On Saturday, May 31, nearly 20 local volunteers gathered for a hands-on workshop designed to improve and sustain the Greenbrier Valley’s growing trail network. The “Intro to Trail Building” training was presented by the West Virginia University Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative (OEDC) in partnership with the Greenbrier Valley Off-Road Biking Association (GVORBA), with support from the Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Led by OEDC team members Richard Edwards and Logan Champman, the free one-day training drew an eager group of community members interested in learning best practices in trail construction and maintenance. The morning began with a classroom-style session covering technical aspects of trail design and maintenance, followed by an afternoon of hands-on trail work in the Greenbrier State Forest. Participants re-benched a section of the Mabel Dowdy Trail that had been damaged by a fallen tree – contributing an estimated $1,200 worth of volunteer labor to trail stewardship efforts.
“I really enjoyed learning more about how to maintain and build new trails,” said Clay Elkins, GVORBA Board President. “Trails are instrumental to West Virginia’s outdoor economy for our residents and tourists. Everybody who goes outside uses a trail. Whether you’re hunting, birding, hiking, walking the dog, or riding a bike – you use a trail, and it’s essential we have the capacity to help maintain them if we want to grow our trail systems.”
The training reflects GVORBA’s mission of “Pioneering Trails, Connecting Communities, and Empowering Youth,” as well as OEDC’s broader commitment to identifying and developing outdoor recreation resources that enhance quality of life across West Virginia.
“There are a lot of great things happening in the Greenbrier Valley,” said Champman, Trails Training & Education Coordinator with WVU OEDC. “Being able to empower motivated folks to continue improving their community will only make the area a better place to live, work, and play.”
GVORBA encourages community members to take part in future trail workshops and regular volunteer maintenance days held in the Greenbrier State Forest. Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome – whether it’s an hour or an afternoon, every bit of support contributes to a stronger, more accessible local trail system.
For details on upcoming events, trail projects, or ways to get involved, visit GVORBA.org.
