AT ITS 2015 Call for Presentations – 1 of 7
AT ITS 2015 Call for Presentations – 5 of 7
Join us in May 2015 for the 22nd American Trails International Trails Symposium. The Symposium is the premier opportunity for greenways and trails advocates, managers, planners, builders, and users, as well as environmental, tourism, development, and business interests, to come together to strengthen America’s remarkable network of trails. With your help, American Trails will again host an inspirational, educational, technical, and fun-filled conference, with a lot of networking and sharing opportunities for the national and international trails community! The Symposium includes numerous educational sessions covering a broad range of trail issues and solutions.
This biennial Symposium is a gathering of trail enthusiasts and professionals representing all types of trail users. This is the only national gathering of all trail interests who believe their combined voices are the best way to strengthen trails for everyone. The Symposium includes numerous educational sessions covering a broad range of trail issues including nationally and internationally prominent presenters, a state-of-the-art Exhibit Hall, the Professional Trailbuilders Association (PTBA) Outdoor Trade Show and Demonstration Area and Sustainable Trails Workshops, informative and interactive workshops, and much more.
Please visit the Symposium website at www.AmericanTrails.org/2015
to learn more about the Symposium.
Call for Presentations
To help us develop an exciting and motivating program for the Symposium, we invite you to submit ideas for presentations in support of the Symposium’s theme, "Solutions for Success." Proposals can be for national or international presentations. There are several types of presentations you can propose, each with a different time allotment depending on the depth of material you would like to incorporate (see paragraphs below for details):
· Concurrent Sessions (1.25 hours)
· Core Tracks (3 or 6 hours)
· Poster Presentations
· Trail Talks (1 hour)
Types of Presentations:
Concurrent Sessions
Concurrent Sessions are 1.25 hour informational talks that can be given by one presenter or a panel (panels must be limited to three people for time effectiveness and in order to qualify for Continuing Educational Units (CEUs)). Keep the time limit in mind as you prepare your proposal – be realistic as to what you can accomplish in the time provided.
This Symposium features a new partnership with the Professional Trailbuilders Association (PTBA). In addition to offering Sustainable Trails Workshops and their world-famous Outdoor Trade Show and Demonstration Area, they will offer a Technical Track of Concurrent Sessions within the Program, featuring solutions-based topics. PTBA is seeking presentation proposals from leaders in the trail building industry. Their general list of topic areas has been incorporated in The Call for Presentations. Submit proposals through our same process.
Core Tracks
Core Tracks are designed to allow presenters to explore subjects in greater depth than is possible in a 1.25 Concurrent Session. Each Core Track module is a minimum of 3 hours (including breaks), but Core Track offerings can be extended to 6 hours (including breaks). This will allow ample time for in-depth presentations, discussions, examples, practice, and fieldwork (if applicable). The total available Core Tracks will be allocated based on the presentations selected.
Poster Presentations
Posters will be displayed in a common area in the Exhibit Hall throughout the Symposium. Individuals displaying posters will also have an opportunity to share their "story" and to meet with interested attendees at designated times during the Symposium. Presenters should plan to attend the Symposium in person and are responsible for the shipping, construction, and assembling of their own posters on site. Presenters who want to display posters at the Symposium are required to submit proposals that respond to items 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 16, and 18 in the format provided via the Call for Presentations Proposal Form. For questions about posters, please contact Symposium Posters Chair, Kelly Pack with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: or 202-974-5148. Shipping information will be provided to you upon acceptance of your presentation.
Trail Talks (a.k.a. Coffee and Pastries with an Expert)
We invite presenters with a special interest in various trail related topics to lead a "Trail Talk" Session. Leaders will convene a topic table and facilitate an informal discussion and exchange of ideas. Attendees can also enjoy coffee and pastries during these informal early morning networking sessions. Experts wanting to submit a proposal for a Trail Talk are required to respond to items 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 18 in the format provided via the Call for Presentations Proposal Form. For questions about leading a Trail Talk Session, please contact Trail Talk Chair, Mary Hurton with American Trails: or 530-605-4395.
Theme ~ Solutions for Success
We know that trails are the right solution for making more livable communities and for managing public lands. But how do we get from concept to success? The Symposium programs will explore the many pathways to success for all types of trails, from cities to the backcountry:
· Solutions for design ~ The right trails in the right place, with the best materials and appropriate technology, including affordable solutions and challenging sites.
· Solutions for sustainability ~ Building better trails that protect against erosion and enhance nature, investing in long-term success, and reducing costs.
· Solutions for management ~ Implementing techniques for enhancing safe and enthusiastic use, and creating opportunities for learning.
· Solutions for advocacy ~ Getting projects started, finding key allies, and building on small successes.
· Solutions for health ~ Improving trails to be more engaging and enjoyable, promoting their use, and contributing to our health and well-being.
· Solutions for the future ~ Creating a culture of investment in trails in our communities through political and popular support.
Our goal is to address the difficult issues, and our programs will feature a wide range of experts offering realistic and effective solutions. We want you to join us in Portland to learn from the worldwide trails community, and to share your solutions with the rest of us!
Preferred Topics for Presentations
We're looking for “Solutions for Success” in key areas such as (these are NOT listed in priority order):
1. Trails in our communities: Developing trails for active living and healthy lifestyles, active transportation, linking neighborhoods, working with developers, energizing schools and parents, creative planning and zoning, and improving economies.
2. New products, techniques, and services: Analyzing and using better solutions for common trail issues such as maintenance, signs, safety, outdoor learning, and encouraging use.
3. Funding and fund raising: Identifying appropriate funding sources, grant writing, event planning, donor development, and creative ideas for funding, such as crowdfunding.
4. Leveraging staff resources: Partnering with non-profits and volunteer groups; making effective use of Scouts, church groups, home owner’s associations (HOAs), etc.; designing and managing suitable projects for them; and raising the skill level of volunteers.
5. Nurturing non-profit support groups: Sustainable funding, effective boards, successful partnerships, organizing for advocacy, and developing volunteers.
6. Effective policies for trail management (operations and maintenance): identifying real and potential needs, determining how policies can help, communicating with the public, negotiating and resolving conflicts, and enforcing decisions.
7. Designing and building better trails: Learning the best solutions for developing safe and appealing routes for all types of trail activities; hands-on learning and field sessions are helpful to supplement classroom instruction.
8. Trails for all interests and abilities: Effective use of alternatives including water trails, motorized trails, winter activities, educational opportunities, and creative solutions for accessible trails.
9. Applying technology to trail management: monitoring resources, counting trail users, remote data acquisition, producing maps and trail guides, and creative use of handheld devices for planners as well as visitors.
The Professional Trailbuilders Association is seeking presentation proposals from leaders in the trail building industry. Specifically, they are looking for solution-based topics in the following areas:
10. Successful Trail Contracting: Identifying how to effectively survey and delineate potential trail projects, create workplans that are realistic and easy to follow, develop reasonable cost estimates, bid projects realistically, and evaluate projects as they are being built without causing undue burden to the parties involved.
11. Hybrid Contracting: How can a hybrid contracting model promote the best use of limited available resources. Where and when is a hybrid model most cost efficient and where is it not. Show case studies of best practices and identify in detail why it worked in that situation.
12. Working with Volunteer Groups: Determining where and when volunteer groups serve the highest and best purpose in a trail project and where problems can arise. Show effective models and case studies for effective Volunteer Group use and identify and show in detail how the choices that were made created success.
13. Successful Public/Private Partnership: Public/Private partnerships can lead to the least cost for the most public benefit and have worked to develop some of the country's best trail systems. Show examples of success and how they came about. Provide a detailed plan for others to follow from the public sector AND private sector.
14. Public Land Management: The changing Federal State and Local landscapes have changed drastically over the last few years. Help us to identify what has changed and how it affects the trail building industry. How must land managers and the rest of the trail building industry adapt to these changes? Identify how we can and must move forward to address the trail maintenance backlog with resources available to public land managers and their partners.
15. Technical Construction, Design and Maintenance Solutions: Show the cutting edge technique, design, or tool that you developed to solve a particularly tough trail problem. Get into the details! We want sessions that go beyond the Trails 101 level and get into the nitty gritty of how to build trail effectively in tough environments, how to design a great trail structure, how to manage contracts whose design conflicts with the reality on the ground, how to manage water on the trail tread in wet environments, or any number of issues.
16. Specific User Group Trail Design, Construction, Maintenance: Show the key design elements and construction techniques that are necessary in successfully building user-specific trails for OHV, Equestrian, Wilderness, Mountain Biking, Hiking, etc.
We strongly suggest that presenters address one or more of the topic areas above, as well as the theme. Presentations on other topics certainly will be considered, but in general, preference will be given to those listed.
Factors Contributing to Presentation Acceptance
The Program Committee is particularly seeking presentations that will enable participants actually to use or apply the ideas or techniques in practice back home. Hands-on practice, how-to demonstrations, and actual fieldwork using the tools or techniques will be emphasized in the selection process for both Core Tracks and Concurrent Sessions. Here are the major factors contributing to presentation acceptance:
· Tie into the Symposium Theme: Solutions for Success.
· Focusing on one or more of the sixteen general topic areas listed above or on a clearly-related topic.
· Providing in-depth treatment of a topic area so that participants develop a deeper understanding and familiarity with the subject, i.e., presenting a Core Track. “In-depth” means a session lasting 3 hours or 6 hours.
· Incorporating hands-on and/or how-to experience into the Concurrent Session or Core Track, so that participants actually learn how to use or apply the ideas being discussed.
· Proposals, especially those that are proposing a Core Track, should consider a multidisciplinary, diverse panel of presenters that represent a variety of sectors and perspectives and includes ethnic and gender diversity.
· If appropriate for the topic, field sessions are desirable. This provides an opportunity to link the proposed session or sequence with actual land management activities. Evidence of early contact with local agencies and organizations would be a positive factor.
If you need assistance in the development of field sessions, and need a referral to a local land managing agency, send an email to with subject “Field Session – Local Agency Information.”
Please note: A surcharge will be added to field sessions, with the costs – of necessity – being passed on to the attendee, i.e., if transportation costs are to be incurred.
· Specifically discussing how the idea, technique, product or service actually can be applied to problems typically faced by participants, including practice in doing so.
· A teaching format that encourages interaction including examples, exercises, etc. that require participants to work together, learn from, and help each other.
· Providing materials, manuals, reference links, and other information that participants can take with them or access from their home base, to help them remember and use the presented information in their work.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
CEUs will be available to attendees. THE CALL FOR PRESENTATION PROPOSAL FORM MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT FOR A SESSION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR CEUs. Note: not all sessions that apply for CEUs will qualify.
CEUs are provided by the Texas Recreation and Park Society (TRAPS), an authorized independent CEU provider through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). Designation is based on qualifications set down by the determining provider and they have full authority to accept or decline CEU availability.
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
· Please fill out the Call for Presentations (CFP) Proposal Form (word document) completely. Make sure that you have answered all questions (#1 – 18) thoroughly. Any submissions without all questions completed for Concurrent and Core Track Sessions will not be eligible for consideration for CEUs. (Poster Presentations and Trail Talks are not eligible for CEUs and do not require that all questions be answered. Please read instructions carefully.)
· Make sure that you have read all instructions included in this Call for Presentations and in the CFP Proposal Form completely, and that your proposal reflects qualifications and suggestions mentioned – including incorporating the Symposium’s Theme: Solutions for Success.
· All presentation proposals must be received by email by FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 to be eligible for review.
· Submissions must be sent electronically to the following email address: .
· If you have questions or need clarifications regarding your presentation proposal, contact Symposium Program Chair, Rory Robinson with the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program: or 330-657-2951.