We live in a time when more people are waking up to the power of community engagement. Whether it’s helping your neighbor, speaking at a city meeting, or volunteering online, individual voices are starting to combine and create real change. If you’ve ever thought, “I want more trails, safer access, better stewardship in our community,” then this is for you. Because now is the moment to lean in.
Civic Engagement by the Numbers
Recent data shows that volunteerism in the U.S. is rebounding: about 28.3% of people age 16 and over formally volunteered through an organization in the year between September 2022 and September 2023. That’s roughly 75.7 million Americans stepping up.
Informal helping (things like lending tools, helping neighbors, everyday acts of kindness) is also trending up, with over 54% of Americans reporting such activity in that same period.
There’s also evidence that when parents are civically engaged, their children are more likely to be engaged as well. Studies show that children in late elementary school who have parents active in volunteer or civic life are more likely to help others and believe their actions can make a difference.
All of this shows that community engagement isn’t just something for “those who have time.” It’s rising across age groups, income levels, and family situations—and every family that adds its voice makes a difference.
What YTS Is Doing & Why They Need Advocates
At Yuba Trails Stewardship, the mission is: “Advancing our regional pedestrian vision by uniting public land managers and stakeholders in transparent, collaborative care.”
They believe that building a world-class trails network isn’t just about tools and trailheads—it’s about people speaking up, helping shape policy, spreading awareness, and doing the admin work that lets trail projects happen. That’s why they’re recruiting Trail Advocates—community members who:
– Attend local city or county meetings and speak out for trails
– Volunteer as Trail Ambassadors to help with outreach efforts
– Help support social media, communications, or administrative tasks behind the scenes
When you sign up to be an Advocate, you’re not just calling for change—you become part of making it happen. Your voice, your time, your ideas help ensure that trails aren’t just talked about but built, maintained, and protected.
If you’re ready to step up and help shape the future of trails in Nevada County, please sign up as a Trail Advocate here.
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