MODERN TRAIL EDUCATION (MTE)

Modern Trails Education consists of 16 hours of trail development, history of mobility, environmentalism, stewardship, trades skills & practices. Our program is instructed by one of the leading industry experts in the field: Steve Schneider. Steve is a 30 year veteran of the trade who's designed and built trails all over the world. It contains classroom instruction in conjunction with competency assessments in field activities. Participants should dress for potential field activities in rugged outdoor environments. The initial segment of MTE is scheduled to begin June 11th at 6PM and continue each Tuesday evening from 6-8PM for 8 weeks.

Outdoor recreation professionals need safety to be at the forefront of their industry. The 16 hour Wilderness First Aid certification portion of the class is being instructed by Tom Burroughs of Ozark Safety and Rescue. Tom's one of the worlds foremost Outdoor Activity Risk Management professionals.

This training is scheduled for two 8 hour days, Saturday, June 29th and Saturday, July 6th from 8-5.  Participants should dress for potential field activities in rugged outdoor environments regardless of weather conditions.

PLEASE NOTE: You can pay for this course online!

Course Outline
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nature trail picture
drone's eye view of a trails system
Can't see the forest for the trails

Is A Certification In Trail Management For You?

Find Out Why NWTI Is Your Best Choice

The outdoor recreation industry provides benefit to communities like ours and also across the nation. Skills developed in the MTE setting have many different applications, contributing to opportunities in multiple related fields. NWTI’s program is a 32 hour short-term track course, that trains you to become a qualified technician so that you can explore excellent career opportunities doing what you love!

You can quickly earn a technical certificate in the field of Modern Trail Management, and be prepared for a number of trail careers including manager, crew member, project manager and more.

Through the MTE program at NWTI, you will learn trade application, history, ethics, and safety, as well as government and industry insight. You’ll also have networking opportunities to collaborate with employers and community partners, building relationships in this rapidly growing field.

Northwest Arkansas is known as the Mountain Biking Capital of the world, and outdoor recreation represents a LARGE percentage of the U.S. GDP. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, that percentage equals $1.1 Trillion in economic output, and nearly 5 million jobs for U.S. employees. The opportunities right here in Northwest Arkansas are just as plentiful!

At a price of just $500, our comprehensive 32 hour certificate program has one of the lowest costs in the region, while maintaining NWTI's high standards for quality curriculum and education.

There's No Substitute For Experience!

Meet Your Trail Education Instructor

Class Instructor: Steve Schneider

Meet your MTE instructor Steve Schneider

OWNER: Trail Resources SP

Quality Assurance & Trail Resource Specialist

About Steve: Steve mindfully helps coordinate trail projects from inception. Which includes education, design, assessment, and consulting. Trail Resources ensures that the trail product meets sustainable trail standards.

Personal Education Includes: AA Fire Science/Conservation - Cabrillo Jr College; EMT/CPR Instructor, Wilderness First Aid - Mountain Rescue Cal-Fire 1981

Trail Experience:

  • 15 years Ozark Off Road Cyclist (OORC) - Trail Steward

  • International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trails 101 - 2005/2008

  • IMBA - Advanced Trail Build 2012/2014

  • Basic LM conservation tactics 2013

  • NPS/USFS recreational risk management “Best Practices” 2013.

  • Pollinator Habitat Support {Pollinator Partnership} 2013. OORC Board VP 2010-2014.

Projects & Builds: Rogue Trails (2017-2023) - Hobbs State Park, Vian City Lake Ok.; Bella Vista AR., Clarksville AR., Madisonville KY., Conifer Co, Pinnacle Mt State Park, Devil's Den State Park, Camp Orr (Boy Scouts of America) . Employed with IMBA 2012-2016 as South Central Regional Director assisting on many projects in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, and Louisiana.

Project partners included: City’s/Municipalities, USFS, NPS, TNC, and Private Landowners. Contract collaborations involved MOU’s, Grants, Signage, Liability Stewardship, Maintenance, Conservation Easements. Also Involved in controlled burning, invasive plant removal, trail restoration, NEPA and EA studies. No Trace Left Behind 101.

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