In-Person Trail Ambassadors Training 2026

Become a Trail Ambassador and help create safe, welcoming, and sustainable trail experiences through education, engagement, and community.

Join Trailkeepers of Oregon for our 2026 Trail Ambassador Training 2026!

This interactive training prepares volunteers to serve as Trail Ambassadors at some of Oregon’s most popular trailheads and natural areas. Through this experience, you will learn how to engage the public with confidence, share stewardship practices, and contribute to safer, more inclusive outdoor spaces.

Whether you are new to volunteering or returning for another season, this training will provide the tools, context, and support you need to get started.

What You Will Learn

• An overview of Trailkeepers of Oregon’s mission, programs, and partnerships
• Clear understanding of Trail Ambassador roles and expectations
• Practical tools for inclusive, welcoming public engagement
• Safety guidelines, logistics, and how to access support in the field
• Key stewardship messaging, including Leave No Trace and low-impact recreation
• How to set up, manage, and report on a trailhead shift
• Hands-on practice through scenarios and role-play
• Next steps for volunteering and opportunities for continued growth

Who Should Attend

• New and returning Trailkeepers of Oregon volunteers
• Individuals interested in outdoor stewardship and education
• Community members looking to support inclusive access to nature

What to Expect

• Interactive and engaging training environment
• Opportunities to practice real-life scenarios
• Support from staff and experienced volunteers
• A welcoming space for all levels of experience

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes and communities. We are the most recent in a long line of stewards to this land, and it is our responsibility to do so with humility and respect. We are grateful to these tribes and their descendants for being the original and continuing stewards of these spaces, and encourage everyone to go beyond a land ackowledgment by supporting Indigenous communities and organizations in your area.

ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS: TKO seeks to make our events inclusive of people of all backgrounds and abilities. If you would like to discuss potential accommodations to allow for your participation in this event, please click here to complete a short Google survey. TKO staff will then contact you to discuss options. Please note: available accommodations will vary by event and typically need to be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance. If you have any questions, please contact volunteers@trailkeepersoforegon.org.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in the outdoors due to issues like racism, bias, and hate. We commit to being part of the solution to this problem and to enact change. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target any individual or group will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical and emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you may: interrupt directly, tell a crew leader, and/or inform TKO staff via the post-event survey.

While TKO no longer requires masking/vaccination for our events, we do support those who choose to mask for their own safety. We ask participants to respect the health of folks who wear masks by distancing or wearing a mask while in close proximity.