Please email our Volunteer and Outreach Associate, Amaya Horner, at [email protected] with any questions or to be added to the trainee list!
There are only 25 spots available. When you have completed the 12 hour training (zoom classes, trail classes, and shadow) and received your background check you will become an official TLC Trail Guide.
2025 Training Dates Coming Soon!
Zoom Meetings:
You must watch all Zoom recordings from the previous trainings before becoming an approved TLC Trail Guide. Participants will have until the end of training (3 weeks) to watch the videos. Zoom recordings will be sent to participants after registration.
Session 1- Introductions, What is TLC?, Trail Guide Roles, Expectations of Trail Guides, and Volunteer Hub Orientation
Session 2- Basics of Interpretation on Trail, Safety
Session 3- Common Programs, Orientation to each Public Preserve, Age Group Management Strategies
On-Trail Trainings:
You must attend at least three of the five in-person trail trainings, listed on our Volunteer Hub website. These trainings are to help expose you to trails at TLC preserves as well as give you examples of how to lead a group on trail. Each training will cover points of interest at the preserves, cover general safety on trail, and go over land use history and current TLC projects.
Tuesday, June 11th: 4:00-6:00pm @ Brumley North Nature Preserve
- Join Kayla Ebert, TLC’s Senior Education and Outreach Manager, and Luke Whiteside, Land Stewardship Associate West, to learn about Brumley North. We will talk about the preserve’s history, best practices for leading birding hikes and group management on trail.
Saturday, June 15th: 9:00-11:00am @ Brumley Southeast Nature Preserve
- Join Kayla Ebert, TLC’s Education and Outreach Associate, to explore the southern portion of our Brumley Nature Preserve. We will focus on the important features of Brumley South and its diverse ecology and geology.
Tuesday, June 18th: 4:00-6:00pm @ Horton Grove Nature Preserve
- Join Matt Rutledge, TLC’s Associate Director of Stewardship, to explore our Horton Grove Nature Preserve. This preserve is connected to the Stagville State Historic Site, where we will focus on the land’s history as well as the identification of various tree species.
Thursday, June 20th: 4pm-6pm @Williamson Nature Preserve
- Join Patrick Boleman, TLC’s Land Stewardship Manager East, to learn about Williamson Nature Preserve. We will be learning about the history, current agricultural practices, and prescribed fires on the preserve.
Saturday, June 22nd: 9:00-11:00am @ White Pines Nature Preserve
- Join Volunteer Trail Guide, Steve Gartrell, to learn about the unique microclimate of White Pines Nature Preserve, created by the confluence of the Rocky and Deep Rivers.
As we schedule experts for in person trainings here are examples of past offerings:
General Mushroom ID with TLC Trail Guide Susannah Goldston
Birding on TLC Properties
Native Plant ID on TLC Properties
Interpretation on Trail
Best Practices for Leading Youth Groups
NC EE Certification
This training counts as 12 hours of Criteria II towards your NC Environmental Educator’s Certification. Please download the form below for Kayla Ebert to sign at the end of the course to gain your 12 EE hour credits. You do not need this form if you are not participating in the certification program.
