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Trail Construction and Sustainability Program
Trail Construction and Sustainability Program
TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
McDowell County, formed in 1842, is just over 440 square miles. Roughly 75 percent of the county remains forested and boasts a wide array of wildlife, waterfalls, and scenic vistas. One of the mountain region’s most well-known natural attractions, the spectacular Linville Caverns, lies beneath the McDowell County-Avery County line. Miles of epic backcountry trails are scattered throughout our region on more than 73,000 acres of Pisgah National Forest. Throughout McDowell County’s forest land, individuals can ramble through pristine wilderness areas showcasing stellar waterfalls, hiking and biking trails, and first-rate trout streams.
As one might imagine, trail development, maintenance, and sustainability play an important role in the livelihood of McDowell County’s citizens. McDowell County is not alone on its dependence of outdoor recreation. Across our state and nation, outdoor recreation is a vital part of community economic growth as well as individual mental and physical well-being. In a partnership with the National Forest Service, Camp Grier, McDowell Chamber of Commerce and G5 Trail Collective, McDowell Technical Community College is proud to offer an exciting workforce development program geared specifically for trail development and sustainability.
McDowell Technical Community College’s Trail Construction and Sustainability Program offers a great opportunity for both the novice and professional. Basic courses offer a beginner level array of classes for individuals that wish to build and maintain trails as a hobby or for those that wish to move on to the advanced courses for career opportunities or advancement. The advanced courses help individuals develop the skills necessary to become a viable leader and create career opportunities in trail building, maintenance, and sustainability. In addition to the basic and advanced courses, students can gain specialized certifications in specific trail construction types such as hand-built trails, mechanized trails, and greenways. Specialized course series are offered in trail business and contracting. Students will also gain work-based learning credit through on-the job experience during basic and advanced course programs.
ADVANCED SPECIFIC SERIES:
- HAND-BUILT TRAIL SERIES
- MECHANIZED TRAIL SERIES
- TRAIL SYSTEM PLANNING/DESIGN SERIES
- GREENWAY SERIES
- TRAIL BUSINESS AND CONTRACTING SERIES
- WORK-BASED LEARNIN