The Ice Age National Scenic Trail (NST) is a thousand-mile footpath highlighting Wisconsin’s renowned Ice Age heritage and scenic beauty. The Ice Age Trail Alliance (IATA) and its partners can shape users’ experiences. As stewards of the land and the Trail, we can help users develop a connection with the land and create a sense of wonder — even pique their curiosity enough to further explore the Trail.
Close your eyes and think of your favorite Ice Age Trail segment. Imagine walking on it right now. What do you see? Where is your attention focused? Why? Are you envisioning a great panoramic view, a small woodland lake, a tranquil stream, or waves of prairie grasses and flowers? Why do these images stick in your head? The land may have been protected or the Trail may have been laid out to highlight these wonderful features, but your experience may also be attributed to vegetative management activities that opened a view or restored a long-lost habitat.
The key difference between this notebook and other land stewardship guides is that this notebook focuses on the land from the standpoint of the Ice Age NST — “from the Trail, outward.” We consider the aesthetics and the ecological ramifications of vegetative management, primarily from the Trail user’s perspective.
There are not enough resources to manage vegetation on all Trail lands. When deciding on whether or not to perform vegetation management activities, or determining how aggressively to attack a project, consider other Trail responsibilities, the amount of resources, and the amount of resources available to do the job effectively and sustainably. Successful vegetation stewardship projects begin with proper planning, buy-in from Ice Age Trail partners, a strong dedication to see the project through, and a commitment to long-term maintenance needs.
The Wisconsin glaciation left behind the building blocks — the canvas — on which the vegetation provides color and interest. By design and intent, the Trail brings humans into direct contact with the land. We have both an obligation to care for the land it traverses and a responsibility to interpret the land for users of the Trail. This book will help land stewards to make decisions regarding land stewardship activities. It provides guidance about basic vegetative stewardship techniques and lays out important safety protocols.
Attached document published October 2011
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a volunteer- and member-based non-profit organization that protects, promotes, builds, and maintains the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a thousand mile footpath featuring Wisconsin glaciation. Ice Age Trail Alliance staff and volunteers work cooperatively with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, local governments, businesses and private landowners to shape the Ice Age Trail into one of the premier hiking trails in the United States. The organization is made up of 21 statewide chapters— each coordinated by volunteers. There are thousands of members and active volunteers coordinated by only a handful of staff members.
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Unfunded but Unrelenting: Trail Stewardship Without Grants, Recognition, or Profit
Aug 28, 2025
In this candid and thought-provoking session, the presenter will share what it’s like to be a mission-driven for-profit business doing trail work and advocacy, without access to grants, and often at a financial loss.
Jul 10, 2025
This webinar will dive into what really works on the ground to cultivate a thriving volunteer culture, one that fuels trail stewardship and strengthens community connections.
Natural Surface Trail Field Guide to Maintenance
posted Oct 15, 2024
Arkansas Parks and Recreation Foundation guide for volunteers to maintain natural surface trails.
posted May 3, 2022
This manual was created to accompany the Crew Leader training program developed by the Ozark Trail Association (OTA). It serves as an aid to volunteer Crew Leaders working with other volunteers to build and maintain single-track natural surface trails in the Ozarks region of Missouri. This manual is designed to serve as a baseline for trail construction and maintenance and as an introduction to leading small groups of volunteers on natural surface trail construction and maintenance events.
National River Cleanup® Organizers Handbook
posted Jul 26, 2021
American Rivers makes it easy for you to get involved. This National River Cleanup Handbook will provide all the information you need to organize a river cleanup.
FAQ: Apps for Trail Management and Volunteers
posted May 19, 2021
Information on apps that can be used for trail management that would be suitable for volunteer-type organizations.
