Fact: Trails need a lot of upkeep. No part of the process, be it creating, maintaining, or policing these lifelines of our sport, comes easily. To aid in the effort, the nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! has announced a new grant program to support volunteer stewardship trail projects across the country.

The program is designed to help individuals and clubs organize clean-ups, trail maintenance workdays, and other small stewardship projects. The maximum grant amount is 0, and those funds can be used to purchase supplies like seedlings, tools, garbage bags, water for volunteers, or to rent equipment.

To be eligible for a Tread Lightly! Stewardship Grant, applicants must be either a Club Member or an Individual 3-Year Member of Tread Lightly!

The simple online application process requires a letter of support from a representative of the land management agency or landowner and, if applicable, any additional documentation including photos of the area. Application deadlines will follow a quarterly schedule to encourage the ongoing efforts of volunteers in revitalizing their favorite recreation areas throughout the year. The next grant cycle will have a deadline of August 18, 2011.

The program is funded through a partnership with Quadratec, which donates a portion of the proceeds from several off-road vehicle products such as floor liners and grab bars to Tread Lightly!’s Restoration for Recreation program.

“Stewardship of our public and private lands and waters by outdoor enthusiasts is an essential component of treading lightly,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of Tread Lightly!. “When we head outdoors we should always pack it in, pack it out and leave an area better than we found it, but sadly that is not enough. We also need the collective efforts of volunteers for clean-ups and trail maintenance to mitigate the damage caused by a few irresponsible recreationists—and this is where the new Tread Lightly! Stewardship Grants can assist.”

To apply for a grant or for more information, visit www.treadlightly.org/.

About Tread Lightly!

Tread Lightly!, Inc. is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible outdoor recreation through ethics education and stewardship. Tread Lightly! is the nation’s signature ethics message for all outdoor enthusiasts—especially those that use motorized vehicles. The organization also offers unique training and restoration programs strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them.