Ready to Make an Impact? Join the Medfield Rail Trail Boot Camp!

The Friends of the Medfield Rail Trail are hosting a hands-on, interactive Trail Maintenance Boot Camp. Whether you are a regular trail user or looking to give back to your community, this session will show you the ropes and equip you with the skills to keep our trail safe, clean, and beautiful.

As we head into winter, our immediate focus will be on clearing leaves, cutting back brush, and prepping the trail for the colder months.

What You’ll Learn & Do:

• Seasonal Trail Care: Master efficiency in mowing, leaf removal, and clearing vegetation from shoulders and drainage ditches.
• Surface & Safety Fixes: Learn how to stabilize gravel shoulders, patch surface ruts, fill pond-side sinkholes, and replace vandalized signage.
• Rapid Response: Learn the basics of safely removing fallen trees and managing routine equipment upkeep.

Perks of Joining:

• Exclusive Shed Access: Get a guided tour of the rail trail tool shed.
• Equipment Training: Receive hands-on walkthroughs on how to safely and effectively operate trail equipment.

Equipment & Safety Requirements:

• Bring Your Own Leaf Blower: If you have one, please bring your own leaf blower to help clear the trail.
• A Note on Power: While we love battery-powered machines, experience has shown us that residential-grade battery leaf blowers simply don’t have the battery life needed to make a lasting impact on a trail of this scale. Gas-powered or commercial-grade blowers are highly recommended.
• Gear Up for Safety: Please bring and wear proper work clothes and safety goggles. Note that operating certain equipment is inherently dangerous and can lead to injury. All volunteers are responsible for their own safety and assume all risks while participating.

Event Logistics:

• Where: Meet at the rail trail shed (located between Ice House Rd and Harding St).
• Parking: Please park in the Ice House Rd lot.
• Duration: Plan for 2 hours.
• What to Expect: After a quick shed introduction, we will head down the trail in teams. Please be prepared to walk up to one mile while carrying gear.

Our Goal:

We want to build a team of confident volunteers who share a sense of ownership over the trail. By the end of this boot camp, you will have a strong awareness of seasonal maintenance needs and the confidence to pitch in on your own time!