Shared Identity Trail Projects Empower New Volunteers
August 29, 2024
Video by Katie Logan.
When eight people are moving a 300-pound boulder a hundred feet with a rock net, the key to success is good communication.
This teamwork happened during our Mission Creek Trail Renewal Project July 26-28, 2024 as volunteers worked to build a new stone step crossing.
“I see 8 people emerge out of the woods, nowhere near the creek, and they are checking in with each other, saying: ‘We’re going to step here; we’re going to take this many steps and then stop.’ And brainstorming if anyone had other ideas than what the original plan was to get that boulder to the next place it needed to go,” said Monica Shoberg.
Monica is the founder of Unruly Women, an outdoor guiding company with a mission of creating an inclusive and accessible community that empowers all female identifying, femme and non-binary persons to reclaim their voice by unearthing their inner wild in the outdoors, according to the company’s website.
Each day of the Mission Creek Trail Renewal Project, 8 to 16 female-identifying, femme and non-binary volunteers worked hard in 90-degree heat. Monica is wearing the yellow hard hat in the center of the photo. Photo by Barbara Budd.
Since 2022, the Superior Hiking Trail Association has partnered with Unruly Women to host shared-identity work projects, and Mission Creek was our third project together. The first project took place at Woods Creek near Grand Marais, and the second at Springdale Creek near Tofte. Monica offers guided retreats on the Superior Hiking Trail through Unruly Women, and wanted to give back to the Trail by inviting her growing community to volunteer on the SHT.
“I think it’s really important to get involved in trail maintenance because it helps everybody see what kind of work actually goes into the trails we’re recreating on,” Monica said. “When you see the work that goes into it, you become more likely to be an advocate for the trail, which I think is really important but it also gives you a sense of belonging. I think that’s what keeps people from doing a lot of things outdoors – you don’t feel you belong if you don’t see people like you doing what you want to do.”
Each day of the Mission Creek project, 8-16 female-identifying, femme and non-binary volunteers worked hard in 90-degree heat and oppressive humidity to:
- complete a step stone crossing,
- build new tread to and from the creek crossing,
- stabilize the creek bank using rocks to prevent erosion,
- and build a puncheon (a small footbridge over a wet area).
“It was a lot of moving rocks, a lot of hauling wood,” Monica said.
Volunteers also built a new puncheon at the Mission Creek Trail Renewal Project. Photos by Barbara Budd and Katie Logan.
The partnership between the SHTA and Unruly Women has been a really positive experience that provides a comfortable space for women to come out and learn about trail work, said Barbara Budd, SHTA Volunteer and Education Coordinator.
“Many of the women who sign up would be hesitant to come out in a mixed-group project, but once they do and learn about trail work, and feel comfortable in that environment, many do sign up for regular trail work events,” she said.
Monica started her company in April 2021 after her own journey to becoming an empowered solo female adventurer.
“I would get so frustrated with myself because there would be something like backpacking that I’d want to go out and do by myself but didn’t feel confident enough,” Monica said. “Society and the world are telling you that you shouldn’t be out there alone.”
Monica did go backpacking by herself for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. “And it was the best thing ever,” she said. “Obviously I made a lot of mistakes, but I felt so good. I felt happy that I was out there.”
Soon after, a friend who also had never been backpacking asked Monica to take her out on a trip. “We went backpacking at Three Fingered Jack in Oregon. It was a really great trip. I had so much fun because, with my Physical Therapy background, I love teaching people how to do things, be independent, and have that confidence,” Monica said.
On their way out, the friends crossed paths with a woman on a trail run who said she also wished to go backpacking but didn’t have anyone to go with. A seed was planted, Monica said, and she went on to start her guiding business.
Unruly Women now offers guided backpacking and mountain biking retreats, mountain biking clinics, weekly and monthly group rides, mindful hiking experiences with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and recruits for volunteer projects with the SHTA.
Monica says it is important to provide opportunities for people to be outdoors with people of shared identities because that space helps people be more themselves. “Sometimes when we’re in certain spaces, our pre-programmed identities that keep us safe in society are hard to turn off.
“When we’re less on guard, it allows for more joy, less fear in making mistakes, and a lot less fear of judgment. It leads to a better experience overall,” she said.
The high interest in these work projects is proof positive. Our first and second year, the SHTA and Unruly Women hosted one 2-day project each year, and registration was 100 percent full. This year, we hosted two 3-day projects, and we have waiting lists to join those projects.
Volunteers also built new tread leading in and out of Mission Creek to improve access to the crossing, and reinforced the bank to prevent future erosion. Photos by Barbara Budd and Katie Logan.
First-time volunteers come every year to SHTA-Unruly Women projects, Monica said, and many have also gone on to volunteer on other SHTA projects, and have even stepped into volunteer leadership roles by becoming Volunteer Crew Leaders.
“Building a broad and diverse community is key to ensuring that we have a strong stewardship base to speak up for the Superior Hiking Trail as it continues to face challenges from climate change, land development, and increased usage,” SHTA Volunteer Coordinator Barbara Budd said.
The registration for our next project with Unruly Women at Mission Creek September 13-15 is full, but we will continue to offer shared identity volunteer projects, including in our technical skills training sessions. This fall, we will host a female-identifying trail building class for current Volunteer Crew Leaders in partnership with the North Country Trail Association, Border Route Trial Association, and Kekekabic Trail.
If you’re interested in joining a shared identity trail project with Unruly Women and the SHTA, we announce our annual volunteer opportunities by March each year. You will have another opportunity!
“We are super grateful for Monica encouraging people to volunteer on the Trail, and helping us to create all-femme work projects,” Barbara said.
By SHTA Development and Communications Director Annie Nelson
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