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Tread Trainer

Train Others. Inspire Your Community.

The Tread Trainer program is designed to train participants in innovative, practical methods of spreading outdoor ethics to the public with a curriculum specifically focused on motorized and mechanized recreation.

Once a participant becomes active in the Tread Trainer program, he or she is equipped with the knowledge to recreate responsibly; present the Tread Lightly! message to other educators, clubs, employees, visitors, enthusiasts or community members, or train additional Tread Lightly! instructors.

Choose Your Level Of Training

We offer 3 different levels of training. Choose the one that best fits you. 

Not sure what to choose? See our tips below. 

Tread Lightly! 101

This group participates in outdoor recreation and wants to know more about how to Tread Lightly!. They enjoy the outdoors and want to be responsible when they recreate outside, but they aren’t sure what appropriate behavior is in some circumstances.

Full Course Description
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Tread Trainer

Tread Trainers have gone a step further and have decided they want to help others learn to be responsible stewards. They have taken a Tread Trainer course and have the ability to hold informational trainings and seminars for the general public or outdoor enthusiast groups. They can also represent Tread Lightly! at events like sportsmen’s expos, OHV events and more. 

Full Course Description

Training Dates

VIRTUAL Training - Sun. Sep. 21, 2025 - 1:00 PM - 7:30 PM Eastern

Master Tread Trainer

Master Tread Trainers are responsible stewards and want to help Tread Lightly! spread our message by qualifying people to become Tread Trainers. Master Tread Trainers can only be trained by Tread Lightly! staff and have all of the responsibilities and benefits of a Tread Trainer but have also committed to hosting at least one Tread Trainer course within two years of their initial training date. 

Full Course Description

Training Dates

No Upcoming Trainings 

Additional Resources

Course Request Form

Do you have an event where the Tread Lightly! message would be a good fit? Is your recreational club looking for ways to become better stewards of our public and private lands or waters?

Request a Trainer in your area to teach an Awareness Course or give a presentation for your club or organization. You can also request a Tread Trainer to be a Tread Lightly! representative at an event.

Check the Tread Trainer Listing for Trainers near you!

Event Reporting

Reports submitted through the Tread Lightly! Event Report will update to the Tread Lightly! database immediately. Reports submitted through the Bulk Event Report sheet will be uploaded on the first Friday following the end of the fiscal quarter.

Q1: Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 Q2: Jan. 1 – Mar. 31 Q3: Apr. 1 – Jun. 30 Q4: Jul. 1 – Sep. 30

BULK EVENT UPLOAD

Resource Request

You must be an active Tread Trainer or agency partner to reserve trainer resources. You will be responsible for ensuring and shipping the requested item(s) back to Tread Lightly!.

Depending on item, shipping costs may exceed $100. Specific details are outlined in Borrower Contract. A Tread Trainer Report should accompany all resource requests.

Looking for Master Tread Trainer or Tread Trainer Kits? Visit the Online Store.

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Stewardship.

Find a program that fits your passion and join a community committed to protecting our trails and natural spaces for generations to come.

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Tread Lightly! 101 Course

AWARENESS COURSES:

Tread Lightly!®’s Awareness courses last 30 mins, depending on the depth of knowledge you wish to receive. The course is designed to provide an introduction to the concept of outdoor ethics, why they are needed, and how to recreate responsibly. Tread Trainers or Master Tread Trainers introduce individuals to the Tread Lightly! organization and the T.R.E.A.D. Principles and explain the role outdoor ethics play in the recreation community.

The key to a successful workshop is to have participants who are interested in developing a higher awareness and competency on outdoor ethics.

BENEFITS:

Participants receive a Certificate of Completion as well as an understanding of how their actions can improve recreation opportunities in their area.

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Tread Trainer Course

Tread Lightly!®’s Tread Trainer™ (TT) course is an 8-hour course designed to provide a “crash course” in outdoor ethics focusing on motorized and mechanized recreation on both land and water. Participation in the course qualifies individuals to present the Tread Lightly! message to others in their state or region. Participants will work with Master Trainers or Tread Lightly! staff on understanding the role outdoor ethics play in the recreation community, learn the Tread Lightly! principles of responsible recreation, and be provided with the tools to conduct workshops and coordinate community outreach.

The key to a successful workshop is to have participants that are familiar with Tread Lightly!, involved in community outreach or recreational training programs, or are interested in developing a higher awareness and competency on outdoor ethics.

A Tread Trainer’s responsibilities include:

  • Have a current Tread Lightly! membership.
  • Host at least one presentation on the Tread Lightly! message within two years of their initial training date. Presentations in the form of workshops, speaking engagements, or staff training are all acceptable. And/Or: Provide promotion, in which people gain a general awareness of Tread Lightly!, within two years of the initial training date. Promotions in the form of event display of the Tread Lightly! message or inclusion of the Tread Lightly! message into educational or outreach materials are all acceptable.
  • Provide timely reporting using our online reporting form.
    Act as a Tread Lightly! volunteer representative for area/region.
  • Demonstrate exemplary recreation behavior.

A Tread Trainer’s experience includes:

  • Completed a Trainer course provided by Tread Lightly! staff or by an active Master Tread Trainer.
  • Teach and present the Tread Lightly! message through various opportunities.
  • Has an increased knowledge of the impacts recreation has on our environment.
  • Introduce others to minimum impact practices and the Tread Lightly! principles.

BENEFITS:

Trainers receive a Certificate of Completion, a Tread Trainer Kit containing free educational materials and a 20% discount on all Tread Lightly! materials in the Tread Lightly! online store.

Tread Trainers also receive access to digital files containing:

  • Tread Trainer Manual
  • Tread Lightly! PowerPoint presentations and training resources
  • Tips for Responsible Recreation
  • PSAs

Trainers also receive improvements in presentation skills, networking opportunities with other agencies/organizations at the course, expertise in Tread Lightly! ethics and ways to minimize outdoor impacts when recreating, use of the display upon request, updates through a semi-annual newsletter, emails and website.

*Cancellations and Refunds:

A full refund may be granted if requested more than 30 days from the course AND the cancellation will not result in total attendance falling below 8 participants. Refunds made within 30 days of the course will be granted on a case-by-case basis. No refund will be provided for no-shows. Course fees are transferable with written approval from Tread Lightly!

Click here to request a Tread Trainer Course in your area. Requests must be made within 3 months of preferred date and can be made up to 12 months in advance. Due to limited funding Tread Lightly! cannot accommodate every request.

If you are a Master Tread Trainer and would like to have your Tread Trainer course added to the calendar, please contact the Tread Trainer Program Manager at: danielle@treadlightly.org

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Tread Trainer Course

PRESENTED BY MASTER TREAD TRAINERS MIKE NOSTRAND, CHRIS NOSTRAND AND JOHN BRADSHAW
Tread Lightly!®’s Tread Trainer™ (TT) course is an 8-hour course designed to provide a “crash course” in outdoor ethics focusing on motorized and mechanized recreation on both land and water. Participation in the course qualifies individuals to present the Tread Lightly! message to others in their state or region. Participants will work with Master Trainers or Tread Lightly! staff on understanding the role outdoor ethics play in the recreation community, learn the Tread Lightly! principles of responsible recreation, and be provided with the tools to conduct workshops and coordinate community outreach.
2-Step Registration Process:
You must complete both steps to register for this course. 1.) Join the Course Roster: Add your name to the course roster by filling out the Tread Trainer Course Registration Form, below. 2.) Tread Lightly! membership: A Tread Lightly! membership is required to become a qualified Tread Trainer. Any membership level will fulfill this requirement. Complete the Tread Lightly! Membership form below (scroll past the Registration Form) to purchase your membership. When you get to the question, “Are you joining Tread Lightly! as a prerequisite for a Tread Trainer course?”, mark yes. Then provide the date, city, and state of the course. Membership will be verified.
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Master Tread Trainer Course

Tread Lightly!®’s Master Tread Trainer™ (MTT) course is an intensive 1-day workshop designed to provide an in-depth look at outdoor ethics, focusing on motorized and mechanized recreation on both land and water. Participation in the course qualifies individuals to present the Tread Lightly! message consistently to others in their state or region. Participants will work with Tread Lightly! staff on understanding the role outdoor ethics play in the recreation community, learn the Tread Lightly! principles of responsible recreation, develop an action plan for outreach in their community, and be provided with the tools to conduct a variety of learning opportunities including training Tread Trainers through an 8 hour course.

The key to a successful workshop is to have participants that are familiar with Tread Lightly!, involved in community outreach, recreational training programs or natural resource management and are interested in developing a high awareness and competency in outdoor ethics. Participants should have some background in outdoor education or presentation skills and be well-grounded in the Tread Lightly! principles. It is highly recommended that participants complete a Tread Trainer or other outdoor ethics training prior to taking the Master Tread Trainer course. The MTT course is an intensive one-day workshop that requires participants to complete pre-course assignments, develop and present assigned components of the Tread Trainer course and actively participate throughout the course.

See a Sample Course Agenda

A Master Tread Trainer’s responsibilities include:

  • Have a current Tread Lightly! membership.
  • Host at least one Tread Trainer course within two years of their initial training date.
  • Present the Tread Lightly! message to interested groups.
  • Provide timely reporting using our online reporting form.
  • Act as a Tread Lightly! volunteer representative for an area/region.
  • Demonstrate exemplary recreation behavior.

A Master Tread Trainer’s experience includes:

  • Completed a Master Tread Trainer course provided by Tread Lightly! staff.
  • Pass the Master Tread Trainer Qualification Exam with a score of 80% or better.
  • Extensive knowledge about Tread Lightly! principles and their application to specific recreation activities.
  • Ability to train others on Tread Lightly! principles and their practical application.
  • Ability to train others on teaching techniques and activity ideas.

BENEFITS:

Trainers receive a hard-copy of the Tread Trainer manual, Master Tread Trainer kit including $65 of free education materials per year, Tread Lightly! flash drive, Certificate of Completion, TREAD Principles hangtags and a 20% discount on all Tread Lightly! materials in the Tread Lightly! online store.

Master Tread Trainers also receive access to digital files containing:

  • Tread Trainer Manual
  • Tread Lightly! PowerPoint presentations and training resources
  • Tips for Responsible Recreation
  • PSAs

Trainers also receive improvements in presentation skills, networking opportunities with other agencies/organizations at the course, expertise in Tread Lightly! ethics and ways to minimize outdoor impacts when recreating, use of the display upon request, updates through a semi-annual newsletter, emails and website.

*Cancellations and Refunds:

A full refund may be granted if requested more than 30 days from the course AND the cancellation will not result in total attendance falling below 8 participants. Refunds made within 30 days of the course will be granted on a case-by-case basis. No refund will be provided for no-shows. Course fees are transferable with written approval from Tread Lightly!

Click here to request a Master Tread Trainer Course in your area. Requests must be made within 3 months of preferred date and can be made up to 12 months in advance. Due to limited funding Tread Lightly! cannot accommodate every request.