Internationally Renowned Trail Building School Coming to Trexler Nature Preserve!

The Valley Mountain Bikers (VMB) invite you to attend a trail building school at the Trexler Nature Preserve on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Numerous studies have made the positive link between trails and their benefits abundantly clear. Learn what a healthy trail system can do for your community.

Don’t miss this event! It is run by award winning trail builders from the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) and admission is FREE!

IMBA has a team of trail experts who travel North America year-round, leading trail building schools, meeting with government officials and land managers, and working with multi-user groups. IMBA's Crews have led more than 1,000 trail projects since the program debuted in 1997.

You will learn:

  • Proper techniques of sustainable trail construction that prevent erosion
  • How to create conflict free multi-use trails
  • How to design trails that are interesting and have proper flow
  • Basic construction including turns, drainage and bridges
  • Trail reroutes
  • Trail reclamation
  • Fostering volunteer clubs and partnerships
  • Effective use of signage
  • Above all - what a healthy trail system can do for your community!

This trail building school is not just for mountain bikers. The principals and techniques being taught in this session can be used for all multi-use trails – walking, running, hiking, biking, and equestrian.

IMBA Trail Building School Schedule for Saturday, September 19th

9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Classroom Session and Presentation at Lehigh Valley Zoo

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch provided compliments of VMB at Lehigh Valley Zoo

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hands on outdoor trail construction session adjacent to Lehigh Valley Zoo

Directions to Lehigh Valley Zoo »

Please also plan to join us for a Kick-Off Event Thursday, September 17th

6:00 pm – 9:30 pm in the Hamilton Room at the Allentown Brew Works.

This fun, social event marks the launch of this unprecedented four-day visit of the IMBA Trail Care Crew to the Lehigh Valley. At this event, VMB will be celebrating the groundbreaking of the multi-use trail network at Trexler Nature Preserve, recognizing those who made these trails possible, raising awareness of the project, reviewing the final schedule for the trail building visit, and doing some fund raising.

Directions to Allentown Brew Works »

This is a rare opportunity that has been awarded to us at no charge. Join us at the Kick-Off Party, Trail Building Day, or both to celebrate a great addition to the Lehigh County Park system that will draw trail users from miles around and to find out what a healthy trail system can do for your community!

If you will be attending please RSVP here »