Trail Dogs
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Series
Documentary, Nature
Your contribution will help bring Trail Dogs to life and directly support trail preservation. Every contribution fuels high-quality production and helps share these inspiring stories, promoting environmental stewardship and community engagement.
Trail Dogs
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Series
Documentary, Nature
1 Campaigns | Minnesota, United States
29 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$3,445
Goal: $50,000 for production
Your contribution will help bring Trail Dogs to life and directly support trail preservation. Every contribution fuels high-quality production and helps share these inspiring stories, promoting environmental stewardship and community engagement.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The True Story of Trails...
Imagine a hidden world where rugged landscapes meet brilliant minds—a world where unsung heroes of the outdoors transform nature into living art. Trail Dogs is a groundbreaking docuseries that pulls back the curtain on the art, science, and passion of planning, designing, building, and maintaining our nation’s trails. Over 3–5 immersive episodes, follow a dedicated team of trail builders—our very own "Trail Dogs"—as they face engineering challenges, uncover rich histories, and showcase personal triumphs on every path they craft. This is more than construction; it’s an exploration of creativity, community, and nature’s endless possibilities.
The Characters Are YOU!
You believe in the transformative power of community and the great outdoors. Your passion for nature and innovation fuels the stories that need to be heard. Trails Dogs will tell the stories of people just like you... people that toil and plan and problem solve and dream of some of the most breathtaking paths that connect us all to our natural world.
Why Trail Dogs?
Trail Dogs is a call to action—a dynamic look at how well-crafted trails not only enhance health, economic vitality, and quality of life, but also inspire a deep connection with the environment. With storytelling that intertwines personal narratives and groundbreaking engineering, this series brings unprecedented insight into a world that often goes unseen.
In every season, we follow a dedicated team of "Trail Dogs"—trail builders who see each path as a canvas for creativity and a lifeline for community. Their journey unfolds over 3-5 episodes that capture not only the physical challenges of construction but also the personal stories of those who devote their lives to this craft. From overcoming unique engineering obstacles to revealing the rich histories embedded in each trail’s design, every episode paints a vivid picture of dedication and innovation.
Why Now?
With increasing calls for sustainable development and outdoor recreation, there’s never been a better moment to spotlight the trail builders. Backed by industry giants like Super Genius and The Parks Channel, and with American Trails ensuring authentic storytelling, this is the perfect time to ignite a nationwide movement. Your support is crucial as we capture the urgency and beauty of this movement—helping to secure funding, volunteer efforts, and new talent in the trail industry.
Trail Dogs is already in development, with a clear roadmap from pilot to nationwide impact. By supporting this project, you are not only investing in a compelling docuseries but also in the future of community-driven outdoor spaces. Here’s how your involvement will make a difference:
- Project Process: We are in the active pre-production phase, laying the foundation to capture the compelling journeys of trail builders across America. This campaign will propel us into full production, ensuring that every episode meets the high standard of storytelling our audience expects.
- Campaign Impact: Your pledges will help us secure essential funding for advanced equipment, extended shoot days, and top-notch post-production enhancements like professional color grading, sound design, and an original score. Each contribution brings us closer to transforming an indie pilot into an industry-ready, must-watch docuseries.
- Stretch Goals: If we hit our $125,000 stretch goal, we’ll double our shoot days, explore more locations nationwide, and produce exclusive bonus content—ranging from behind-the-scenes footage to community engagement experiences. This will amplify our marketing, festival submissions, PR efforts, and ultimately our distribution reach.
- Call to Action: Join us in this journey. Pledge, follow, and share our story to help us build sustainable havens in the great outdoors. Use the following social media copy to spread the word: "Discover the untold stories of America’s trail builders in #TrailDogs. Support the docuseries that connects nature, community, and innovation. Join the journey today!"
By supporting Trail Dogs, you’re taking a step toward a brighter, more connected future—one trail at a time.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Essentials
Costs $20,000
5-day shoot costs: 4K cameras, drones, audio gear, lighting, and essential crew (director, cinematographer, sound team).
Location Expenses
Costs $12,000
Travel, lodging & meals for 6-person crew. Includes filming permits, transportation, and specialized gear for remote trails.
Post Production
Costs $18,000
8 weeks of editing, color grading, sound mixing, and original music to transform raw footage into a compelling narrative.
Share this update!
About This Team
We have the perfect blend of trail experts and seasoned docuseries producers. American Trails (nonprofit) owns the docuseries and is committed to the accurate portrayal of the professionals building and designing the trails. Our mission is to increase trail use among all types of people and users, as well as to provide tools to the industry to build and maintain a diverse trail system.
Mike Passo is the Executive Director at American Trails for X years and before that he was the Executive Director of the Professional Trail Builders Association, so he has first hand experience working with both the trail builders and the trail managers.
Candace Gallagher has been with American Trails since 2006 and has served as communications specialist and Director of Operations. She has nearly 20 years of experience with trail managers, trail builders, and trail advocates. She also runs American Trails weekly webinar series which attracts over 20,000 attendees per year and is the conference coordinator for the International Trails Summit and National Outdoor Recreation Conference.
Scott Landes, an American Trails Board Member, dreamed up the Trail Dogs idea as a way to build interest in the industry and increase trail use. People tend to take trails for granted but after seeing how difficult these remote trails are to build, and the settings they are in, making this into a docuseries seemed like a win-win for the industry and the viewer.
Matthew Burnett and Willima (Bill) Connell are seasoned producers of reality tv, documentaries, and docuseries. They have produced Garage Squad since its inception in 2014. They know how to create shows that get and keep eyeballs. If they can get people to watch a show about garages for over 10 years imagine what they will do with trail building in the most beautiful parts of the country. Garage Squad | Rev Your Rescue
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
The True Story of Trails...
Imagine a hidden world where rugged landscapes meet brilliant minds—a world where unsung heroes of the outdoors transform nature into living art. Trail Dogs is a groundbreaking docuseries that pulls back the curtain on the art, science, and passion of planning, designing, building, and maintaining our nation’s trails. Over 3–5 immersive episodes, follow a dedicated team of trail builders—our very own "Trail Dogs"—as they face engineering challenges, uncover rich histories, and showcase personal triumphs on every path they craft. This is more than construction; it’s an exploration of creativity, community, and nature’s endless possibilities.
The Characters Are YOU!
You believe in the transformative power of community and the great outdoors. Your passion for nature and innovation fuels the stories that need to be heard. Trails Dogs will tell the stories of people just like you... people that toil and plan and problem solve and dream of some of the most breathtaking paths that connect us all to our natural world.
Why Trail Dogs?
Trail Dogs is a call to action—a dynamic look at how well-crafted trails not only enhance health, economic vitality, and quality of life, but also inspire a deep connection with the environment. With storytelling that intertwines personal narratives and groundbreaking engineering, this series brings unprecedented insight into a world that often goes unseen.
In every season, we follow a dedicated team of "Trail Dogs"—trail builders who see each path as a canvas for creativity and a lifeline for community. Their journey unfolds over 3-5 episodes that capture not only the physical challenges of construction but also the personal stories of those who devote their lives to this craft. From overcoming unique engineering obstacles to revealing the rich histories embedded in each trail’s design, every episode paints a vivid picture of dedication and innovation.
Why Now?
With increasing calls for sustainable development and outdoor recreation, there’s never been a better moment to spotlight the trail builders. Backed by industry giants like Super Genius and The Parks Channel, and with American Trails ensuring authentic storytelling, this is the perfect time to ignite a nationwide movement. Your support is crucial as we capture the urgency and beauty of this movement—helping to secure funding, volunteer efforts, and new talent in the trail industry.
Trail Dogs is already in development, with a clear roadmap from pilot to nationwide impact. By supporting this project, you are not only investing in a compelling docuseries but also in the future of community-driven outdoor spaces. Here’s how your involvement will make a difference:
- Project Process: We are in the active pre-production phase, laying the foundation to capture the compelling journeys of trail builders across America. This campaign will propel us into full production, ensuring that every episode meets the high standard of storytelling our audience expects.
- Campaign Impact: Your pledges will help us secure essential funding for advanced equipment, extended shoot days, and top-notch post-production enhancements like professional color grading, sound design, and an original score. Each contribution brings us closer to transforming an indie pilot into an industry-ready, must-watch docuseries.
- Stretch Goals: If we hit our $125,000 stretch goal, we’ll double our shoot days, explore more locations nationwide, and produce exclusive bonus content—ranging from behind-the-scenes footage to community engagement experiences. This will amplify our marketing, festival submissions, PR efforts, and ultimately our distribution reach.
- Call to Action: Join us in this journey. Pledge, follow, and share our story to help us build sustainable havens in the great outdoors. Use the following social media copy to spread the word: "Discover the untold stories of America’s trail builders in #TrailDogs. Support the docuseries that connects nature, community, and innovation. Join the journey today!"
By supporting Trail Dogs, you’re taking a step toward a brighter, more connected future—one trail at a time.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Production Essentials
Costs $20,000
5-day shoot costs: 4K cameras, drones, audio gear, lighting, and essential crew (director, cinematographer, sound team).
Location Expenses
Costs $12,000
Travel, lodging & meals for 6-person crew. Includes filming permits, transportation, and specialized gear for remote trails.
Post Production
Costs $18,000
8 weeks of editing, color grading, sound mixing, and original music to transform raw footage into a compelling narrative.
Share this update!
About This Team
We have the perfect blend of trail experts and seasoned docuseries producers. American Trails (nonprofit) owns the docuseries and is committed to the accurate portrayal of the professionals building and designing the trails. Our mission is to increase trail use among all types of people and users, as well as to provide tools to the industry to build and maintain a diverse trail system.
Mike Passo is the Executive Director at American Trails for X years and before that he was the Executive Director of the Professional Trail Builders Association, so he has first hand experience working with both the trail builders and the trail managers.
Candace Gallagher has been with American Trails since 2006 and has served as communications specialist and Director of Operations. She has nearly 20 years of experience with trail managers, trail builders, and trail advocates. She also runs American Trails weekly webinar series which attracts over 20,000 attendees per year and is the conference coordinator for the International Trails Summit and National Outdoor Recreation Conference.
Scott Landes, an American Trails Board Member, dreamed up the Trail Dogs idea as a way to build interest in the industry and increase trail use. People tend to take trails for granted but after seeing how difficult these remote trails are to build, and the settings they are in, making this into a docuseries seemed like a win-win for the industry and the viewer.
Matthew Burnett and Willima (Bill) Connell are seasoned producers of reality tv, documentaries, and docuseries. They have produced Garage Squad since its inception in 2014. They know how to create shows that get and keep eyeballs. If they can get people to watch a show about garages for over 10 years imagine what they will do with trail building in the most beautiful parts of the country. Garage Squad | Rev Your Rescue