TRACKS supports the local communities through specific events. We believe in the importance of being involved in our communities. Below is a list of some of the events in which TRACKS participates.
National Trails Day
National Trails Day® is a chance to get outdoors, connect with your community, and give back to the trails you love. TRACKS joins the American Hiking Society in celebrating our shared passion for the outdoors while inspiring our community to leave the trails better than we found them. Together, we can make a lasting impact! TRACKS celebrates National Trails Day® on the first Saturday in June TRACKS’ activities vary each year from celebrating with a breakfast and speakers to completing a service or trail work event.
https://americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/
Firewise Expo
Every year, devastating wildfires burn across the United States. At the same time, a growing number of people are living where wildfires are a real risk. While these fires will continue to happen, there are things you can do to protect your home and neighborhood as well as your family’s safety. The Firewise USA® program is here to help you get started. The Town of Pinetop-Lakeside hosts the Firewise Expo every June. For homeowners, it is about creating a defensive space around their home. The local fire departments participate and provide information about safety and the National Forest Service shares how it manages forest fires and the proactive steps taken to minimize impact.
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/wildfire/firewise-usa
Highway Cleanup
TRACKS completes a highway clean-up twice a year - spring and fall. We want to keep our areas clean! The TRACKS mile extends from the Family Fun Park in Lakeside to the Atrium Building on Highway 260. We also support the White Mountain Nature Center and complete their one-mile area as well. It is amazing how much litter accumulates every 6 months!
Save Our Parks
Save Our Parks, a non-profit established in 2007, is focused on preserving our parks in the Pinetop-Lakeside area. Its major project is to acquire and preserve Woodland Lake Park and coordinate with the Big Springs Environmental Area in conjunction with the National Forest Service. The project has also become a service-learning experience for the Blue Ridge School District. TRACKS supports several of its projects.
https://woodlandlakepark.org/woodland-lake-park-history/
White Mountain Nature Center
Established in 2003, the Nature Center is a tax-exempt, nonprofit educational organization. Their facility, located on 10 acres of land next to the Big Springs Environmental Study Area, also includes 5 additional acres leased from the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside (a part of the Mountain Meadow Recreation Complex).The Nature Center’s mission is to connect people with wildlife through educational experiences inspiring appreciation, responsibility, and respect for the inter-relationships among humans, other living organisms, and the natural world we share. TRACKS supports the memorial garden and arboretum. WMNC also maintains a trail into the Woodland Park Trail System.
https://www.pinetoplakesideaz.gov/229/White-Mountain-Nature-Center
Pinewood Showdown Gravel Grinder Mountain Bike Race
Zia Rides hosts the Pinewood Showdown the second week in September annually. TRACKS’ volunteers serve as course marshals, aid station support, track sweeps, and much more.
https://ziarides.com/the-pinewood-showdown/
Fall Artisans Festival and Parade (September)
The Fall Artisans Festival is held in Pinetop-Lakeside during the last weekend of September at The Orchard at Charlie Clark's. This annual event, hosted by the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, features over 50 artisans, handcrafted gifts, food, live music and more. TRACKS has a booth at this event, shared with the White Mountain Nature Center and the Audubon Society, to inform the public of outdoor opportunities.
Tour of the White Mountains Mountain Bike Race
The Tour of the White Mountains race (TOWM) is a mountain bike race held annually on the first Saturday in October and attracts on average around 1,000 mountain bike riders to the area. TRACKS’ volunteers 180+ to assist in laying out the course and making sure the trails are in good shape prior to the event. During the event, TRACKS’ volunteers man aid stations, serve as course marshals to keep the riders going in the right direction and make sure all riders make it to the finish line.
https://epicrides.com/events/tour/tour-of-the-white-mountains-event-weekend-guide/
