Get Involved!

There are several ways you can get involved with the Ozark Highlands Trail Association (OHTA) and support the trail. Four of the primary ways are covered in detail below. 

DONATE

You can make a tax-deductible donation to the OHTA through PayPal using the button below. A PayPal account is not required. PayPal will provide us with your name, billing address, email address, and optional phone number. We do not share any personal information with anybody except under court order. You can also help financially by purchasing gear in our online shop. 
PayPal will provide us with your name, billing address, email address, and optional phone number. We do not share any personal information with anybody except under court order. Checks can be mailed to this address: Ozark Highlands Trail Association • P. O. Box 4065 • Fayetteville, AR 72702-4065

MEMBERSHIP

Anyone who uses the OHT is encouraged to become a member of the OHTA. OHTA members have a voice in the operation of the organization – electing directors, amending bylaws, etc. Each membership is one vote. Members receive the monthly OHTA Newsletter if we have a correct email address. (Drop us a note if you’re not getting it.) Members also typically get priority access to trainings such as wilderness first aid and sawyer training. There are several different membership levels:
  • Individual or Family: $20 ($10 if 25 or younger)
  • Trail Friend: $30
  • Contributing: $50
  • Supporting: $100
  • Life: $300
Except for lifetime memberships, you’ll get a renewal reminder about a year after joining or renewing. You can become a member online using the dropdown and button below. OHTA is recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization by the IRS and is an affiliate of the American Hiking Society.

Join/renew by PayPal

A PayPal account is not required. PayPal will provide us with your name, billing address, email address, and optional phone number.  We do not share any personal information with anybody except under court order.

Join/renew by mail

Download a membership form, fill it out, and mail with a check to this address: Ozark Highlands Trail Association • P. O. Box 4065 • Fayetteville, AR 72702-4065

MAINTAINING THE TRAIL

Trails, once built, will not survive without maintenance. Mother Nature is constantly trying to reclaim the trail corridor. Trees fall; saplings, shrubs, grasses, vines and briars grow, etc.

One of the major roles of the OHTA is maintaining the trails in a usable condition. OHTA has agreements with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service to provide this volunteer workforce. Without this volunteer work, the trail would soon become unusable.

Want to help? We have periodic group maintenance outings and we also allow members to “adopt” a section of trail that they routinely maintain. You can find maintenance events on our events page. If you are interested in adopting a section, download our Adopter’s Handbook and see what’s involved in adopting a section. You can then check out what’s available for adoption (sections in green are available).  If you want to adopt a section or to find out more information, contact the Maintenance Coordinator.

Hikers can also help by reporting trail issues to the Maintenance Coordinator.  The more accurate your location information the better.  Photos are also a great help.  Read more about using your smartphone to report trail issues.

Adopter Information

Adopters should report maintenance activity to the Maintenance Coordinator. This way, we can keep track of which sections have had maintenance. In addition, the land management agencies need to keep track of demographic data.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Any person in your maintenance crew who is not a current paid member of OHTA should download and fill out a Temporary Membership Certificate (also available from the outing leader).  Only OHTA members are permitted to participate according to our Agreements for Volunteer Services with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service.
 

Resources

Complete Maintenance Report

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The board of directors is a group of 9 members that meets occasionally to conduct the bulk of the business of the OHTA. The directors are elected by the members and serve three year terms. When a term is expiring, an election will be held to fill that position. If you are interested in serving on the board, watch for us to announce when we are looking for candidates, and then let us know you’re interested.