$12,000 REI grant funds AMC’s Volunteer Trail Skills Training Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2011

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) recently received a $12,000 grant from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) to support AMC’s Volunteer Trail Skills Training Series. The grant will support four intensive, day-long workshops that will be run as a collaboration between AMC’s Trails Department and four of AMC’s 12 regional chapters: Narragansett (RI); Boston (MA); Worcester (central MA); and Southeastern MA. The Narragansett and Worcester chapters will offer their workshops later this month, and the Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts chapter workshops will be held in spring 2012.

“The Volunteer Trail Skills Training Series will provide a corps of volunteers to actively care for local trails safely and effectively – especially at ‘close to home’ locations,” explained Heather Clish, AMC’s Director of Conservation and Recreation Policy. “We are thrilled to partner with REI as we train the next generation of trail stewards and leaders.”

Workshops are open to AMC chapter members as well as the public. To learn more about the first trail work skills workshop and project, being offered October 29 – 30 in Exeter, Rhode Island, visit
http://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/56913.

About Appalachian Mountain Club
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is America’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. With more than 100,000 members, advocates, and supporters in the Northeast and beyond, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, 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.

About REI
REI’s core purpose is to inspire, educate and outfit people for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship. Each year, REI donates millions of dollars to support conservation efforts nationwide and sends dedicated teams of volunteers—members, customers and REI employees—to build trails, clean up beaches, restore local habitats and more. Through responsible business practices across the company, REI strives to reduce their environmental footprint. For more information about REI’s stewardship and work in the community, visit www.rei.com/stewardship.