WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION

Programs: Outreach and educationwta is the state's leading source of up-to-date information about trails, current conditions, hiking opportunities, land management issues and safety. Wta helped cultivate a community of hikers through outreach, our magazine (washington trails), website (wta. Org), email newsletters and mobile apps. Our online resources are free and open to the public, with trip reports filed every day by volunteers. 3,321 hikers filed more than 9,086 trip reports at www. Wta. Org in 2014. Our blog contains information on trail access, permit requirements and wildlife. Wta brings hikers together at educational and social events across the state. Wta engaged with nearly 5,000 people at more than 75 events in 2014.

youth programswta expanded our programs to serve more youth in 2014. Teachers and youth leaders received training and resources to support more than 390 outdoor experiences. Wta's gear lending library expanded so that youth groups can be properly equipped for their adventures. 60 school and community groups partnered with wta for training and trail work. More than 850 youth volunteered on 272 work parties in 2014. 23% of our trail work volunteers are youth and teens. Our families go hiking e-newsletter has over 10,000 subscribers.

trail maintenancewta's volunteer trail maintenance program is among the largest in the nation, with over 3,700 volunteers contributing more than 124,000 hours statewide in 2014. Wta volunteers built, maintained or protected 205 trails on public land in 2014. Volunteers chose between one-day work parties, and multi-day trips in 3 national parks, 6 national forests, 9 state parks, and a variety of other state and regionally-managed sites.

advocacywta protects trails through grassroots advocacy on issues that impact hikers, such as trail funding and wilderness protection. We work closely with federal and state policymakers to advance hikers' interests in forest planning and new recreation projects. In 2014 wta advocated for funding for state parks and federal land trails, gave hikers a voice in road access decisions by the us forest service, and empowered individuals to take action.