The Maine Conservation Corps and trail-building consulting firm Off the Beaten Path, led by Jed Talbot of Turner, are beginning their second week of training and service work at the Spruce Mountain Conservation Area of the Androscoggin Land Trust.

Located in Jay, along the Androscoggin River opposite the Otis Mill complex, the area includes 126 acres of land managed by ALT that is also adjacent to the Spruce Mountain Ski Area owned by the communities of Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

“This project, a combination of training and service work, has provided an excellent opportunity for our Trail Trainers,” says Bryan Kalleberg, program coordinator for the Maine Conservation Corps.

The Trail Training program is a 10-week program in which MCC offers the best training and preparation for future Team Leaders as they prepare for the upcoming work season, which features a 12-week summer session and a 12-week fall session.

During this two-week session at Spruce Mountain, both the “hard” and “soft” skills necessary to lead a trail crew are provided as the leaders prepare to lead four- to six-member teams on projects that literally take them throughout the State of Maine.

This partnership with ALT, with specialized training provided by Jed Talbot of Off the Beaten Path, has provided the perfect opportunity for training and service work, and in return ALT will have received professional trail work on a new trail segment along the river.

“We are excited that MCC chose to work with ALT along the Androscoggin River in Jay for this project,” says Jonathan LaBonte, director of ALT. “There is so much potential for opening up new hiking trail corridors to complement the miles of multi-use trails in the Jay/Livermore Falls region, and this partnership continues that effort.”

The Androscoggin Land Trust protects important natural areas, traditional landscapes and outdoor experiences within the Androscoggin River watershed by promoting stewardship and supporting a network of public and privately held conservation land. ALT conserves nearly 4,850 acres of land, including over 10 miles of riverfront along the Androscoggin River.