Trailblazers arose from a community need to reverse the growing disconnect between America’s youth and the natural world, introduce new audiences to the outdoors, and build a skilled workforce committed to preserving local natural spaces.

The Trailblazers program is a community collaboration between the City of Charlottesville, through their Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP), the Shenandoah National Park Trust (SNPT), Rivanna Trail Foundation (RTF), Appalachian Conservation Corps (ACC), and Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club(CAMBC).

This program runs from late June to early August and functions as a part-time summer trail crew job for older teens in Charlottesville. Participants will be paid $15/hour for a 20-hour work week.

No prior experience is necessary to become a Trailblazer– gear, snacks, and training will be provided for you!

Your Summer as a Trailblazer:

Week 1: Orientation

For the first week of work, you’ll be with CAYIP getting ready to join the workforce and prepare for the Summer!

Week 2: Trailwork in Charlottesville

For most of the summer, you’ll be working on the Rivanna Trail and enjoying other recreational opportunities right here in C-ville. Like a normal part-time job, but with some extra adventures!

Week 3: Trailwork in Charlottesville & Shenandoah

During the 3rd week of work, you’ll start the week working in Charlottesville and finish the week working in Shenandoah National Park, soaking in adventures like:

  • Spending 2 nights camping in a tent in the park
  • Using your new skills to tackle trail projects in Shenandoah
  • Enjoying ranger programs and exploring the park with your crew
  • Connecting with the park’s trail crew and other park rangers
  • Learning from National Park Service employees what a could look like protecting public lands like Shenandoah!

Week 4-5: Trailwork In Charlottesville

Back in C-ville, these two weeks are where you really hit your stride. You’ll continue building out the Rivanna Trail while sharpening the skills you’ve been developing all summer.

Week 6: Trailwork in Charlottesville & Graduation

The final stretch! You’ll wrap up the summer with one last round of trailwork in Charlottesville before celebrating everything you’ve accomplished as a Trailblazer.

Ultimately, the goal of Trailblazers is to empower the next generation of outdoor leaders and champions for public lands, both in their hometown and beyond.

 

Interested in becoming a Trailblazer?

Applications for Trailblazers 2026 season are now closed but will reopen for the 2027 season in March. In the meantime, check out these other ways to get involved with outdoor conservation work: 

  • Participate in RTF Monthly Work Parties on the second Saturday of each month. This is a great opportunity to see if you’ll enjoy trailwork before committing to a long-term trail crew position! Meet at the tool shed at 2030 Morton Drive at 8:45AM to get your assignments and head over the trail spot you’ll be working on until 12:00PM.
      • No experience necessary, the day-of crew leader will teach you everything you need to know; just come dressed for the weather and ready to work. We recommend long pants and hiking boots or sneakers to protect yourself from possible ticks, scratches, and sunburn. 
  • Visit Shenandoah National Park on Fee Free Entrance days to hike, enjoy the overlooks, participate in Artist-in-Residence workshops, attend ranger programs and more. Some of our favorite hikes include:  
      • Rose River Loop Trail (mile 49.4) = 4-mile loop trail with a beautiful waterfall  
      • Chimney Rock (mile 90) = 3.4-mile circuit total, out-and-back trail with unusual rock formations 
      • Turk Mountain Trail (mile 94.1) = 2.5-mile circuit total, out-and-back trail with views of the Shenandoah Valley 
  • Research other summer opportunities to participate in youth conservation programs in Shenandoah, such as the Shenandoah Youth Corps and the Youth Conservation Corps. These programs are paid opportunities for teens aged 15-18 to build trails, maintain fences, clean up campgrounds, improve wildlife habitat, place-based STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), stream restoration, historic building preservation, and more! Again, no wilderness experience necessary, but you must be willing to engage in physically demanding outdoor work. 

On August 7th, 2024, C-Ville Weekly published a cover story on the Trailblazers program – read the piece here to find out more about this partnership and how the first year went!