Volunteer

TRTC is a state chartered, non-profit organization that accomplishes much of it's work through volunteer efforts. While we do have a number of small grants to support trail building and maintenance, these funds generally are spent for equipment, supplies and for specialized services such as preparing site development plans. The on-the-ground efforts to build and improve trails is done almost exclusively by our volunteers. Since 1998, TRTC volunteers have put in over 8,500 hours in cleaning up, resurfacing and maintaining the American Tobacco Trail (ATT) in Durham, Chatham and Wake Counties. Most of this work has been done during our Saturday workdays although members of our Board and a few volunteers are also active during the week as their schedules allow. Our work varies in intensity; we often use shovels and rakes for moving dirt and rocks; we also have easier, less physical tasks such as pruning limbs and trash pick up on a frequent basis. We work year 'round but tend to use the cooler months for our chainsaw "parties".

   
   

How to Volunteer: Volunteering with TRTC is easy. Signing up for our Weekly Volunteers Email is the preferred way to find out where we will be working and the type of project. To add yourself to our Volunteers E-Mail list please click on the TRTC-Volunteers subscription page . TRTC maintains this Volunteers E-Mail list of people interested in our workdays. On Thursday or Friday preceding a workday, those on this list receive an E-Mail about the time and location of the upcoming workday.

If you need more information or want to discuss upcoming workdays or possible week day opportunities, feel free to contact one of the following Board members:

Current Projects: Currently, many of our volunteer efforts are focused on the American Tobacco Trail but we also do projects on nearby parks and on smaller trails connecting to the ATT and on the Eagle Spur Trail.

In Durham County we have been working to improve and maintain a 3 mile, natural surface section of the ATT south of NC 54 since early 2001. Our planned efforts to improve the surface and drainage are largely complete but during 2005 TRTC agreed (with Durham Parks & Rec.) to continue maintenance of this segment until Parks & Rec. is funded for these tasks. Our trail maintenance efforts on the South Durham section are expected to continue into the middle of 2012. From 2004 through 2007 we undertook a major effort in Durham to construct a new trailhead parking area where the ATT crosses Fayetteville Road. This involved tearing down and removing a small house cutting and burning trees and brush, and in general preparing the area for grading. During the Fall of 2005 we completed efforts to grade the parking area, construct the connector trail and pour slabs for an information structure and porta-john. In the Winter and Spring of 2006 we focused on erecting the information shelter, installing control bollards and continuing general clean-up efforts of the site. During the Fall of 2006 we constructed water bars on the connecting trail and since then we have continued periodic clean-up and trimming and constructed a brick patio in the area by the kiosk. In the Fall of 2010 we arranged for a 1 year rental of a Porta-John at this trailhead and recently extended the rental through April 2012. In other work on the Durham section, in May 2011 we built a 330' connector trail at Herndon Park to facilitate ATT users access to the parking, water and restrooms at the Park. The connection is open and getting lots of use and we are finishing up erosion control efforts near the ATT end of the connector.

In Chatham County, TRTC conducted over 50 workdays to cut and remove fallen trees and brush from ATT sections that were impassable and to correct minor drainage and surface problems during the 5+ years that this section was unofficially open for use. Since the Chatham section paving was completed, we continue to do smaller clean-up tasks periodically. In the Fall of 2011 we began efforts to address a critical need for accessing the Chatham section: off-road parking. We have identified a site at Pittard-Sears Road, done minor clean-up and site planning, and applied for a grant to support at least part of the first phase of this project. Stay tuned for updates to be reported as News items and through our weekly Emails to those on our TRTC Volunteers list.

Our Workday Meeting Schedules: In Durham our workdays are often held on the first and third Saturdays of each month, however, the specific site is announced in the weekly email to those on our Volunteers list.

  • For work on the trail we meet at the intersection of the ATT and Scott-King Road at 9:00AM.
  • For work on the new trailhead we meet at the intersection of the ATT and Fayetteville Road at 9:00AM.

In Chatham our workdays were suspended during trail construction (September 2008 thru February 2010). Now that the Chatham section is open we plan to conduct workdays as needed at the trailheads listed below:

  • Trailhead at O'Kelly Chapel Road at 9:00AM
  • Trailhead at New Hope Church Road at 9:00AM
  • Trailhead at Pittard-Sears Road at 9:00AM

Please see our Directions Page for driving directions to these locations.