Traci Berry alongside her riding community in Arkansas, and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-4)

Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start in advocacy work and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into advocacy for the land and water you love. Traci Berry lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is the Northwoods Trails Coordinator. She is a lover of the outdoors and all things adventure. She is also a part of Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy program that trains leaders in the outdoor community to build relationships with policymakers and advocate for conservation priorities.

What do you like to do outside and how did you first get connected with the outdoors?

I grew up in a rural area in Arkansas, so my first introduction to the outdoors was the family farm, feeding cows, burning brush, learning to drive in the hayfield. I spent a lot of time outside as a kid just because that's how we entertained ourselves. As I got older, I got into ball sports and played basketball in college. I went semi-pro for a bit, and shortly after starting my career in education and coaching was when I got introduced to mountain biking and I fell in love.

Traci Berry riding her home trails in Arkansas

My first riding experience was on a friend’s extra bike, something rigid and extra heavy, on trails in northwest Arkansas I never knew existed. We went out on this seven mile mountain bike ride, and it beat the mess out of me! After that, I was like, I guess I need to buy a mountain bike now because I definitely want to do that again! That opened up my world to adventure racing, and I ended up taking over an adventure race here in Arkansas called Raid the Rock. It started in 2001, and it’s the longest running adventure race in our state.

Fast forward five years later, I learned about the coming Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs through a press release at work. Shortly after I found out they were opening a position for a trails coordinator, and it was suggested that I apply. The Northwoods Trails opened to the public in 2018 with just over 7 miles of trails completed, and since then we’ve grown it to 22.5 miles with more to come, joining the likes of Slaughter Pen and the Back 40 in Northwest Arkansas.

You’ve been the Northwoods Trails Coordinator in Hot Springs since 2018. Can you tell us what’s special about these trails, and what your day to day is like?

When I started, there wasn’t anyone doing my job, so it's been a lot of learning, modifying, and adjusting. My role is to promote and manage the mountain bike trails that are on city property, just outside downtown Hot Springs. I work with three different land management entities, city, county, and National Parks because one of our trails runs through the National Park. We consider that trail the downtown connector, and it took a few years for us to make happen. It’s a really big deal because there are not many National Parks that allow mountain bikes within their boundaries. Our trails are special because they are the first bike optimized trails built in our region, offering something for all types of riders and riding styles.

My day to day is making sure the trails are maintained by staff, and that they’re safe and can remain open to the public. We have over twenty miles of natural surface trail, most of which IMBA designed and built. Six plus miles of those trails are downhill trails that have features, so we have to make sure they are safe and kept up at all times. Event planning is also a big piece of my work because we are a destination marketing organization (DMO). Tourism is our number one goal. We want to get people here to experience Hot Springs and what we have to offer. I'm thankful that being a part of a DMO, we have our own marketing and advertising department and they do a lot of our social media interaction and advertising, but I also do a lot of our social media answering questions and spreading the word about what we have in Hot Springs.

You mentioned one of your trails goes through a National Park, and connects downtown. How important is it for different land management agencies to work together, and what is the benefit to the community?

Hot Springs National Park is unique, it’s one of the smallest and oldest National Parks. We were one of the first national preserves before national parks were a thing. A good part of our city is surrounded by the park, and it’s this beautiful outdoor space with old bath houses and historic architecture that date back to the 1800s. We have about a mile of trail that runs through the park, and it connects to our downtown area. That area has definitely improved since the trails have been established. We haven’t done an economic impact study, but we do keep an eye out for out of state plates daily to see who's coming through.

We’re seeing adventure vans and vehicles with bike racks that carry up to six bikes, and that is a sign of impact. One year after our trails opened, NICA, the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, expanded to 30 students and doubled their coaches. Simultaneously, we’ve seen more women on bikes, moms who bear the responsibility of getting their kids to and from these programs. What’s better is, now they’re participating, which is growing MTB within families, and other women who are new to riding.

We have three IMBA epics in our region, and Arkansas has five total–the most of any state. A lot of people come here to hit those trails, but most people who ride those are advanced riders. The Northwoods trails are also IMBA designed and there’s green and blue trails, as well as cross country, flow trail, and directional downhill trails. There’s something here for everyone and a lot of opportunity for progression.

You’re a part of our Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy program that trains outdoor advocates to build relationships with policymakers and advocate for conservation priorities. What made you want to join, and what have you learned being a part of it?

Before joining the Grasstops Collective, there were a lot of things about the legislative process I wasn’t knowledgeable about. As we were going through the training, I learned more about how our laws work, how legislation gets drafted and passed through Congress, and how things work at a state and local level, like with county judges for example.

Because of my past work and activism in the LGBTQIA space, and the nature of our elected officials in Arkansas, outdoor recreation has given me a way to come across the aisle with people I typically would not have. I’ve been able to interact with them about the outdoors and our shared spaces, and if not for that, those are relationships I might not have pursued. The outdoors is something that pretty much anybody can relate to, and those conversations open doors to relationship building, finding common ground, and moving the needle on local issues, and outdoor recreation policy.

What would you tell someone who is looking to get more involved in outdoor advocacy, but doesn’t know where to start?

I would say, hey, let's meet for a beer or a coffee. Talk to the people in your community. Go on a ride together. Find your local trail organization, we have a local IMBA chapter here, and there’s probably one near you. Reach out to your local groups, and even if you don’t join, show up to an event some time to check out the work they’re doing

If you’re here in Arkansas, and you don’t ride bikes, we have the Arkansas Climbers Coalition, and Outdoor Alliance has other member organizations like American Whitewater, Surfrider, and Winter Wildlands Alliance who all have local groups and chapters you can join

I think you can't just sit back, you've got to be involved. If you can’t donate money, donate your time. Those are the two most valuable things you can do for your local trails, nonprofits, and advocacy groups. Keep up with what’s going on locally and nationally, Outdoor Alliance does a great job at that through their Take Action Center and newsletter.

What are the big advocacy issues you’re working on now, and how can others get involved in them?

I would say that these next four years are no time to sit out. I think for the outdoor community, staying engaged in diversity and equity issues should remain important. Folks within the LGBTQIA community have worked so hard on issues of equality for many years, and to see that work being reversed is defeating. There are people who have been fighting for a very long time, and they’re tired. I think it’s important that folks who are newer to advocacy and have the energy, to not sit back and be quiet. Sometimes an ally is who we need shouting, it can be just as impactful, and that’s how you get more of the community coming together on these issues, because what we really need are strong allies to back us.

Is there anything else that feels important about your work, what you've learned, what you think people should know about advocacy, or about particular issues you work on that you'd like to share?

Traci & The Grasstops Collective in D.C.

I think once you get started in advocacy, it's not as intimidating as it seems. Advocacy is about being who you are, and for the longest time in the south, and in rural Arkansas, I was afraid to be me. But then I got to the point where I was like, I’m too old to not be my complete self. I want to show up as my whole self and show that to other people. Years back, I had a friend who said, “you have a great voice, you should be on the radio." We ended up starting the Big Gay Radio Show. It was a two-hour show that happened every Friday in Arkansas. Through that I gained my confidence and found my support system.

When I have a supportive group of people around me, going up to the Capitol steps and holding up a sign, or going in and meeting with lawmakers, whether they’re on our side or against us, becomes a lot easier. We all just had a huge win in Washington D.C. passing the EXPLORE Act. Engaging with your lawmakers, it does make a difference, especially when you can tell your personal story. If we all sit back and say it's not going to make a difference, then of course nothing is going to happen. But when a lot of people call their lawmakers and write to them at the same time, there's no denying you’re raising an issue that needs to be addressed. I think when you do that, and you can set off a chain, a domino effect, other people will join in and it makes a huge difference.

Lightning round (one or two word answers):

Most used piece of gear: Besides my mountain bike, my Apple Watch Ultra, for tracking all my activities

A place you want to go: Havasu Falls

Another advocate you admire: Joe Jacobs, from Arkansas Outside

Favorite close to home spot: Northwoods Trails or the Buffalo National River

Outdoor Allies: Traci Berry