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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Colorado is known for its hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails. Since they are so often traveled, they see a lot of wear and tear.

Thanks to dozens of volunteers, however, not only will trails in the Pikes Peak Region be cleaner and safer -- there will soon be new trails to trek.

"We all play here, we all use the area," Susan Davies, executive director for the Trails and Open Space Coalition, said Sunday. "Its time to give something back."

Over Earth Day weekend, nearly 30 volunteers participated in a free training program to become crew leaders for trail projects.

"We're training them to build new trail, how to do maintenance on old trail and restoration of trail taught by Rocky Mountain Field Institute," lead instructor Robert Johnson said.

Members from 15 parks and trails groups, such as Friends of Cheyenne Canyon, Friends of Red Rock Canyon and Guardians of Palmer Park, took part in the two day training at Garden of the Gods and Glen Eyrie. Each learned how to properly install steps along old trails and created new trails in the area. The lessons taught the future crew leaders techniques so they can safely start and help others complete projects across the region.

"There are certain ways of doing it and there are proper ways of doing it," Johnson said. "You can't just have anybody out here whacking on trails."

Lizy Ritchey helped pave the way for a new trail in Glen Eyrie on Earth Day. She said she loves the many outdoor activities Colorado has to offer and wants to be a crew leader to help restore trails in her community.

"By becoming a crew leader maybe I can contribute a little more and educate others, too," Ritchey said.

New crew leader Jesse Rochette said the training program was also a great way to connect with others who want to preserve and protect local parks.

"We're all getting to know each other and understand what other parks and other open spaces are needing," Rochette said. "We can trade crew leaders back and forth. It's really kind of a neat process that we can work together on this. It's a great way to spend Earth Day."

The crew leaders graduated from the program Sunday afternoon. Davies said because there are more crew leaders, more trails will be better maintained over the course of the summer and the many summers to come.

The new crew leaders will be leading plenty of trail projects this summer, including along the Incline trail in Manitou Springs. If you would like to help, or for more information about the groups and projects, visit openspacevolunteers.org.