Adventurer, outdoorsman, four-wheeler, author, and defender of sustainable outdoor motorized recreational access.
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| By the time the gate goes up, it's too late! |
Welcome to landuse, access, conservation, stewardship, and getting involved. This is your first stop in learning what to do, how to do it, and where to start.
We can't afford to sit back and wait for someone else to do it. Here are simple starting steps.
By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate.
Words of wisdom from a guy they once called the “Poop Master.” And yes, there’s a story behind that.
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| Show up; give back; make access happen |
Saturday, September 26, is National Public Lands Day, and I almost let this one sneak past me. That would have been a mistake.
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| Lead, mentor, and pass on the passion |
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| Recreational Incident Command System by Del Albright |
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| Plan, organize, direct, and control - any trail project |
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| Not closed, but too full for you |
Capacity Closures are the next threat to access when it's not closed, but just full. Now what?
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| Bringing back stewardship to the trails |
Getting Skin in the Game for the Future of Public Lands
April is National Volunteer Month. Missed the month? You didn't miss the mission! Here's the deal.
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| Our land is in our hands |
There’s a hard truth about today’s forests: They don’t recognize boundary lines. Fire doesn’t stop at a fence. Insects don’t care who manages the land. And overgrown fuels don’t check a map before they burn. The ecosystem is one big, connected puzzle that requires more than a single-focused approach. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is now emphasizing an approach to public land management that brings all the pieces of the puzzle together.
It’s called “Shared Stewardship,” and it matters now more than ever.
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| How to avoid burnout |
By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate
Saying “yes” to a cause you care about is easy—maybe too easy. Before you know it, your calendar is overflowing, your inbox is bursting, your patience is thinning, and burnout is just around the corner. The irony? Once burnout hits, you're not just sidelined—you might even harm the cause you set out to help.
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| Del's tips on how to keep trails open. |
By Del Albright, Sustainable Recreation Advocate
Right now — before the summer chaos hits, while clubs and groups are gearing up for events, fundraisers, and land use battles — is the time to ACT.
Our trails are on the table. Some are threatened. Some are already locked up. Others are barely hanging on. Some have been reopened! But together, we can help the new Administration and supportive elected officials keep the rubber on the dirt and the access in our hands. The key? More voices. More hands. More of YOU.
🔹 Join a land use organization: Whether it's national, regional, statewide, or your local club — we need numbers and muscle.
🔹 Get on a committee: Policy is shaped by those who show up.
🔹 Volunteer for trail maintenance: Sweat equity matters.
🔹 Donate or fundraise: Advocacy isn't free — but a locked gate costs way more in the long run.
🔹 Speak up on social: Be loud. Be visible. Be positive. Your voice influences others.
Because public land policies are shifting faster than ever. Because recreational use is growing. Because agencies are setting their summer priorities right now — and if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.
TRAIL ACCESS IS NOT A GUARANTEE — IT’S A FIGHT
And it’s one we can win. But it takes more than just enjoying the ride. It takes standing up, speaking out, and showing the world that our trails are worth protecting. And it takes JOINING organized recreation associations/groups.
Let your commitment be known — get involved before the gates are closed.
👉 Learn more, join up, and take action at www.delalbright.com
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Learn more of the tips and shortcuts to saving trails and keep our access alive and well in my book now available on Amazon here. |
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https://www.amazon.com/Shortcuts-Landuse-Volunteerism-Volunteer-Leadership/dp/B0CVXL345P/
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
We can fight it, try to ignore it, or learn to deal with it effectively, but conflict is inevitable in outdoor recreation. Club members disagree; users butt heads on trails; large organized groups don’t like what another group is doing, or turf battles have been going on for years. It is just human nature that we will not always agree with each other, and sometimes, this results in conflicting actions and ideas. I’d like to offer some ideas for dealing with conflict in recreation and making your life easier while saving our favorite forms of recreation.
Conflict
is unavoidable
At some point
in your busy life, you will run into conflict with another person. It’s
life. Whenever we share opinions or ideas, conflict is bound to surface.
People just plain disagree on many things, especially when it comes to
something we are passionate about. If your opinion is different than mine, then
we might just be in conflict.
Conflict
is a part of recreation.
Just like it
is life and relationships, sometimes we just cannot avoid conflict. I am going
to suggest ways to embrace it and make it useful. It might surface its
ugly head at a trail intersection. Or maybe during a meeting about the
color of a T-shirt. Or who knows? It is like a snake in the grass;
you never know when it might strike.
Conflict
is not always bad.
It just is.
How you react to it gives it a flavor of good or bad.
As you read
these tips, remember that much of what I suggest here involves you
having the power to choose how you react to things and not allowing
someone to dictate your happiness or peace of mind.
“Choose” and
“allow” are two of the most powerful words in the dictionary. For example, you
might hear me say, “I choose not to get caught up in your garbage. And I am not
going to allow you to ruin my day.” Unfortunately, the policeman I tried this
on didn’t think it was funny! (just kidding). But you have the choice as to how
you react to something in your life. Do not let someone else tell you how
you feel or how you should react. You choose. You allow right there,
and that starts reducing the opportunities for conflict.
Conflict
can be viewed as powerful.
It means
people are sharing ideas and opinions that don’t agree. It means new doors are
being opened, and new opportunities are being presented. It also might mean a
few sleepless nights for you if you don’t take some steps to harness the power
of conflict.
Now, I’m not
suggesting that all conflict is “good.” Conflict can twist up our guts, cut
into our sleep, and make our faces turn pretty darn red from frustration. But
that is not what any of us want. Let me share with you some tips for dealing
with conflict and turning it into something useful.
Make things happen in your club.
The 7
Master Secrets
→One, accept the fact that when people share opinions,
there’s bound to be differences (conflict). Heck, there’s no way we could all
think alike, or we’d still be carrying clubs and living in caves. Recognize
that conflict is natural and use it as a learning experience. I compare
conflict to fear — we will always have some of both to deal with; it’s all in
how we allow ourselves to react.
→Two, try to stay objective and clearly express your
expectations (or ideas). Clear communication is essential to avoiding
unnecessary conflict. There’s no use getting your knickers in an uproar over
something you really didn’t mean. So make sure what your listener is hearing is
what you meant to say.
→ Third, never lose sight of your objective
and try to maintain the “high ground,” as they say in the military (and
politics). During political conflict (meetings, hearings, conventions, etc.),
take notes like an attorney. Get your key points jotted down for your “come
back,” and stick with them. Make your points over and over again, if needed,
until the listener clearly hears your ideas (or rebuttals).
Further,
don’t get caught up in emotions. When you feel like you’re about to explode,
back off, take a breath, and tackle the conflict head-on, but with as much
objectivity as you can muster. Break out your notes (like the attorney busily
jotting things down during a court proceeding), and review your key points.
→Fourth, look for the root of the problem
(conflict). If it’s purely a political agenda with no real foundation other
than making a show, well, then you may have to accept the fact that all the
logic in the world won’t sway that. In this case, the conflict is phony and
attention-gathering. Call it for what it is.
→Five, assuming the conflict is real, try to agree to some
ground rules during the conflict resolution process. For example, suppose two
people who know each other are arguing. In that case, it might be good to agree
that both will avoid each other’s well-known “hot buttons” that merely escalate
the emotional intensity of the argument. Agree to that upfront. Agree to a fair
fight, if you will.
Dealing with conflict is no picnic, but it must be done and can be easier than you think if you follow these secrets.
→Six, trust your instincts and the instincts of people you
respect. If your instincts tell you to hang in the fight (conflict), then hang!
If that little voice in your head says, “If I give up now, then I will lose
much more in the long run,” then don’t give up.
→Seven, in recreation, there is that reality,
just like in politics, when nothing makes sense, and there is no real answer
because there is no real question. That’s when we need to stay very focused and
tuned into your message (bullet points, 5×7 cards, notes, etc.). Don’t spend
time wondering why someone would dress up like a coyote and wander down the
dusty streets of some Texas cow town in front of the Longhorn Saloon on
Saturday night, trying to make some sort of political statement! If your
conflict involves this type of showmanship, then realize your logic will
probably not change anything. Just move on.
In the
leadership training I offer, I emphasize the importance of taking notes and writing down your message on 5×7 cards or whatever works for you. Public speaking and dealing with conflict benefit from having our key points right in front of us. If you find yourself at a loss for words, you can simply refer back to your key points (notes,
expectations, and ideas). It works!
Summary
Conflict is
not always bad, and sometimes it is unavoidable. Learn to trust your instincts
and do not run from them. Conflict can help us grow or improve a club. Be
clear as to your objectives, and keep your key points handy. When engaged in
showmanship conflict, you may get to the point of succumbing to tactics
you don’t ordinarily like, then realize that you have changed the game and the
ground rules. You may also have given up some of your high ground. I’m reminded
of what my Mom used to tell me, “Just because Johnny does it doesn’t mean you
get to do it.” Oh, by the way, in those days, Johnny was sticking his head in a
bag of airplane glue, and I’m sure glad I listened to my mother. 🙂
Solve conflict!
Conflict can
keep us on the fence; if we do not solve it, we will be suspended from the
action. If you can recognize conflict for what it’s worth and learn to harness its
power, you will find many new doors open to you. Opportunities will surface
that you may not have seen before. And hopefully, by employing the tips
presented here, you’ll not lose any more sleep.
HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
Proven Formula to Protect Access and Save Trails
By Del Albright
Saving
(and sustaining) a trail system, protecting access, and keeping our
off-pavement motorsports alive and well boils down to a proven formula:
Engineering, Education, Enlisting, and Enforcement. In the simplest of terms,
this means 1) design it right; 2) let people know the rules and how to help; 3)
get involvement from as many and varied users as you can; and 4) use trail
patrols and if needed, law enforcement officers to ensure the rules are
followed.
I am borrowing from my career in the fire service with their fire prevention programs that rely on the “three E's” -- Engineering, Education, and Enforcement. In fire prevention, the object is to design (engineer) a building, house, or sub-division in such a way as to minimize the chances of fire. You then educate folks about preventing fires with signs, letters, commercials, school programs, and whatever it takes. Then, if that doesn't work, you bust people with tickets for not complying and thereby jeopardizing not only themselves but their neighbors as well.
With protecting trail access, we have to add in the fourth E, Enlisting – getting involvement from as many volunteers, agencies, users, and businesses as you can. It is through volunteerism that we add a workforce to an always diminishing “staff” in land management agencies. When agencies or land owners say, “We don’t have the staff to maintain the trails,” volunteers step up, adopt the trail and become that staff. This kind of dedication and involvement has to be enlisted; it doesn’t happen by itself.
Here are many of the formula's components for you to add to your efforts to protect sustainable motorized access.
Engineering:
Risk
Management Assessment
Water
control and runoff
Water
crossings (hardening)
Soil
stability
Rolling
dips, waterbars, and other erosion/sediment control devices
Gabions
and other rock structures to strengthen and harden trail surfaces
Vegetation
(as a soil stabilizing factor)
Grade,
or slope; out slope/in slope
Rider
conflicts and user needs
Good
inventory of all routes and trails
Loop
trails/roads where possible
Monitoring,
with data collection to meet agency needs and trail future
Education:
Signage
to ensure rules are known and "stay the trail" is in effect
Brochures
and handouts (tap into TreadLightly! RIDE ON, and other programs out there)
Check-in, kiosks, permits
Web
page/forums and user meetings as needed
Develop and share trail “code of ethics.”
Hold volunteer meetings or training sessions for trail education
Enlisting:
Getting
volunteers (users, agencies, businesses) involved
Volunteer
training to ensure leadership and efficiency
Leadership
development and ongoing training
Adopt-a-trail programs with agencies and landowners
Organized
segmented layout for easy adoption/maintenance
Publication
of volunteer efforts
Application
for grants using volunteer hours
Developing
advocacy talents within the volunteer ranks
Enforcement:
Grant
for LEO or security/cops
Rules are well posted.
Warning
system
Well-advertised
Volunteer
trail patrol
Published
activities and successes of enforcement as needed
As always, I suggest you belong to and check with past successes of your national, regional, and state associations to see how this formula might have already been applied to your area.
If you apply the elements of this formula to protecting access, my 40+ years of landuse (and fire service) tell me we will all have a better and more sustainable trail future!
Del
HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
Do not just volunteer, but
rather up-purpose your volunteerism! In today's world, we must
stop wasting our precious volunteer time when we are all torn in many
directions by multiple jobs, kids' school games, community involvement, paying
bills, family commitments, and more. Too many of us have become trapped in the
status quo of losing ground in the long run. Herein, I will explain purposeful
volunteerism and how we need to push beyond just holding our ground regarding
access to responsible motorized recreation.
TIP 1: Embrace
the concept of "think globally; act locally." If
you want to up-purpose your volunteer time, consider the big picture before
investing your time. Ask yourself, "In the big scheme of things, will this
project I'm about to undertake make a difference worth my time invested?"
If it will, then do it. If it won't, then don't do it – find something better
to do with your volunteer time. But it must start with a serious and purposeful
consideration of the global picture – the overall future of sustainable motorized
recreation in America.
TIP 2: Volunteer
to help Association Events:
I believe that working (volunteering) at state associations or club
events does make a difference in the long run to the big picture. When the
event is geared towards raising funds to help the association/club accomplish
its mission, you are helping the global cause by being involved. The extent of your involvement is not as significant
as the purpose of your commitment. If all you can do is run the sign-in table
at a convention, which frees up other people to do more complicated jobs, then
smile proudly and do your job! You are helping the global cause.
TIP 3: Improve
our image and help cure Toenail Fungus: No, I don't think investing my discretionary
off-road time and money into curing "fungus among us" is the right
way to be a purposeful volunteer for motorized recreation. Even if you cure the
toenail fungus, you'll be lucky to get a 1/16-page blurb in the local newspaper
and a fleeting thank you in some newsletter/website that people might remember
for a week.
With this supposed image-enhancing effort, you will not cure our loss of lands and access. The trick here is to invest your time in events and causes that MOSTLY support off-road recreation and, to a smaller extent, support a feel-good cause.
TIP 4: Become
a club or organization leader: Taking on a leadership role in a club or
association is crucial to being purposeful in your volunteer efforts. The
entire motorized world does not have enough people with the time to invest in
being a leader. So if that is you, jump all over it and do it with gusto – but
also keep the global (big) picture always in your mind.
Ask yourself, for example, if being part of an ego
squabble is the right way to protect our access future. Play your own "devil's
advocate" and challenge the actions you are taking or about to take. Will
your next step really help the big picture – are you being purposeful in your
volunteerism? As a leader, this is crucial to inspiring others to do the same.
When you can influence several other volunteers' actions, beliefs, and
productivity, you have become an unstoppable force in the future of sustainable
motorized access.
TIP 5: Take
it to court: We will win the battles for access only by
escalating to more offensive strategies. This means we need a war chest that
will allow us to take it to court when required –to go legal and go strong!
Those who oppose our way of life have the funds and legal teams to file
lawsuits at the drop of a hat. They tie up land management agencies in fearful
legal engagements and threats that tie up our access in the meantime and many
times in the long run.
We must get ahead of this curve and be preemptive where
needed. Donating to the legal efforts of your favorite motorsports group is the
primary thing we can all do to take it to the next level – or at least be
willing, prepared, and able to go on the offensive. But do NOT waste your money
on dead-end legal battles. Pick the right legal battle to support.
TIP 6: Join
and Donate: Nothing is more fundamental to up-purposing
your involvement than joining, renewing, and donating to everything you can
afford that helps protect recreational motorized access. If you do nothing
else, an ongoing donation program or an annual contribution on top of your
renewing memberships is globally significant! We must unite our voices and
build our access forces and war chests to win these battles.
Summary:
Ask
yourself if your volunteer efforts are progressing towards the global picture of
saving trails or just staying trapped in the status quo of losing ground.
Remember to be purposeful in your volunteer efforts by investing your time
where the payback is worth it to the big picture of keeping our access to
responsible, sustainable motorized recreation. And let's go beyond just holding
our ground!
Learn more about volunteering, leading volunteers, land use,
and more in this easy-to-follow book here.
(Note: originally published on ModernJeeper.com, 12/9/22)
MORE HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
More land use and volunteerism help here:
If you're looking for a one-stop, practical guide on how to keep trails open and prevent closures, my book delivers. Based on over 40 years of volunteerism and landuse advocacy experience, I lay out proven tips, real-world strategies, and volunteerism shortcuts that make a difference.
Our motorized recreation groups, clubs, and associations are stretched thin and struggling with membership engagement. Without stronger grassroots action, our ability to fight back weakens.
Now is the time to act!
My book, Shortcuts to Land Use & Volunteerism: Creating a Sustainable Future for Motorized Recreation, offers solutions, motivation, and the roadmap we need to secure our trails for generations to come. If you are or going to be a club leader, you will learn how to inspire, motivate, and facilitate volunteers into action, leading them to victory!
Check it out today—and join the fight to keep access alive!.
It is hard to say no to helping a cause you believe in, but eventually, we say yes too much, our plates become full, frustration hovers, stress builds, and burnout looms in the forefront. As we continue volunteering, we are lucky if we do not blow a gasket, toss a stroke, get mad, or just quit! Once you burn out, you no longer help the cause – you might even hurt it. So, my advice is to learn where your threshold lies and not cross it.
Threshold is
an ancient word, dating to c.1000 and probably earlier. The term “thresh” was
initially meant to stamp on or trample and survive today in the verb to thresh
(wheat) and thrash. The “hold” portion is of unknown origin. The threshold is
literally the first place in a building you step into and has evolved to mean
any gateway.
Threshold
also means the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a particular
reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to be manifested – like burnout.
In our world
of clubs, events, rides, landuse politics, and organizational boards of
directors and leadership, we can’t afford to lose any volunteers to burnout, so
I’ve come up with a cure to help keep folks productive in the game.
Like Hunting
for Quail
One simple
key to avoiding burnout and staying effective is to narrow your focus and concentrate
your efforts. I like to think of our land use battles (and club politics) as a
quail hunt. A typical hunt consists of hours of walking, wearing yourself out,
then suddenly blazing away at a flurry of birds, usually missing most of them. But,
of course, the only one who enjoys this is the dog – who can’t stop
dog-laughing at your newfound state of frustration.
The fight for
trail access has reached such a flurry that many of us don’t know where to
start. So, we take the shotgun approach. We try to get in all the games. Of
course, we want to help out all our partners in other states, regions, and
clubs. So, we assist with letters, phone calls, emails, etc. Soon, we will have
an extensive filing system that may cover many subjects, letters, and meetings.
Then suddenly, we realize we’re up to and over our ears!
A similar
thing happens when we volunteer with Boards, Committees, sub-groups, social
network groups, clubs, etc. Work (jobs) expands to fill the space available,
which I borrowed from Parkinson’s Law – the old adage that work expands to fill
the time allotted for its completion.
And hey, what
about that lawn that needs mowing? And that car (4wheeler?) that needs
detailing; the significant other that is tired of you being at the computer
half the night; and the trails that need riding? Next thing you know, burnout
sets in. There are just too many battles to fight (and too many meetings to
attend), that your effectiveness drops off soon.
There are no
LED lights on your threshold of volunteerism. There is no yellow highlight. As
a result, you may not even know it is looming in front of you. So, just what
can you do right now to avoid crossing that threshold?
Five Steps
to Avoid that Threshold
STOP! Suppose
you’re a land use activist or organizational (club, school, church, board)
volunteer who’s been doing MORE than your share. In that case, it’s time to identify
your threshold, concentrate your efforts, increase your effectiveness, and
avoid crossing that threshold and burning out. Stop wiping out your energy.
Stop the onset of burnout. Here are some ways to do that.
First
Step: Choose and allow.
Re-affirm your commitment to the causes/efforts you believe in. We all need to
keep fighting the good fight. You can’t let burnout take you out of the battle.
Every letter we write, meeting we attend, run we run, and new member we recruit,
we make a difference. People we keep in the fight, no matter their role, make a
difference in the outcome. So, STAY IN THE FIGHT.
Choose the
jobs you want to tackle. Then, allow only those things that fit your “schedule”
to be part of your life.
Tell yourself
you’re going to do your part, just maybe a different part from here on. That’s
ok.
Second
Step: Identify
your best jobs. Decide what you’re really good at doing. Are you a letter writer,
a meeting person, an advisor to others, a volunteer leader who organizes others,
a writer in general, or just someone who wants to give money and stay in the
background? Find your niche—what you are really good at. This may take some soul-searching, but has a lot to do with identifying your threshold.
Third
Step: Let go. Drop
those things you’re not good at doing. Bite the bullet, admit it, and let
others who might be affected know you need to drop something. If you’re not
good at it, you’ll fight it more than fix it. So please don’t feed the monster
and keep it ugly; get rid of it.
Fourth
Step: Facilitate.
Help others pick up what you need to drop. The sensible thing to do is help
someone else take over those jobs for you. Find another activist to jump in
where you left off (or never really got started). Don’t just leave your
partners hanging. If folks depend on you, find a way to transition out of
something you’re not good at by helping someone else pick up where you left
off. It may take some “cards on the table” talks, but that’s better than
letting something fall off the table.
Fifth
Step: Grab your
niche! Focus your efforts on your niche. Now that you know what jobs you
want to keep and have gotten rid of the rest, you begin to focus. Concentrate
on getting really good at those things you’re now doing. Make every effort
count. Take classes if appropriate to improve your chosen niche. Get the
paybacks. Stay clear of your threshold. Make a difference.
We all need
to be doing our part in those volunteer efforts we believe in, like fighting
the land use/public land access battles or helping Associations and groups
grow, but we all don’t need to fight all the battles. And we certainly can not
keep volunteering until we have no time left for the rest of life.
We must identify
our threshold and avoid burnout in ourselves and our fellow volunteers. If you
follow the steps: 1) choose and allow; 2) identify your best jobs; 3) let go;
4) facilitate, and 5) grab your niche, you can stay in the fight, fight for
what you believe in, and make all our efforts more effective while avoiding
burnout.
HELPFUL LINKS:
DEL'S BOOKS (BURNOUT, LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, AND MORE)
WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)
PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)
DEL'S ARTICLES (BURNOUT, LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)
Happy Veterans Day, you old (and young) warriors! We're still here, still standing, and still proud to have served. To my fellow...
