I would like you to think about why we do work bees and fill out work bee reports. I am sure we all have scouted new trail, cleaned up a trail, repaired a trail, built a bridge or numerous other forms of trail maintenance. We do this because we enjoy the actual work or because we enjoy the resulting betterment of the trail. So why do we fill out work bee reports? There are several reasons to fill out reports and track the work we have done and the following are some examples:
- Lets other riders in your chapter know about new trails and/or conditions.
- Helps you track the efforts put forward by chapter members.
- Give history of who attended and has local knowledge of the trail.
- Encourages other members to attend/organize work bees.
- Provides historical information as to who built/maintained a trail.
These are just a few reasons and I am sure you could add one or two more, but in time of trail use conflict the last may be the most important. We keep records Provincially and each Chapter should also keep records so when that inevitable day comes when there is a conflict over access to a trail we can lobby to maintain our right to ride by using our work bee reports from the past to prove use and commitment to the trail.What should be included on a Work Bee Report?To answer this question I think we need to identify what we are trying to track with these reports. It is my opinion that we should be tracking the efforts/costs of gaining access to and maintaining trails and our right to ride. Some of the elements that might be involved are:
- Scouting new trail
- Meeting with authorities over access/permission
- Building new trail
- Maintaining existing trail
- Mapping/documenting trails
- Other
The work bee report should have provisions to record all activities that arise out of these elements. Time spent meeting with authorities may be as important, if not more so, than time spent clearing windfalls and should be included in the report.So remember the next time you go and clear some windfalls or build a new section of trail, fill out a work bee report and send it in - your right to ride in the future may depend on it.
Ian Compton, Provincial Work Bee Coordinator