15 Oct Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Tread Lightly! Day West Virginia 2024

Project: Tread Lightly! Day West Virginia 2024
Location: West Virginia

Description: On September 21, 2024 284 dedicated off-road drivers and volunteers participated in the second annual Tread Lightly! Day West Virginia, doubling the amount of participants since 2023.

Tread Lightly! Day West Virginia is a day focused on volunteerism, enhanced adventure travel and conservation of public land access in one of the most important off-road friendly states in the country. This effort was led by the Country Roads Coalition and completed work on 14 sites.  

Participants removed 19,820 pounds of trash in a single day, including two abandoned cars. The project had support from several state agencies including West Virginia State Troopers who used the abandoned cars to train new troopers in vehicle identification and removal protocols. The event also had support from Wirt County and three of the biggest Jeep clubs in West Virginia.

We would like to thank all the partners and volunteers who made this amazing day of giving to the beauty of West Virginia’s public lands possible:

• West Virginia REAP Program
• West Virginia State Parks
• Wirt County
• Country Roads Coalition
• West Virginia 4Fest
• Sanderson Recreation Area
• Mountain Made Offroad
• West Virginia Jeep Club
• 4Low West Virginia
• 304 Jeep Club
• Ohio Valley Jeep Club
• Off Camber Jeep Club
• Fairmont Duel Sport Riders

“WV Tread Lightly! Day shows exactly what the motorized recreational community can do when they put their efforts towards taking care of the public lands in our state. Without relying on outside funding, West Virginians stepped up and took care of problems large and small, leaving things better than they found it.”-Jerry Bain, Organizer

“Jerry Bain and all the members of Country Roads Coalition are a true embodiment of what Tread Lightly! stands for and is a force for responsible motorized access in West Virginia and beyond. We would also like to thank the West Virginia REAP Program, 4Fest, Sanderson Recreation Area, Mountain Made Offroad, West Virginia Jeep Club, and 4Low West Virginia for coming out and for dedicating a day of service to the places that bring us all so much peace and freedom. Without you all none of this is possible!”-Evan Robins, Tread Lightly! Programs Assistant Director

“Participating in Tread Lightly! day alongside such dedicated individuals like Jerry Bain, Tom Zielinski, Jedediah Smith, Ben Skinner, Dean Shirley, Dr. Avisa Abaian, and Tina Bain was an inspiring experience. Working together to make a real difference in our beautiful state of West Virginia reminded me of the power of community and our shared responsibility to protect the environment.”-Senator Mark Maynard

“We are honored to have participated in West Virginia Tread Lightly! day, and look forward to partnering with more organizations and clubs next year to further grow this day of service. Our backroads are the shining jewel of Appalachia and it is up to us enthusiasts to keep them clean and passable for generations to come. We look forward to keeping West Virginia wild and wonderful.”-Jedediah Smith, Director of Operations, WV 

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