Written by Laura Kelly

In May of this year, a new module was launched on CT Trail Finder: Earn Badges! With a free account, users can add trail logs to their profile. Users can now earn digital badges when adding trail logs that match the badges’ criteria. Badges can be earned for a multitude of accomplishments, from completing one’s first trail, to mountain biking 133 miles – the approximate width of Connecticut! Some badges are partnerships, like the Connecticut Forest & Park Association limited-time badge for completing a trail during Connecticut Trails Day weekend, June 7-8. Other badges are awarded for exploring multi-use pathways, river trails, and urban trails, for getting on the trail with family and friends (developed with the PATHS program team), and several other engaging challenges.

Recently, five additional badges were launched based on ideas from University of Connecticut students who were enrolled in a course about nature-based outdoor recreation resource management. Students presented the ideas to their classmates and peers at the end of the course and were given the option to pursue turning their ideas into real earnable badges on CT Trail Finder.

We worked with five students to bring their badges to life. They include badges for exploring waterfront trails on the Long Island Sound and CT’s large rivers (Waterfront Whimsy), taking and sharing trail photos with CT Trail Finder (Photography Fiend), exploring rock scrambles (Scrambled!), following trails to waterfalls (Waterfall Chaser), and participating in multiple activities (Jack of All Trails). Students provided preliminary badge designs and criteria, and we ensured they fit within the parameters of the CT Trail Finder system. Kara Bonsack, Graphic Designer at UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), used the students’ designs as inspiration for designing the final digital badge graphics.

There are now 27 earnable badges on CT Trail Finder, with additional seasonal and special event badges planned. This collaborative project has resulted in a badge collection unique to Connecticut Trail Finder’s platform, highlighting the special attributes of our trails and encouraging exploration of the rich outdoor recreation opportunities available here.

Badges on CT Trail Finder

Connecticut Trail Finder Paid Student Internship, Fall 2021

Supervisor contact: This internship will be co-supervised by Laura Brown, Community & Economic Development Educator – New Haven County Extension Center, Contact- Laura Brown: Cell 608-886-0655 laura.brown@uconn.edu and Kimberly Bradley, CT Trail Census/Trail Finder Coordinator Cell 860-581-3130 Kimberly.bradley@uconn.edu

Office location: Remote. Weekly online meetings (computer required) will be required.

Background:
The CT Trail Finder http://cttrailfinder.com/ will be a free, interactive mapping site designed to help Connecticut residents and visitors find hiking, walking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and paddling trails across the state. Our goal is to help people get out, be active, and explore our state’s treasures. Detailed trail description pages will allow users to view the trails, get essential information, submit trip comments and photos, find nearby geocaches, and a whole lot more. Users will be able to track trail experiences, noting trails that they have completed, their favorites, or ones they want to visit.

Tasks/Responsibilities:
This internship will involve assisting with communications, outreach, and technical aspects of the CT Trail Finder including: developing topical social media postings for Facebook and Instagram, supporting development of narrative for trail postings, working within website platform to publish trail information, assisting with in-person outreach events, participating in team coordination meetings. The student should have excellent communication, writing and organizational skills, and ability to work effectively independently as well as coordinate with a professional team involved in overseeing these projects.

Date ranges and work times: Remote. Weekly online meetings (computer required) will be required and some travel around the state may be required to fully participate in the program. Interns will have the opportunity to be present in an office in New Haven or Haddam as needed but the majority of the work hours will be self-managed. Dates and work hours will be mutually agreed upon at the start of the internship.

The intern will have the opportunity to:
• Learn about the multiple values of trails as resources for recreation, health promotion, and economic or tourism development;
• Learn how state agencies partner with local and private conservation organizations to advance and promote outdoor recreation.
• Enhance their skills in educational communications (writing and verbal presentation skills) for a public audience

Mentorship commitment:
Trail Finder Coordinator Kim Bradley and Community & Economic Development Educator Laura Brown will work closely with the intern to discover key learning objectives and interests. The intern will be required to participating in weekly team coordination meetings. We would also encourage the intern to participate in trainings, meetings and activities around the state proving them with connections and career contacts in our program partner organizations such as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Forest and Park Association and the National Park Service. We will also support the student in identifying additional related learning and career opportunities following the internship experience.

Compensation: $15/hour, ~10 hours per week for 10 weeks. Total compensation will be $1,500 with potential for continuing through the Spring and Summer semester.

To Apply: Please send a short cover letter expressing interest and resume to laura.brown@uconn.edu and kimberly.bradley@uconn.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis with estimated start date October 4, 2021.