Kevin Belanger - Great American Rail-Trail Project Manager

Hello everyone. Welcome back for another episode of the Outdoor Adventure Series Podcast. 

This is your Host, Howard Fox. 

The Outdoor Adventure Series celebrates individuals & families, businesses, and organizations that seek out and promote the exploration, stewardship, and enjoyment of the great outdoors. 

Our guest today is Kevin Belanger, Great American Rail-Trail Project Manager for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

The Rails-to-Trail Conservancy was founded in 1986. Its mission is to build a nation connected by trails. They’re reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike, and be active outdoors.

Aha Moment

The Great American Rail-Trail is a huge vision to connect the country via a multi-use trail across 12 states and DC. I'm continually amazed at how many people are inspired by the vision to start Bikepacking, especially people for whom big, outdoor adventures haven't always been on their bucket lists.

Insight2Go

They didn't teach me in school how important cultivating relationships is to help get things done. We can have the best and biggest ideas that we think everyone should get on board with, but it can only happen at the speed of relationship building. So many doors have opened for me personally and professionally because of the time I've invested in getting to know people - and I can often trace situations where things haven't worked out as I've wanted to relationships that I haven't spent enough time on.

To learn more about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, visit their website at www.railstotrails.org

Click here for more about the Great American Rail-Trail.
Link: https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/

Click here for Trail Maps & Guides for Biking, Hiking, and Running Trails on TrailLink. 
Link: https://www.traillink.com/

Click here to discover ways to participate in Celebrate Trails Day, an annual spring celebration of America’s trails.
Link: https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/celebrate-trails/

To learn more about Kevin and his journey, check out his By Way of the Trail blog at https://www.bywayofthetrail.com/

You can also find more information about the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, The Great American Trail, and Kevin, on the following social sites.

Facebook
Link: https://www.facebook.com/greatamericanrailtrail

Instagram - I
https://www.instagram.com/greatamericanrailtrail

Instagram II
Link: https://www.instagram.com/bywayofthetrail/

Here are a few additional external links that Kevin shared during our episode:

Warrior Expeditions’ commitment to the mission of The Great American Rail-Trail.

Northern Cheyenne Breakout Legacy Fund to promote the development of the Northern Cheyenne Healing Trail

Click here to learn more about the Outdoor Writers Association of America

The Outdoor Adventure Series is a podcast production of Fox Coaching, Inc.