Experience: Trail maintenance or conservation

Duration of Volunteering: 2 hours

Volunteering Days: Saturdays

Type of Work:

• Weeding

• Pruning

• Raking

• Hoeing

• Composting

Why I Love It: I appreciate a good gym session, but sometimes, I’d really rather be moving outside. Volunteering to do trail maintenance is the perfect solution. It’s manual labor—you’re digging out invasive grasses, moving heaps of grass in wheelbarrows or large bins, and using large tools to increase the width of paths that have become overgrown. I was drenched with sweat during the volunteering (if you’re prone to sweating like me, I recommend a towel and a dark long-sleeve shirt) and my muscles definitely felt the work the day after. However, rather than staring at yourself and a bunch of beefcakes in a gym, you’re on some of the most beautiful trails in the city, watching as the fog rolls in, and listening to the breeze sift through the Eucalyptus trees. Workout outside!

How To Find a Trail Management Volunteer Opportunities: Head to the Sutro Stewards website to sign up here >