TTC is a program promoted by NICA, our national league, designed to encourage trail stewardship and advocacy among our student-athletes and teams. Spending time and energy working on the trails we ride brings to life all of our core tenets: building strong minds, bodies, character, and communities!

From the NICA Handbook: "Trail work hours must be completed during the official team practices or under the direction of local trail organizations or trail clubs, and verified by a coach or the trail work organizer." To clarify further, TTC hours can be completed at any trail system, even out of the state, as long as the work has been sanctioned and led by a land manager, trail liaison, or other organization associated with the trails. (Sorry, digging cool trails in the neighborhood woods does not count!)

MICL hosts some exciting one-off league-wide trail events throughout the pre-season and season. These are announced in newsletters and social media. Come join the fun!

In general, if you are motivated to work on trails you would be best served by connecting with the local trail systems you ride. Get on their mailing lists, follow their socials, check their calendars (and donate if you can!). Across the state, there are many trail advocacy groups that organize regular trail workdays. Below is a hyperlinked directory of some of the groups doing the hard work of keeping our beloved trails in shape. Grab your work gloves and join them!

Maryland Trailwork Opportunities Directory

MORE, the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts: This IMBA organization with its dedicated trail liaisons maintains nearly 1,000 miles of natural surface trails in about 65 parks across MD, DC, and VA. You can find a trailwork opportunity near you by searching the filterable MORE Calendar.

GUMBO, Gunpowder United Mountain Bike Operators: A sub-group of MORE focused on Gundpoweder Falls SP, trailwork days are typically held the second Saturday of each month Mar-Nov, with some Sunday opportunities. Check their website for the latest dates and get on their mailing list.

SMMB, Southern Maryland Mountain Bikers: A chapter of IMBA focused on St. Mary’s SP, Salem State Forest, and Chaptico Park, you can find current and future trail projects needing volunteer help on their calendar.

FPVSP, Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park: Along with the Maryland Park Service, Friends hosts the Patapsco Trailwork Series, held six Saturdays a year. Sign up on their mailing list for notification of upcoming events or check the website. Friends members get sign-up priority. 

Trail Spinners: Maintaining trails in MD, DE, and PA, you can find trailwork opportunities at Fair Hill, Susquehanna SP, Elk Neck, Elk Forrest and more on their volunteer calendar.

Montgomery Parks: The Volunteer Services Offices publishes a plethora of opportunities around Montgomery County, with trail-related options viewable by List, Calendar, or Map.

No specific written documentation is required. However, it is expected that a coach or parent present at a trailwork event will share accurate information to be recorded. We trust that everyone will communicate clearly and honestly about TTC hours.

Yes! There are lots of different ways teens can have a positive impact on trails and trail development that don’t involve digging in the dirt. Specific examples include:

• organizing, marketing, informing the public about a planned trail cleanup event

• building bird houses, bat boxes, or a picnic table for approved locations within a trail system

• speaking at a town council meeting to advocate for proposed new trails

• researching and assisting in a trail grant process

• talking to the public at a community event about the benefits of multi-use trail systems

• attending a trail building/maintenance clinic to learn techniques and best practices

• designing and implementing a campaign to raise funds for a trail project

These are just a few suggestions to get the ideas rolling!

Based on TTC hours logged in Pit Zone:

Top TTC male and female riders in each grade will be recognized at the podium at the first and last race events. This will be based on hours accrued between March 1 and the first race, and again for hours accrued between the first race and last race of the season. Prizes will be awarded.

At the final event, riders, coaches, and teams who worked the most TTC hours throughout the season will be recognized and celebrated. Team recognition will be based on the mathematical average of hours completed by each registered rider on the team. The top team will take hold of the Golden McLeod, to be proudly displayed at their pit zone throughout the next season.

TTC hours will translate to Bonus Points for individual standing in the season, which are added to their overall series points, as follows:

a. 25 points max

b. Hours 1 – 4 = 5 points each

c. Hours 5 – 9 = 1 point each

For example, a total of 7 hours logged during the season would give (4x5) + (3x1) = 23 Bonus Points. The TTC Bonus Points max out at 25, so that it does not sway the series totals too significantly, although it can make a difference in rider standings.

MICL will recognize TTC hours starting March 1 and ending one week prior to the final race of the season. You are absolutely welcomed (and encouraged!) to get out and be a good trail steward year round. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours can be earned for school credit all year. For MICL purposes, only hours accrued from March 1 to one week before finals can be counted as TTC hours and toward race series bonus points.

Because hours can be earned prior to season registration, but not logged in Pit Zone until official registration, we suggest student athletes and coaches keep their own records of TTC activity starting March 1. So keep track of Date, Location, Zip Code, Type of Land Manager, and number of hours for each event for proper reporting. Once the season starts rolling, hours should be recorded in a timely manner to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.

Any coach can log TTC hours in Pit Zone for their riders and coaches. Ideally, one coach steps up as the TTC Coach for their team. This coach would be the one to receive information about TTC hours from a trailwork organizer, parent, or other coach; record hours in Pit Zone; look for and promote trailwork opportunities; and be the TTC point of contact. Please consider who might champion TTC on your team and empower them to build up the trailwork culture!

Coaches can simply log in to Pit Zone, navigate to the team dashboard, select “Report TTC Hours” and be ready with Date, Location, Zip Code, Type of Land Manager, and number of hours worked by individual team participants as well as family and friends of the team. All hours for a single event can be recorded in Pit Zone for all individuals at that same event.

We want our students to grow as more than awesome mountain bikers. We want them to grow as awesome humans! Our riders have the power to influence each other in positive ways and even inspire people in our communities to advocate for our sport and our trails. If we empower our young people to engage in their trail communities now, they are likely to become lifetime trail stewards.

Our MICL core staff includes a Teen Trail Corps Coordinator. You may recognize Kristen Ellis as a long-time coach with Linganore Mountain Bike Team, the MORE co-liaison of Windy Ridge Trails in Mount Airy, and a teen educator. You will see her at trailwork events and at race events throughout the season. Stop by the TTC tent and say hello! She can be reached at: kristen@marylandmtb.org