About RITP
The focus of the RITP is to encourage Roanoke Island residents with the outdoors via a system of biking paths, walking trails, and suggested routes on public streets. Signage and plaques will highlight the unique identities of each community and provide information on various cultural, historical, and ecological features of the island.
Goals & Outcomes
The goals of the project are to: 1) Build ta diverse team of community Bike and Pedestrian enthusiasts, 2) Identify new walking and biking trails and routes, 3) Connect existing paths for a more comprehensive trail network, 4) Create and publish a map showcasing the updated trails and network on Roanoke Island.
Volunteer Description & Opportunities
RITP volunteers should have a vested interest in the communities on Roanoke Island and a desire to see residents and visitors alike enjoy the island's natural environs. Volunteers mus be motivated, willing to work in teams, and capable of light walking. Volunteers will have the opportunity to assist with all aspects of the program including improving existing trail conditions, recruiting new volunteers, writing educational content, collecting community stories, designing trail-heads, fundraising, creating maps, and more.
Volunteer Duties & Commitment
Volunteer groups will be assembled based on pre-determined geographical trail sections. Group members are required to meet twice a month for one-hour, over a minimum period of six months to discuss and advance ongoing efforts related to the RITP. Groups are responsible for creating meeting agendas and recording meeting minutes. CSI has offered space for volunteers to hold their bi-monthly meetings. These meetings are intended for groups to address the following issues including but not limited to:
-Discuss approaches for garnering continued community support (residents and businesses)
-Walk/Bike/Drive as necessary, either on their own or as a group, potential trails and paths
-Survey residents level of interest
-Decide on and map trail routes (pre-printed maps can be provided by CSI)
-Create educational signage for trails (written, artistic, auditory, Kinesthetic, etc.) based on research, resident interviews, and personal knowledge
-Generate trail way-finding elements
-Discuss trail maintenance and litter control
-Seek out and securing necessary funding for trail work and map publication
-Produce a digital map with key details for publication (restrooms, water, landmarks/POI, bike racks, businesses, Etc.)
-Develop a virtual trail with corresponding educational materials and way-finding
-Recruit new volunteers as necessary
Volunteer Interests, Skills & Educational Categories
These are areas where the volunteers may specifically wish to give their time and/or resources in addition to focusing on a specific geographical region.
Educational Signage
Historical - Boat building, land use, commercial fishing, historic homes
Cultural - Civil War, family histories, Native Americans
Natural - Biology, botany, entomology, ecospheres, adaptions, land use
CSI - summer camps, research, garden features, waste water, compost
*Requires research, interviewing, taking photographs, etc. These are example topics only; Final decisions for educational materials will be made by the sub-group and approved
by the steering committee.
Outdoor Construction & maintenance
Gardening- Pulling weeds, planting, pruning, watering, mulching
Trail tending- Trimming branches, noting issues on trails, cleaning trail signs, general maintenance such as spreading gravel, moving stones, picking up branches, picking up trash Etc.
Building Trail-heads and way-finding components
Installing educational signage and corresponding elements
Constructing a boardwalk
Laying wood or placing stones for trail framework
Community Relations
Leadership
Communication
Collaboration
Researching various funding sources
Advocating for new trails
Soliciting space for educational signage, Trail-heads, Etc.
Writing grants
Recruiting new volunteers
Technical & Artistic
Designing educational pieces (both for online and in-person)
Designing way-finding components (both for online and in-person)
Creating and managing online systems for trails
Creating a printable and digital map with key components
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