BSTRA Volunteerism Award Program Guidelines

BSTRA offers a unique Volunteerism Award Program to its members. Its our way of saying “Thank You” for getting involved in the process of trail maintenance, preservation and acquisition. Your involvement helps BSTRA be part of the solution.

Program Details:

When you volunteer your time to help BSTRA, you earn points towards year-end awards. If you are involved in an activity that is not listed here, please check with the BSTRA Board of Directors. Also note that the Board of Directors do not receive compensation or volunteer hours for time served related to their positions as officers/directors, except for a complimentary membership. BSTRA Board meetings do not count for volunteer hours. You must be a member in good standing to receive points for year-end awards.

Submit your volunteer hours throughout the year on our website (BSTRA.ORG) under the Membership tab OR use the form below to keep track of your hours. At the end of the year, turn the paper form to Joyce Sandvik, 103 Ariel Circle, Sutton, MA  01590 or e-mail to bstra.org@gmail.com.  Forms must be received by January 4th of the new year to be eligible.

To qualify for year end awards, adults must volunteer a minimum of four hours.

Volunteer hours are worth $.75 per hour and can go towards your membership, AGM ticket, ride pass, BSTRA clothing, a gift certificate to your favorite place, or a donation back to BSTRA.  

What Counts as Volunteer Hours

  1. Events: This is work done at any of our events, volunteering for running the event, manning the registration table, timing/scoring, marking/unmarking trails, food, parking, clean up, etc.  Time spent representing BSTRA at parades, trade shows, conferences, etc.
  2. Fundraising: Time spent raising funds for BSTRA, getting sponsors, fundraising letters and thank you notes, running opportunity drawings, serving on the Fundraising Committee etc.
  3. Trail Projects (Planning & Oversight): This is for any work related to a trail project such as attending conservation commission meetings, site walks, meetings with people involved in the project, oversight and follow up reports.
  4. Trail Work (Hands On): For any volunteer work that consists of actual on the ground trail work. Cutting & brushing back, picking up trash, fallen branches, etc. Attending BSTRA workdays, attending another group’s trail workdays, verifiable independent work on State or Town trails (include names and phone numbers of person that can verify the work or pictures).
  5. Meetings (Advocacy & Representation): Non-BSTRA meetings you attend which are related to trail issues. Any meetings that you attend to represent equestrian interests such as Friends of a State Forest, Open Space Committee’s, Open Space & Recreation Plans, Land Trusts, regulatory meetings, etc. For example: Town Master Plan meetings, working on a trail or greenway, State Forest Resource Management Plans, Friends of a State Forest or a specific trail. In other words, anything to do with trails allowing horseback riding.
  6. Writing: Time spent on writing projects such as fundraising letters, grant proposals, press releases, newsletter, letters to legislature/DCR or other land-owning agencies about trail issues, horses on trails or public input.
  7. Committee/Sub-Committee: Time spent on BSTRA committee or sub-committee work.  For example, a safety committee, trail etiquette committee, trail sub-committee, NTD committees, etc.  For Board members, committees outside of regular Board member duties.
  8. Special Projects: BSTRA special projects that are typically created to accomplish a specific objective.  For example, digitizing BSTRA photos, upgrading/converting financial software, etc.
  9. Time spent traveling to meetings, workdays, or events, can be counted if travel time is over one hour, one way.