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Commission approves development work on youth trail passport and geocaching outreach
Summary
The commission supported a low-cost youth outreach plan (trail passport, badges or stickers and geocaching) to encourage children and families to use town trails; members asked staff to return with a budget and design options in March.
Commissioners endorsed pursuing a youth engagement pilot to encourage children and families to use Brentwood trails, including a trail-passport program, geocaching and a sticker or badge contest for elementary-school students.
Emma, who researched programs in neighboring towns, described Exeter's trail-passage rubbings and Nottingham's 10-trail badge model. Emma and Becky said the town already maintains trail maps on the town website, which would make a passport program simple to implement. Commissioners suggested low-cost rewards such as stickers or a badge; the commission noted that badges cost more and stickers could be distributed within the commission's existing town events budget.
Members also proposed geocaching as an alternate or complementary activity, noting there are several geocaches already in town. Commission members asked Emma to develop a short plan and estimated budget for review at the March meeting; they discussed the possibility of a student art contest to design a sticker or badge and indicated willingness to coordinate with the elementary school on prize distribution.
The commission agreed the program would be a low-input initiative to draw young residents to town trails and conservation activities; a budget request will be prepared if members choose a paid reward format.
