North Country Trail Association

Outreach and Communication

Showcase the North Country National Scenic Trail and inspire stewardship.

The mission of the North Country Trail Association is to develop, maintain, protect, and promote the North Country National Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path across the northern tier of the United States, through a trail-wide coalition of volunteers and partners. Use these resources and guidance for your outreach efforts to promote the Trail, the Association, and our Trail Community.

NCTA Branding Basics
Brand standards offer guidance to those seeking to support the mission of the NCTA, especially through marketing, outreach, and other communications materials. Maintaining brand consistency ensures that the North Country Trail and the North Country Trail Association are quickly, easily, and professionally recognized, and thus, remembered. Please read the NCTA Brand Standards + Style Guide before producing using any NCTA marketing materials. The NCTA Branding Package is a .zip file containing various NCTA logo and typography files. If you have additional questions or need assistance, contact the NCTA Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

The NCTA Brand Standards + Style Guide was last updated in 2022.

Use of the official North Country Trail Association (NCTA) mark(s), Chapter logos, and other marketing materials is reserved solely for official NCTA Chapter use in promoting the Trail or with approval from the NCTA headquarters. Official marks may not be used outside of the NCTA for financial profit. Reference additional and specific policy in the NCTA Brand Standards + Style Guide document.

The North Country National Scenic Trail emblem is not to be used as an alternative to NCTA marks. Access to and use of these marketing materials is conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with this policy. The terms apply to all who access and/or use these marketing materials. The NCTA may revoke your access to and use of these marketing materials in the case of term infringement. The North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) emblem is for official use only. The National Park Service (NPS) has specific licensing regulations that require contracts/agreements to use and/or sell items that contain their images. Currently, the NCNST only allows the NCTA to create and sell products with official emblems and branding.

Chapter Outreach Kit
Read the description of each item for instructions on how to obtain the materials. Please reference Chapter 5 of the Chapter Leadership Handbook for guidance on use of these items. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the NCTA Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

Brochure + StickersEvent DisplayChapter CommunicationsHike 100 ChallengeNCNST DayForms and Templates
Send requests to hq@northcountrytrail.org and they will be distributed to you, free of charge. Please specify quantity. Click the image to view a full PDF version of the brochure. Vinyl stickers of the NCNST emblem are approximately 3×3 inches.

Purchase event display items such as a banner stand or field signs for your outreach efforts.

Event Display Kit
NCTA-branded materials to best represent your Chapter.

Download for free, then print and distribute posters and flyers to promote the NCTA Hike 100 Challenge. Posters are designed at 11 x 17 inches and flyers are designed at 8.5 x 11 inches. It is recommended posters (11 x 17) be produced by a professional print shop, rather than a home printer, due to their size. Click the images to view larger versions. Click the accompanying buttons to initiate PDF downloads.

Download for free, then print and distribute posters and flyers to promote NCNST Day / National Public Lands Day. Posters are designed at 11 x 17 inches and flyers are designed at 8.5 x 11 inches. It is recommended posters (11 x 17) be produced by a professional print shop, rather than a home printer, due to their size. Click the images to view larger versions. Click the accompanying buttons to initiate PDF downloads.

Download for free, customize and print these event forms and templates for your event, outreach, or media relations needs.

Volunteer Materials
Download these free templates to produce materials to use while building, maintaining, and representing the North Country Trail. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the NCTA Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

Trail Alert SignsVolunteer and Trail User FlyersLarge 8-State Logo GraphicVermont NCT Graphic
These templates are designed at 24 x 18 inches, with the intention of it being made into a campaign-style lawn sign to place near your trail work site. Click the blue button to initiate the download of a .zip file containing a PDF and a vector/art file. Guide the print shop of your choosing to this web page to download the files for production, or download the files yourself and provide them to the printer. It is recommended you also provide the printer with a link to the NCTA Branding Package, so they have access to design components like our typefaces and logos, should they need to make adjustments to the art files.

Download and print these flyers for placement in the windshields of vehicles parked at trailheads, or other workday or group hike locations. There is a blank space on each for the volunteer or trail user to write in contact information in case of emergency. Both flyers are designed at 11 x 8.5 inches. Click the images to view and download full PDF versions.

This template is designed at 24 x 18 inches, with the intention of it being made into a large vinyl sticker or magnet for the side of a vehicle. There are two versions: One with the word “VOLUNTEER” and one without. Click the blue button of your choosing to initiate the download of a .zip file containing a PDF and a vector/art file. Guide the print shop of your choosing to this web page to download the files for production, or download the files yourself and provide them to the printer. It is recommended you also provide the printer with a link to the NCTA Branding Package, so they have access to design components like our typefaces and logos, should they need to make adjustments to the art files.

Download this Vermont NCT graphic if your seven-state NCT graphic needs to be updated. It could be used to produce a vinyl sticker or magnet to be adhered to a window or a tool trailer. Click the blue button to initiate the download of a .zip file containing a PDF and a vector/art file. Guide the print shop of your choosing to this web page to download the files for production, or download the files yourself and provide them to the printer. Take careful measurements of your existing seven-state map graphic, including the thickness of the NCT line, so the printer can adjust the size of this Vermont graphic to match your existing map.

Additional Resources
Consider the following resources when planning outreach activities. Note many of these resources are available in other locations on this NCTA website, on web pages that host additional useful information or guidance. If you have questions or need assistance, contact the NCTA Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

Resource Web Location
NCTA-NCNST PowerPoint Template. Before customizing this for your presentation needs, it is recommended you first download the NCTA Branding Package (available at the top of this web page). Install the typefaces/fonts on your computer. You will also have access to additional logo files.
Video 101. This document contains simple guidance to filming video using a smartphone or tablet, as well as some editing tips and eventually posting the video online.
Chapter Leadership Handbook Volunteer Management
Advocacy Fact Sheets Advocacy
Trail Section Maps Trail Maps and Downloads
Trail Progress Report 2022 Trail Operations
Annual Report 2021 Transparency
Trail Town Handbook Trail Towns

Informational and Interpretive Sign Process Guidelines
Trailhead sign templates are available via NCTA Regional Trail Coordinators.

Header photo by Abby Stromquist