Youth Challenge cadets to help build trails
The Central Oregon Trail Alliance and U.S. Bureau of Land Management are partnering with the Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge to build and improve trails at the Maston Area on Saturday.
The 50-plus Youth Challenge cadets will be raking and shoveling sandy areas, digging out loose rocks and back filling necessary areas.
The Maston is a network of mountain biking, hiking and equestrian trails on BLM land, located between Bend and Redmond and is a flagship project that demonstrates a strong partnership between different trail users.
Nearby residents and community members have commended this area as an important recreational asset providing accessible and varied recreational opportunities that are essential to community health and well being.
The trails suffered damage from large intense storm activity over the summer and are in need of major repair.
“This trail work event is important because COTA’s construction and maintenance workload is considerable. The Youth Challenge cadets provide an eager workforce of young men, usually 50 or more, to help get the trails in better shape. The cadets will also be building brand new trails this Saturday as well,” said Mike Pulzone, COTA board member and BLM liaison.
The Central Oregon Trail Alliance is dedicated to the stewardship of sustainable human powered trails and preserving access for mountain bikers through advocacy and education. COTA is a non-profit volunteer organization that works in conjunction with the US Forest Service, BLM and other land managers to build and maintain trails throughout Central Oregon. COTA is an IMBA affiliated club.
Oregon Youth Challenge provides opportunities for personal growth, self improvement and academic achievement among Oregon high school drop outs, students no longer attending and those failing in school, through a highly structured non-traditional environment; integrating training, mentoring and diverse educational activities.
