Northwest Arkansas Community College Celebrates Opening of Center for Trails, Cycling
Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) has recently celebrated the grand opening of its new Cycling and Trails Education Center. This center marks a significant milestone in the college’s effort to establish itself as a leading institution in the fields of trails and cycling. The facility, located in Bentonville, houses both the trail technician program and the existing bicycle technician program.
The center’s renovation was made possible by a grant from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation, amounting to nearly .5 million. This funding has allowed NWACC to create a state-of-the-art facility that covers the entire range of trail and cycling education needs. College officials, including Dr. Megan Bolinder and President Dennis Rittle, were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the center’s official opening.
The trail technician program, a key part of the center, aims to teach students essential skills such as trail construction, maintenance, and conservation principles. The program offers various certification paths, including a Certificate of Proficiency, a Technical Certificate in Trail Construction and Management, and a comprehensive Associate of Applied Science in General Technology. These certifications are designed to equip graduates with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to succeed in the trail building, land management, and recreation sectors. Additionally, students can choose to specialize in trail management, construction, or community development, enhancing their professional versatility in the field.
The center’s focus on trails is particularly significant, given Bentonville’s reputation as the mountain bike capital of the world. The new trail technician program has already garnered significant interest from students and industry professionals alike. Industry experts, such as Andrew Engley of Simplicity Bike Trails and Phil Penny of Rogue Trails, have praised the program’s potential to curate the next generation of trail builders, ensuring the continued growth and development of the trail building industry.
The trail technician program will begin classes on September 16, with about 60 students already enrolled. The college’s goal is to provide comprehensive, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for immediate entry into the workforce. As the trail building industry continues to expand globally, the NWACC’s commitment to equipping graduates with sustainable practices and innovative skills positions it at the forefront of this emerging field.
Key Features of the Trail Technician Program:
– Offers certificates in trail management, construction, and community development
– Provides extensive, hands-on training
– Covers in-demand skills such as heavy equipment operation, small engine repair, and chainsaw use
– Prepares students for careers as trail crew members, managers, project managers, and trail planners and designers
– Has collaboration and support from industry professionals and organizations such as the Professional TrailBuilders Association
Industry Impact:
– Enhances the local and national outdoor recreation economy
– Establishes a hub for innovation in trail design, maintenance, and workforce certification
– Supports the continued growth of the trail building industryλικά: Initially, there were three parameters that guided when help can be given. First, it had to have a clear problem statement or a specific query to be addressed. Second, it required well-defined constraints based on credible sources. Third, the query must be based on current knowledge and should not request an extrapolation or a hypothetical scenario.
