2025 Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training
About PPRCLT
Wednesday, April 30, Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, 2025.
The Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training is an intensive training for experienced volunteers who are interested in becoming certified Volunteer Crew Leaders. The training is hosted in partnership by Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Trails and Open Space Coalition, and the City of Colorado Springs, Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department.
2025 Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training
Wednesday, April 30 - 5:30 pm-8:00 pm
Saturday, May 3 - 8:00 am-2:00 pm
Sunday, May 4 - 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Volunteer Leaders Expand Our Impact
The Crew Leaders
Each year, thousands of volunteers donate their time to help care for parks, trails, and open spaces in the Pikes Peak Region. This generosity of time and labor is necessary for the upkeep of our local parks, but has also created a need for trained volunteer crew leaders who are able to assist land managers and stewardship organizations by leading these critical trail and restoration projects. While in the training, participants will learn how to lead safe, successful trail projects and develop basic trail construction and restoration skills. These Crew Leaders then go through a certification process involving two shadowing leadership workdays in partnership with the training organizations, RMFI, TOSC, and the City of Colorado Springs. Once certified, Crew Leaders must maintain their certification by helping to lead, at minimum, one trail or restoration project day each field season.
2025 Crew Leader Training Agenda
A detailed agenda will be provided to registrants. For your reference, we have provided an outline of what to expect each day.
Wednesday, April 30 - 5:30-8:00 pm - Presentations and Training
For this day, please expect to be indoors. We will be covering managing volunteers in the field, Leave No Trace, meeting Pikes Peak Region Land Managers, and the "Nuts and Bolts" of trail building, maintenance, restoration and trail structures.
Saturday, May 3 - 8:00 am-2:00 pm - Technical Training
For this day, expect to be outside for the full day. We will be focusing on on-the-ground technical work and learning.
Sunday, May 4 - 8:00 am-2:00 pm - Technical Training
For this day, expect to be outside for the full day. We will be focusing on on-the-ground technical training and learning.
Eligibility & Certification
PPRCLT is designed for experienced trail and restoration volunteers looking to advance into a leadership role.
Applicants must have prior trail workday experience in order to participate in this training.
In order to be eligible, candidates should:
- Have participated in at least two trail or restoration workdays prior to being enrolled in Crew Leader Training.
- Must be able to pass a mandatory criminal background check (at no charge to the trainee). The background check will be sent to applicants prior to their acceptance in the training.
- Attend the all days on the training. Wednesday, May 1st (evening) and Saturday, May 4th & Sunday, May 5th.
If you have questions, please contact Calla Balliett, at calla@rmfi.org
Additional Requirements for those looking to lead volunteer days within City of Colorado Springs Parks properties:
Those who have completed PPRCLT and want to volunteer as a Crew Leader for City of Colorado Springs Parks properties have additional requirements to meet. Those who volunteer for other land management agencies may or may not have other requirements not listed here.
- Crew Leaders who have completed PPRCLT must complete 2 additional certification workdays as an assistant Crew Leader under the guidance and supervision of either Rocky Mountain Field Institute or a City of Colorado Springs Park Ranger. These certification days must take place within the same calendar year as training, most opportunities will occur prior to October 1st. Those who fail to complete these days will not be certified to lead volunteers for the City of Colorado Springs.
- Once certified, Crew Leaders will maintain their certification by completing at minimum ONE workday with any organization of their choosing as a Crew Leader each field season. If you fail to renew your certification you will not be able to lead volunteer days on City of Colorado Springs properties. The Crew Leader's code of conduct must be upheld or certification status will not be granted/renewed at the discretion of the applicable Pikes Peak Region Land Management Agency.
Training Videos
Trail Tool Videos!
These videos were created by the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department and provide general overviews of tool safety and common trail tools used in stewardship projects.
Apply Today!
Ready to take your volunteering to the next level and become a certified volunteer Crew Leader?
Before filling out the program application and paying the non-refundable application fee, you may contact Calla Balliett, at calla@rmfi.org if you have any questions prior to registering.
Before you apply, you must have previously participated in at least two trail workdays. If you have not previously participated in two trail workdays we ask that you use the 2025 season to volunteer and revisit training in 2026. Visit www.rmfi.org and/or www.trailsandopenspaces.orgto find volunteer opportunities this season.
Yes. If you cannot attend the entire training, please do not apply. If you are not able to complete the additional City of Colorado Springs requirements for those seeking a City Certification please do so apply, as your certification days must be completed within the same year as training; most certification workday opportunities will occur prior to October 1.
For those seeking to complete the additional requirements for leading volunteer days on City of Colorado Springs properties:
- An appraisal form will be emailed to you upon completion of training and provided to you as part fo your packet. It os your responsibility to being an appraisal form with you to your certifying days. \
- These can ONLY be completed with the Rocky Mountain Field Institute or a City of Colorado Springs Park Ranger
- For completing these days with RMFI please use our Volunteer Calendar here and contact calla@rmfi.org to RMFI know you'll be an assistant Crew Leader for the volunteer day.
- For completing these days with a City of Colorado Springs Park Ranger you will need to coordinate volunteering with the Park Ranger.
- Both days may NOT be completed with the same group. e.g. if you you lead a volunteer day for a Friends group your second day must be with another group/RMFI.
- If you are having trouble scheduling or finding opportunities, Calla is here to help you. Reach out at calla@rmfi.org for any questions or assistance.
For City of Colorado Springs certified Crew Leaders:
Once certified, Crew Leaders will maintain their certification by completing at minimum ONE workday with any organization of their choosing as a Crew Leader each field season. If you fail to renew your certification you will not be able to lead volunteer days on City of Colorado Springs properties. The Crew Leader's code of conduct must be upheld or certification status will not be granted/renewed at the discretion of the applicable Pikes Peak Region Land Management Agency.
Other Land Management Agencies:
Other Land Managers may not have the same requirements as the City of Colorado Springs please ensure you know what the agency you are working with requires.
New Skills:
RMFI offers many volunteer days each year where volunteers help with advanced trail structures that we just cannot teach all in one training. We encourage you to attend days with RMFI or other professional trail-building organizations to broaden your skills!
Before filling out the program application and paying the non-refundable application fee, you may contact Calla Balliett at calla@rmfi.org to discuss any concerns about the background check.