TTC Captain: Nate Olmsted
Nate Olmsted, a senior and five-year PICL student athlete, combined his love of riding with his passion for giving back by creating a brand-new singletrack trail in East Bradford Township. Nate’s interest in trail stewardship started young, attending trail workdays with his dad, who was active in the local trail network. “Growing up, I met a lot of the people my dad knew through trails,” Nate says. “I became passionate about riding, but you’ve got to put in some work there too.”
“The hardest part was definitely the planning. You really need to know who’s doing what, when, and how — and then communicate that clearly to everyone.”
For his project, Nate designed and led the construction of a trail that connects Star Farm Park with the M. John Johnson Nature Center trail system. Working closely with the township’s Parks Department, he coordinated with Rich, the Parks Director, and Ryan, the conservation specialist, to design the route and protect sensitive plants. Nate even presented his plan to the Parks Board for approval, complete with a PowerPoint.
The trail build itself was a team effort, bringing together coaches and student athletes from several PICL teams, including Great Valley, West Chester, and Downingtown. With multiple groups working at once, Nate had to stay organized and keep everyone moving toward the same goal. Thanks to his leadership and preparation, the project went smoothly and left the community with a beautiful, functional connection between parks.
“Having a project like this to put on my college applications and resume really shows leadership. ”
For Nate, the project was not only a way to improve the trails he loves, but also a meaningful step toward the future. His advice to other PICL athletes who want to complete TTC Captain Projects? “Go to the land managers at a trail you ride and ask if they need help — because they probably do. Or bring them your idea and make sure it’s something that benefits the whole community.”