About the Program
Our ITA Youth Trail Crew Program provides opportunities for youth ages 14-18 to learn about the outdoors while building and maintaining hiking trails in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment.
Students will have the opportunity to live and work together in some of Idaho’s most wild places for a few days to up to a week at a time. Through this experience, they will build skills in teamwork and communication, as well as develop confidence in using traditional tools to perform trail maintenance. Our hope is this experience will inspire teens to become lifelong stewards and voices for their public lands and trails.
On The Trail
Our trips are led by experienced crew leaders who are passionate about the outdoors. These projects allow teens to meet new friends, try new things and explore Idaho’s best outdoor places.
ITA will provide all the meals and supervision for the week. Tents, sleeping bags, and pads are available. Crew leaders will have cell phones/radios in case of emergency.
Contact trails@idahotrailsassociation.org if you have any questions about our youth projects.
Upcoming Youth Projects
On this trip, youth volunteers will be exploring the Hemingway Boulder Wilderness, an area known for its terrific views and abundant wildlife. Over 16 miles of trail start at this trailhead all offering dramatic views of the Boulder Mountains, cold clear water of the North Fork Wood River, and wildflowers in bloom. We’ll meet ... Read More
This weeklong backpacking trip is a chance to explore everything the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness has to offer. Youth volunteers will fly into the Shearer airstrip on the Selway River. From there we will backpack three miles to our first camp. Trail work will include clearing logs off the trail and improving the tread we ... Read More
This is a three-day youth project in the beautiful upper North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Join us starting Thursday afternoon if you can. We are planning on an early start Friday morning so we can leave time each day to enjoy all the amenities available at camp. We’ll remove logs, cut back ... Read More
Join us for a youth trip near beautiful Rapid River, a Wild and Scenic River in the Payette National Forest! Youth volunteers will backpack in from the Ants Basin trail head and hike four miles to Indian Springs. Pack stock will carry camping gear and food to our base camp and volunteers will need ... Read More
On this week-long youth trip, we’ll explore the Seven Devils Range in the Hells Canyon Wilderness! This fully supported trip will have pack support carry food and camp gear in and volunteers will only need to carry personal gear. Food will be provided by ITA and prepared by a volunteer cook. We will hike ... Read More
In the fabulous Pioneer Mountains, join us on a youth weekend project where we’re teaming up with the Wood River Trails Coalition to tackle the loop to Pioneer Cabin. Food will be provided by ITA and prepared by a volunteer cook. We’ll meet at the Hyndman Trailhead where we’ll car camp for the weekend. ... Read More
Join us on a weeklong youth backpacking project in the Payette National Forest near McCall! Youth volunteers will work on the Split Creek/Loon Lake Trail starting on the south end at Secesh trailhead. ITA will provide backpacking meals and youth volunteers will be carrying all their gear. We’ll camp at the trailhead and work ... Read More