About Us

We support our community by donating to the following local organizations:

(This list is just within the last year...)

Brandywine Valley Association http://www.brandywinewatershed.org/ 

Cub Scouts Pack 31 of Chadds Ford

Fair Hill Equestrian - Plantation Field Horse Trails  http://horsetrials.fairhillinternational.com/

Garnet Valley Home and School Association  http://www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvsdhands.html

Howard High School - Dr. Henry A. Stenta Career Development Center  http://www.k12.de.us/howard/Stenta%20Center.htm

Ronald McDonald House  http://www.rmhde.org/

SAVE (Safety, Agriculture, Villiages and Environment) www.save41.org

Stroud Water Research  http://www.stroudcenter.org/

Upland Country Day School  http://www.uplandcds.org/

Westtown School http://www.westtown.edu/

Young Friends of the Brandywine - River Cleanup http://www.youngfriends.org/

 

Trail Creek History:

 

Twenty-four years ago, two very green young guys had a dream. We wanted to open a store that would be the next L. L. Bean or Orvis. So with the help of some wonderful people, we rented a space in Powder Mill Square in Greenville, Delaware. We painted and made crude wooden fixtures and bought other fixtures at auction. With money scraped together from selling shares in our venture and loans from parents, we opened the doors to Country Classics on March 23^rd, 1983.

             Brian (left) and Ed (right) as they unveil Country Classics           

From very humble beginnings with very little inventory, the store grew slowly but steadily. It soon became the place to buy anything “ducky”. Country Classics sold everything from Duckhead khakis to risqué ties to barware to shotguns to fishing rods and on and on. After years of being a non-profit organization, the black ink finally flowed around 1988 or so. 

The store in Powder Mill could only hold so many chamois shirts embroidered with pheasants, so we began looking for a bigger space. We found it in 1990 at a new shopping center called Glen Eagle Square. With almost 2/3rds more space to fill we found ourselves experiencing déjà vu all over again. We had to go back to the well for more financing and make more homemade fixtures. Back to non-profit status again. From a very scattered product line and with some difficult soul-searching, we decided to focus on outdoor clothing. We pledged to be the best outdoor clothing store in the area and changed our name to Trail Creek Outfitters. We were committed to offering exceptional customer service from knowledgeable, friendly staff. We identified the best outdoor clothing companies and stocked our shelves with their products. The quality of our merchandise was paramount in our inventory selection. We did not want anyone to say that they got bad information or bad clothing from Trail Creek Outfitters.

For the most part, we have been successful. However, we strive to constantly improve; always looking for new lines, receiving clinics from our vendors and greeting new customers. This brings us to you: one of the customers that we greeted however long ago. None of this would have been possible without your patronage. We sincerely thank you for twenty years of support. We hope that we can continue to earn your trust and your business. We look forward to serving your needs for twenty-four more years and beyond. Thank you for making us not the next L.L. Bean, but the first Trail Creek Outfitters.

 

Brian Havertine

Ed Camelli

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Employees:

 

Ed – Owner.  Respected by all and feared by none.  He’s that nice, loveable guy that will get to know your name and always has a smile on his face.  Having been in the business for 24 years he has tried just about every piece of clothing for his many excursions.  From climbing the Grand Tetons to competing in challenging adventure races, bike races, etc. he will tell you what it takes...

 

Brian – Owner.  You might not recognize him in the grocery store because he’s our “behind the scenes” guy.  He balances everything from the checkbook to our marketing strategies, another company and many children.  A true family man... You will often see his offspring working for the store during their breaks from school. 

 

Sarah – Manager/Buyer.  She’s our blond in control.  Working for Ed and Brian for 12 years, she knows the details about every particle in the store.  She enjoys trips to Maine; hiking in Costa Rica, Japan, China, and Europe (to name a few); and taking her dog, Skye, for walks every day at BVA or the Laurels.  Her last backpacking expedition was at Glacier National Park in Montana.  PS- did we mention she owns almost every item we carry?  Who's jealous? 

 

Alicia - Manager/Sales.  She recently received her degree in Social Work from West Chester, so she's been hired full-time.  YAY.  She bakes a mean cookie for the staff, plays guitar, and smiles.  Her instant impression of innocence leaves no question of sleazy sales...but somehow she'll have you smiling with her and visiting your grandmother when you’re done buying half of Trail Creek.

 

Cat – Part-time Community Relations, Events and Sales.  She’s a runner, a hiker and a true outdoor and natural health enthusiast who comes with a side of smiles.  She will tell you about Outward Bound, Colorado, New Mexico, Europe, the Cape Cod Marathon, the Breast Cancer 3-day and her new baby. ….try not to get cornered. 

 

Heidi - Sales.  It's her laugh you love to hear, which leaves a ringing in your ear.  She brings to Trail Creek much cheer, although she only works part of the year.  She's always around for the holiday, because her company  (DIG IT!) hibernates in the winter day.  She has much experience in the outdoors, so let her knowledge impress you inside Trail Creek doors.

 

Christine - Sales.  Summer's over, her girls are back to school so she's baaaaaack...at Trail Creek.  Many find themselves telling her their life story - we're thinking about setting up a little couch in the back so you can relax and release your deepest fears to Christine.  Seriously, she'll get to know you (if you want) because that's the best way to know what you need.  And who doesn't need anything at Trail Creek?

 

Kesse - Sales.  He's in school getting a degree in Art.  He laughs easily and is getting to know our product at lightening speed.  He can also give a mean hair cut (please comment on how fabulous Ed's hair looks!).

 

Michelle - Sales.  You'll see her running up and down Route 52 on any given day...ask her what she wears to stay comfortable, and she'll happily tell you...

 

Josh - Sales.  Master of the stock room.  Seriously, if we don't have it on the floor, Josh will give you the geographic coordinates of the item in it's box in our stock room.

Charlie - Sales.  He's from horse country, so those of you wondering what outfit best suits your riding needs, he's your man.  He also doesn't have a shy bone in his body, so don't be alarmed if you two are best friends by the time you leave Trail Creek.

 

Acorn – Sits.  Even though she wouldn’t hurt a fly, she occasionally shows up to work with blood on her face.  Gross. 

 

Skye – Stays.  Her beauty is breathtaking.  But that’s not all that’s breathtaking: don’t get too close after Sarah fed her beans and raw vegetables for dinner the night before.  Talk about gross. 

 

Here's a note from our dear friend and former employee, Liz Dols, who has fought the cancer battle and WON.  Please take a second to read her victorious story and help her reach another goal...

 

www.philly07.livestrong.org/blizzardd

Trail Creek is a fantastic neighbor to have.  We find great stuff that enables us to play outside all the days of the year.  For an even luckier few, Trail Creek becomes a second home.  I found my place there a couple of autumns ago, working through the winter full time before cutting back to part time hours.  Little did I know a couple of autumns later I would face the biggest challenge of my life. 

Cancer hasn’t been able to take away too much of my time outside – maybe it has given me even more.  I’ve run the hills of Chester County during chemotherapy, skied Snowbird’s toughest hills just days before having surgery to remove 2/3 of my right lung, and have resumed running and biking again, following seven months of the most grueling cancer treatments and surgeries out there.  Even in the face of a seemingly terrifying disease I’ve thrived.  I couldn’t have done it without the help of friends (many of whom you see each day at Trail Creek!), family, and medical pros.  I also couldn’t have done it without the Lance Armstrong Foundation. 

My hope is you won’t ever have to face cancer.  But if you do, you never have to go it alone.  There is a wealth of information out there, and the LAF gathers a lot of it in one place, offering support through survivors’ stories, paperwork that helps guide you in keeping life organized when it seems impossible, and the chance to even call and speak to a human if you need help.  More than anything, it offers an unending supply of hope.  The LAF inspires and empowers people affected by cancer. The LAF believes that unity is strength, knowledge is power, and attitude is everything.

On August 25 & 26, 2007 the Livestrong Challenge comes to Philadelphia .  You can register to run or ride in a number of events.  It is an important fundraiser for this priceless organization.  I urge you to give what you can – even $10 or $15 goes a long way in the fight against cancer.  Please click on the link provided to take a moment to make a difference.  I thank you in advance for your support.

www.philly07.livestrong.org/blizzardd

Now get outside and do some playing.  Say hi to your neighbors.  Be well and live strong. 

Liz Dols

Full Circle Group, LLC representing The North Face