parties for answers
Publications
- Author extensive publications which assist Trail users
- CT Guidebook is a comprehensive educational resource about The Colorado Trail, backpacking, low-impact, geology, natural ecosystems, etc.
- CT Databook is a pocket-sized guide assisting users of the Trail
- CT Map Book includes the topo maps and GPS reference desired by many users
- Tread Lines newsletters educate and inform Friends of The Colorado Trail
- CTF website is another source of instruction with some 70,000 unique visitors annually
- Brochures educate the public about the CT and the CTF
- CTF presentations, slide shows, and library displays educate Trail users and others about planning excursions on the CT
- Mother Nature – CTF stewardship of the Trail helps people learn about the natural world, mountain ecosystems, trip planning, route finding, map and compass, weather, safety and wildlife
