Volunteerism is one of the most important activities Backcountry Horsemen can use in our effort to perpetuate enjoyable common sense use of horses in the backcountry. Tracking your hours clearing trails and participating in BCHC events – and then reporting them to your Volunteer Hours Coordinator – allows for our organization to gain grants and funding, which help to maintain our access to public lands. 

CAN I TRACK THAT? YES, YOU CAN!

● Trail work hours. 

● Hours planning work trips (recon). 

● Hours running a chainsaw or any other heavy equipment.

● Miles of trail maintained (Wilderness areas and non-wilderness). 

● Travel time to get to and from the project site, event or meeting. 

● Miles driven in personal vehicles or hours riding as a passenger. 

● Hours providing Education (Leave no Trace, Packing demonstrations, etc.)

● Miles hauling stock to and from the project site/event. 

● Public meetings attended for your unit (and your miles to and from the meeting). 

● Treasury and personal expenses to support a project. 

● Donations received for your unit.

BUT HOW DO I TRACK THAT?

Everyone tracks hours differently, but there are sheets provided by BCHA to make tracking easier.

You are welcomed to find your own system to track hours, or you can use the following form to record your hours, and report them to the Volunteer Hours Coordinator at the end of each year: 

https://bchcalifornia.org/docs/VH/WRPrintableSummary.pdf 

If you have any questions on how to report Volunteer hours, please contact your unit’s Volunteer Hours Coordinator. Not sure who they might be? You can contact the state Volunteer Hours Coordinator with any questions at bchc.coordinator@gmail.com.

Please see these resources if you need additional information: https://bchcalifornia.org/docs/VH/2020VHRguidelines.pdf