Growing trail work options this summer include more White Mountain teen crews and new lodge-based skills programs for families and volunteers ages 50+

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2009

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) this summer is continuing to expand on its volunteer trail vacations, adding more teen crews and new lodge-based programs especially for families and volunteers ages 50 and older. Opportunities to help maintain hiking trails in scenic New England locations include 30 one-to-three-week adult and teen volunteer crews from June through September. The AMC is also introducing trail maintenance skills programs at its Highland Lodge in the White Mountains, offering the comfort of lodge amenities after a day of trail work.

Each trail volunteer vacation is set within a spectacular natural setting, such as Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park in Maine, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the Berkshires in Massachusetts.

Expanded and newly added 2009 AMC volunteer trail vacation crews include:

• More White Mountain options for teens ages 15-19, for a total of 21 teen crews that also include locations in the Berkshires. Teens fulfilling a community service school graduation requirement are eligible for 40 service hours per week.
  
  
• New for teens, an Appalachian Trail Corridor monitoring and maintenance crew focused on orienteering and land management skills.
  
  
• New for younger, 20- to 30-something adults, a strenuous alpine trail work crew based on Mt. Washington. 
  

These trail crew experiences range from day trips to the project site, with the group returning to a rustic base-camp facility each night, to backcountry project and tent-site locations. Downtime on work days gives volunteers plenty of chances to enjoy the scenic locations that serve as the backdrops for the trail projects. Some crews, such as the lower-impact opportunities at Acadia National Park, build a day-off or more into the week. Each crew spends four to five days per week working closely with expert AMC leaders, and the work day averages six to eight hours.

Also new for this summer is the opportunity to volunteer while staying in an environmentally-friendly lodge setting—with amenities such as a private room with private bath, freshly prepared meals, guided walks and hikes, social hours, and evening programs. Based at the AMC’s Highland Lodge, these programs offer options especially for families and volunteers ages 50 and older to help maintain local Crawford Notch trails and include:  

• Trail Work Weekends, June 12-14 and August 21-23, 2009
  Designed for new volunteers interested in trying trail work before committing to a full week, the AMC’s easy to moderately challenging trail skills weekends will cover the basics of trail maintenance, safety, and equipment. Families with kids ages 8 and older are welcome to participate in the August weekend, when introductory trail work is the focus.
  
  
• “Older and Boulder” 50+ Adventure Camp, July 26-31, 2009
  Exclusively for volunteers ages 50+, the AMC’s newest addition to its five-night Adventure Camp programs offers a blend of moderately challenging trail work throughout the week, plus downtime for guided group hikes, daily social hours, and evening programs.
  

Depending on the type of AMC volunteer trail project, work can include clearing drainage ditches; cutting back vegetation; hardening trails with gravel; installing bog bridges and water bars; building rock stairs, cairns, or drainage structures; working on shelters; or painting blazes. Training is provided for all of the AMC’s volunteer trail programs, so experience is not necessary.

Rates and reservations
The AMC’s one-to-three-week volunteer vacation crews for teens start at $190 for non-members ($170 for members). Week-long crews for adults start at $195 for non-members ($175 for members). Fees vary by program and help defray the cost of food, shelter, and leadership for the volunteer crews. For more details, including locations, dates, and trail crew age guidelines, visit www.outdoors.org/volunteer. To register, call Alex DeLucia at 603-466-2721 x8128.

Starting at rates for Highland Lodge based programs include lodge accommodations in a private bunkroom with shared bath, all meals (dinner includes fresh baked bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert), guided hikes, free use of the lodge’s L.L. Bean gear room, AMC Trails Volunteer t-shirt, AMC’s Complete Guide to Trail Building & Maintenance, and leadership and tools for the volunteer crews. Trail work weekends start at $295, plus taxes, for adult non-members ($267 for adult members) and $171 for child non-members ages 12 and under ($155 for members). The 5-night “Older and Boulder” 50+ Adventure Camp starts at $627, plus taxes, for non-members ($495 for members). Individuals may be subject to a single supplement or be assigned to a shared room on a same-sex basis. Private room with private bath accommodations are available at an additional cost. For more details and for reservations, visit www.outdoors.org/highland or call 603-466-2727. 

For information about other AMC experiences this summer, visit the AMC’s Summer Planning Guide at www.outdoors.org/summerguide.

Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the nation. With 90,000 members in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers and trails of the Appalachian region. The AMC supports natural resource conservation while encouraging responsible recreation, based on the philosophy that successful, long-term conservation depends upon first-hand enjoyment of the natural environment.