Our Stories
2024 Volunteer Awards: Trail Builder
The Trail Builder Award is presented to volunteers whose work in trail planning, landowner negotiations, layout and design, and/or construction, have resulted in the development of outstanding new North Country Trail or facilities.
Pete Bock
Pete has maintained a three-mile segment for the Brule-St. Croix Chapter for at least nine years, and helps maintain an adjacent five-mile section. Pete has also contributed over 500 volunteer hours on Wisconsin Roving Trail Crew projects. He has spent weeks building miles of trail, dozens of feet of puncheon, and numerous bridges of varying sizes all across Northern Wisconsin. Off-trail, Pete regularly attends Chapter meetings, providing valuable input and genuine camaraderie.
Steve Hatting
Steve has been a Trail Coordinator for the Western Michigan Chapter in Newaygo County for many, many years. He plans numerous work days each year, ensuring the trail has solid tread, and that boardwalks and bridges are keeping hikers’ feet high and dry. His planning skills and ability to connect with people have built a loyal and committed trail crew. When he’s not on the trail, he serves on the Chapter board with a calm demeanor and invaluable wisdom.
Eric Maturi
Eric has invested over 1,000 hours helping the Arrowhead Chapter advance a major reroute project in Northern Minnesota. He personally cleared almost the entire 18-mile trail corridor, sometimes working alone in remote areas during the winter but often, working alongside his father, Jon. He was instrumental in the construction of a 42-foot bridge and 200-foot puncheon last fall. On the puncheon project, he carried over one hundred 12-foot timbers to the trail. He worked tirelessly on a five-mile urban signage project in 2023. Eric also serves on the Chapter’s Trail Committee, planning future routes, communicating with landowners, and scouting and flagging. He can always be counted on to lend a hand to advance the trail.
Brad Stewart
Brad joined a Wisconsin Roving Trail Crew outing in 2019 and took off like a racehorse. He has participated in 15 week-long trail building trips, accumulating nearly 750 volunteer hours. In 2024, with mentorship and encouragement from Bill Menke, he stepped into the role of Crew Leader. All of this work for Wisconsin, yet Brad actually lives in Michigan, where he is also involved with the Superior Shoreline and Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapters. His distance from Wisconsin does not diminish his commitment, though – Brad has already scheduled six week-long Rovers outings for 2024. He is impressively willing to continue learning new skills and assume leadership when called upon.
John Texter
Last year, John reached the milestone of 2,500 volunteer hours for the North Country Trail. Since 2017, he has been the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter’s Roving Crew Leader and he never misses a beat. From everyday maintenance to large-scale trail improvements, John is almost always involved. He meets with agencies and stakeholders, estimates required materials, arranges logistics for volunteers, and coordinates youth corps. The Naomikong project is one of many the Chapter was able to complete thanks to John’s expertise. Beyond the intensive building of puncheon, turnpike, steps, and retaining walls, it was the level of detail he put into the work that really made it shine. Simply put, John is a gold-star example of a trail builder.
Learn more about how the you can honor NCTA volunteers for their service on and for the North Country National Scenic Trail, and submit a nomination at northcountrytrail.org/volunteer-awards.