21 May Tread Lightly! Impact Report: VA4WDA Earth Day Trail Maintenance Day

Project: VA4WDA Earth Day Trail Maintenance Day
Location: Virginia

Description: This year, the annual Virginia Four Wheel Drive Association (VA4WDA) Earth Day Trail Maintenance Day was held April 12, 2025 in the Glenwood-Pedlar District of the George Washington National Forest.

There were 26 volunteers that divided up into three groups to tackle Coal Rd from the bottom, from the Parkway and from Howardsville Turnpike. The volunteers cleaned dispersed campsites, pulled appliances up a cliff, retrieved tires, and hauled disposed junk furniture.

The volunteer teams filled a 12-cubic yard dumpster to overflowing—about 2,600 lbs. worth and could have collected more litter if they’d had more space to dump it.

Thank you to the partners who made this possible:

• USFS
• Virginia Four Wheel Drive Association

“We are so grateful for the support of Tread Lightly!, once again helping us secure the dumpster needed for the trash collection. Most importantly, we could not accomplish this event without our volunteers that come from all over, including other states. Thank you for allowing us to give back to the public lands that we use for our sport.”- Sandy Schneirla, Vice President, VA4WDA

“This is yet another incredible example of motorized recreation users helping to ensure that we Protect the Adventure and Protect the Fun for both current and future users of our beautiful public lands, trails, and forest roads. It is through the generous donation of time and sweat equity for projects like this that keep our public lands open and accessible. It takes all of us. Do Your Part!”- Lowell Eckart, Southeast Program Manager, Tread Lightly! 

Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.