To act as a guide for decision making the Santa Barbara County Trails Council has adopted a set of organizational values and principles that support the organization’s mission.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to protect public trail access, build and maintain safe and
sustainable trails, and promote public engagement in land stewardship and
trail use for all types of outdoor recreation.

Organizational Values

Seven Distinguishing Organizational Values:

• Community: improving the community
• Nature: respecting the environment
• Cooperation: working well with others
• Teamwork: getting work done through cooperation
• Achievement: accomplishing goals and objectives
• Growth: increasing the size/scope of our organization
• Safety: fostering safe shared use of trails by everyone

Guiding Principles

Our eight principles are based on our distinguishing organizational values and indicate how we promote trust, openness, teamwork, professionalism, and pride in what we do.

Community: Our aim is to continuously improve the ways in which we contribute directly or indirectly to the general well being of the region's trail network and the community at large. We take a constructive interest in societal matters, directly or indirectly related to acquisition, development and maintenance of trails and open spaces in Santa Barbara County.

Communication and Engagement: We recognize that regular dialogue and engagement with our stakeholders is essential. In our interactions with members, customers, local governmental agencies and other stakeholders, we seek to listen and respond to them honestly and responsibly.

Teamwork: We can achieve our goals only through genuine partnerships with members, volunteers, customers, local governmental agencies and other stakeholders, which are based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value-creation. While individual initiative is always encouraged, we believe that team effort will produce the best results.

Safety: The safety of people is the primary consideration in all of Santa Barbara County Trails Council’s activities. Without exception, no activity is to be attempted by Santa Barbara Trails Council leaders, members, employees, volunteers or associates unless it can be done safely. We work to achieve trail safety by identifying and repairing hazards whenever possible and encouraging the use of common sense and caution by all trail users, particularly when sharing the trail with others.

Environment: We continually look for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our trail-related services. We work to expand the public use of outdoor public spaces, including, but not limited to trails, in an environmentally responsible way.

Compliance: We comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

Business Integrity: Santa Barbara County Trails Council insists on honesty, integrity and fairness in all aspects of our work and expects the same in our relationships with all those with whom we conduct business or engage. Board members and employees must avoid conflicts of interest between their private activities and their part in the conduct of the organization’s business. Board members and employees must also declare to the potential conflicts of interest. All business transactions on behalf of a Santa Barbara County Trails Council must be reflected accurately and fairly in the accounts of Santa Barbara County Trails Council in accordance with established procedures and are subject to audit and disclosure.

Political Activities: Santa Barbara County Trails Council acts in a socially responsible manner within the laws of the jurisdictions in which we operate in pursuit of our trails related objectives. Santa Barbara County Trails Council does not donate/make payments to political parties, organizations or their representatives. However, when dealing with government agencies, Santa Barbara County Trails Council has the right and the responsibility to make our position known on any matters, which affect us, trail users, trail use groups or local community groups in a manner, which is in accordance with our mission, values and the organization’s guiding principles.