News Archive

Thank you to all who participated in our Map & Compass Workshop taught by Paul Brookes.  It was a beautiful day to learn orienteering skills at the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) Center at Helfand Farm. This workshop was funded through an educational grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Thank you to Stop & Shop Dartmouth for providing refreshments for the participants.

 Map & Compass – Workshop #4
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance (SCBA) is recruiting participants for a Map & Compass Workshop, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Recreational Trail Building Grant program. The free workshop, held on Saturday, December 29, 2018, from 9-4, will be taught by Paul Brookes. 

Paul Brookes has been a hike leader for the Southeastern Massachusetts chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) for 6 years. He leads numerous three-season hikes as well as an annual winter hiking series out of the Blue Hills. He recently taught a Map and Compass course for the AMC. Paul is experienced in experiential and classroom teaching. He is faculty for Daniel Webster College in Nashua NH, teaching evening engineering courses.

The SCBA asks those who attend for these free workshops to pledge one hour of service on the South Coast Scenic Greenway or other SCBA project in exchange for each hour of classroom hour attended.

​Course objectives

In this course you will learn basic and intermediate navigation skills using a map and compass. You’ll learn how to read a topographic map and how to use a compass and map together. You’ll also learn some basic orienteering skills such as how to bushwhack from one trail to another by following a bearing.

Prerequisites
This class is for beginners and those needing a refresh, there are no prerequisites.  You do not need to have taken any prior classes or have any prior experience reading a topographic map or using a compass.  
Course Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to use a topographic map (even without a compass) to provide assurance after an intersection that you’re on the right trail and not a deer path or bootleg bicycle path.   
You should be able to use a compass in tandem with your map to safely leave the trail and bushwhack to a peak or overlook.  You should also be able to leave a trail, bushwhack to another trail and not miss it or get lost.

The material is broken down into small segments that build on top of each other and no prior experience necessary.   We’ll often break into small groups to practice the skills taught.  Some exercises will be in the classroom and others will be in the field outside.   Facilitators will be on-hand to help lead the small-group exercises. 

We will finish the day with a short hike where you will get to put into practice many of the skills you learned during the day including a bushwhack to an intersection or landmark.

​The Details
Date:    Saturday, December 29, 2018   (Rain or shine)
Time:    9 am to 4 pm
Where:  Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT) Center at Helfand Farm 
              318 Chase Road, Dartmouth MA 02747
Lunch will be provided. 
Supplies needed: You will need to bring your own compass. The instructor recommends the Suunto M-3 which he will be using during the class. 
Click on the link below to be considered for participation.  Space is limited. 

The South Coast Bikeway Alliance is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a 2017 Massachusetts Department of Recreation (DCR) Recreational Trail Building Grant. This “Trail Documentation, Stewardship and Skills Training” grant will engage people from all of the communities along the South Coast to take part in a series of workshops. These workshops will be taught by Peter S. Jensen & Associates. 

The SCBA asks those who register for these free workshops pledge to volunteer one hour of service on the South Coast Scenic Greenway or other SCBA project in exchange for each hour of classroom hour attended.



Join Westport Land Conservation Trust, South Coast Bikeway Alliance and Peter S. Jensen & Associates, LLC for a two-day
wetland crossing workshop at Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area (1520 Main Road). 
The workshop will cover the ins and outs of permitting, designing and building footbridges for pedestrian traffic over streams, wetlands and waterways. Participants will take part in the hands-on construction of two 12-foot wooden footbridges over Dunham’s Brook—one of the largest freshwater tributaries to the west branch of the Westport River. The footbridges will serve as the main pedestrian access trail to over two miles of hiking trails at the 159-acre Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area.
“WLCT is very excited to partner with the Town and with South Coast Bikeway Alliance to improve the robust trail system at Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area,” said WLCT’s executive director Ross Moran. “We hope this project encourages hikers to explore the trails and get inspired by the beauty of Dunham’s Brook Conservation Area!”
With this grant funding, SCBA have retained professional trail builder Peter S. Jensen & Associates, LLC to lead the two-day instructional workshop. “This funding allows members of the public to complete the workshop free of charge,” said SCBA president Bob Espindola. “The workshop is a great opportunity for hobbyists and for those interested in professional development.”

Tools, supplies and certified instructors will be provided.

Advance registration is required for this program—no exceptions. To register, please email Brendan@WestportLandTrust.org. 
Space is limited! This event is free and open to the public.

Trail Stewardship and Basic Skills Training Workshop #2  Saturday, October 28 & Sunday October 29 8 am – 4:30/5:00 pm ​ This two-day workshop will focus on exploring the fundamentals of sustainable trail layout and design as specifically applied to tread and drainage structures for up to 10 participants. A basic understanding of hillside hydrology, how trails should work, developing trail eyes, structural options, construction tactics, proper pruning techniques for woody plants, restoration of damaged trails, and prioritizing maintenance through trail triage will be the basis for this workshop. Participants will demonstrate trail stewardship skills by applying knowledge learned thru hands on demonstration throughout the workshop. Participants will receive direct feedback from the instructor on how to improve construction techniques.

Workshop #2 resulted in the setting of stairs on the DNRT Ridge Hill Reserve trail off Copicut RD in Dartmouth. A special thank you to all who volunteered, DNRT for providing the site, project and materials, DCR for awarding SCBA the Educational Grant and Erin and Carl from Peter S. Jensen and Associates for their instruction.

Sustainable Trail Layout and Design Workshop # 1 
 Saturday, October 21  8 am – 4:30/5:00 pm
​This one-day workshop will focus on sustainable trail layout and design for natural surface trails and include both classroom and field time for up to 10 participants. A typical discussion around what is a sustainable trail will cover trail construction techniques including; out sloped tread, sustainable grades, frequent grade reversals, erosion resistance, a path that traverses along the side slope, provision for sheet flow of runoff, positive user experiences and low maintenance. Also known as the 8 Sustainable Solutions. This workshop will field test these concepts and give the participants hands on experience using a variety of layout and design tools. Each participant will layout a trail line as part of the class. We will then evaluate that trail line, making sure that all the sustainable solution concepts are addressed to the best of our abilities, and make improvements based on real time feedback.