Friends of the Riverfront is excited to announce our first Trail Ambassador Training and Social on Wednesday August 16th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm! This year’s training will take place at our cozy office in Etna at 100 Hafner Ave, which can be reached by car, bus, or bike (for the experienced cyclist).
If you are interested in becoming a Trail Ambassador for the 2023 August – November season, and you haven’t already, please fill out this volunteer interest form at:
Once you have completed the volunteer interest form, please register for the in-person volunteer training.
More information:
What is the Trail Ambassador Program?
This Trail Ambassador program is an initiative of Friends of the Riverfront, a non-profit organization that works to protect and restore the riverfronts in the Pittsburgh region. Our mission is to build safe, clean, and accessible riverfront trails as part of the Three Rivers Heritage & Water Trail systems to create and maintain an outstanding experience for trail users while providing economic, environmental, and health benefits to the Pittsburgh region. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is a designated National Recreation Trail system that spans 33 miles along both banks of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. The Trail offers opportunities for recreation, transportation, education, and tourism, and connects to many neighborhoods, business districts, and attractions. Friends of the Riverfront are always working to expand the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, connecting to new communities, and working towards creating large, interconnected trail networks like the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail. As a Trail Ambassador, you will play a vital role in enhancing the trail experience for everyone who uses it and inviting in trail users to become a part of the Friends of the Riverfront community.
What roles does a Trail Ambassador play?
A Trail Ambassador is asked to make a time commitment of at least 8 volunteer hours a month and there are several ways to be a Trail Ambassador, depending on your interests and skills. Here are some of the ways you can engage as a Trail Ambassador and you are not limited to one role:
- Cycling ambassador role: These are ambassadors who can ride the Trail on their bike, looking for and reporting maintenance or safety issues, filling map boxes, and helping people on the trail as needed. Cycling ambassadors also have the option of hosting group rides or walks on the Trail. Cycling ambassadors are especially important for covering more ground and reaching more trail users. Cycling Ambassadors also have the option of organizing group rides and walks on the Trail with the support of Friends of the Riverfront staff.
- Event ambassador role: These are ambassadors who can represent Friends of the Riverfront at events, community festivals, music festivals, and more through tabling. Event Ambassadors are responsible for setting up and taking down the table, displaying materials, engaging with the public, answering questions, and collecting contact information from interested people. In many cases, Event Ambassadors will assist staff in tabling and will not be responsible for tabling or set up alone.
- Trail-gating Ambassador role: These are ambassadors who can volunteer by “trail-gating”, which is setting up a small table with visitor information, maps, and giveaways for trail users at designated locations along the Three Rivers Heritage Land and Water Trail launches. Trail-gating ambassadors are friendly and welcoming, and can provide directions, recommendations, and tips to enhance the trail experience. As a Trail-gating ambassador you can bring your favorite chair, a few cold drinks, sit back and enjoy the peaceful nature of the trail while engaging and interacting with trail users who need maps, support, or guidance.
What to expect at the Trail Ambassador Training?
The Trail Ambassador Training will include light drinks and refreshments, as well as a short social time to get to know one another. We will discuss the role of the Trail Ambassador, train you on essential information about the Three Rivers Heritage Trail as well as the Friends of the Riverfront organization. This training will help prepare you to best inform trail users when representing the Trail, equip you with the materials that you will need to succeed, and talk about the perks and benefits of becoming a Trail Ambassador!
During the training we will take a short break and get outside (weather and air-quality dependent) to do a live demonstration, showcasing our different ambassador roles like event tabling, cycling, and trail-gating. Training will prepare you with all the resources and information you need to successfully fill the Trail Ambassador Role!
We look forward to meeting all of you and the opportunity to support one another on the Trails, so that our trails are safe, inviting, and welcoming to all! Trail Ambassadors are the friendly, helpful faces of the trail and help to tell the story of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. If this is an opportunity that speaks to you, please sign up today!
