Volunteer Trail Watch Aims to Educate Trail Users

Thus was born the Volunteer Trail Watch program, which after eight months of planning and revisions was approved earlier this month by the city of Rancho Palos Verdes.

Ailor compares the program to a neighborhood watch where volunteers report to park rangers, serving as “eyes and ears” for the preserve. Conserving, educating and easing tensions between trail users is what Ailor’s volunteer program aims to do.

“A common misconception about the preserve is that people think it’s a park,” said Ailor. “There are no formalized bathrooms or parking lots. It’s not a playground for people to mess up.”

Because so many native plants and species thrive within the preserve, conserving and rebuilding this critical natural habitat is a top priority for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. The volunteer program will help educate the public on the importance of the preserve.

Dogs off leashes, use of unmarked trails and poor trail etiquette are a few problems this program will help solve. Ailor also hopes the program will create an understanding between hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians who use the trails.

“Having people out there to educate and share smiles will do a world of good," Ailor said. "People will enjoy doing it. They’ll make new friends and get some exercise."

Hikers, mountain bicyclists and equestrians who wish to volunteer must commit to working four hours per month. Training by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority rangers will begin June 29, with additional training sessions on July 13 and 20.

Rancho Palos Verdes is participating in and investing in the program because the City is a land manager interested in the benefit of the Volunteer Trail Watch, according to Katie Howe of the Rancho Palos Verdes Parks and Recreation Department. The city will provide funding for two training sessions for up to 30 volunteers and a web portal to track volunteer hours at a cost of $11,400 yearly. The PVPLC, however, will manage and direct the program.

Correction: A previous version of the article mistakenly suggested that the Volunteer Trail Watch will enforce city codes and that the city of Rancho Palos Verdes was not running the program for insurance reasons. These points have been clarified in the text above, and we regret the error.