Celebrating 150 Years of AMC
A Legacy in Motion
In 2026, we're embarking on a 2,000+ mile relay from Virginia to Maine. Outdoor enthusiasts will pass a pennant hand to hand over the lands and waters we enjoy and protect, honoring the last 150 years of adventure, trail-building, and conservation. Together, we'll celebrate the future we’re building for people and the outdoors.
The journey echoes how AMC began in 1876, with an invitation to explore the mountains and learn side by side. One hundred fifty years later and 90,000 members strong, we’re sending another invitation: to be part of what comes next.
![Chris Shane's Googledrive/july 2017 Lifestyle Shoot/lake Of The Clouds [link From Dede Sullivan]](https://cdn.outdoors.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/23162022/AMC01056_mo-AMC00002819-1-scaled-e1766530108427.jpg "Jul. 19, 2017. AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut (Presidential Range), White Mountain National Forest New Hampshire-- Photo by Chris Shane.")
A Legacy in Motion
In 2026, we're embarking on a 1,500-mile relay from Virginia to Maine. Outdoor enthusiasts will pass a pennant hand to hand over the lands and waters we enjoy and protect, honoring the last 150 years of adventure, trail-building, and conservation. Together, we'll celebrate the future we’re building for people and the outdoors.
The journey echoes how AMC began in 1876, with an invitation to explore the mountains and learn side by side. One hundred fifty years later and 90,000 members strong, we’re sending another invitation: to be part of what comes next.
Join In & Get Out
The AMC 150th Relay begins March 14, following a bold route from Virginia to Maine. Chapters and volunteer leaders—the people who have long shaped how people move through these places—will lead the way mile by mile. Lace up your boots, grab a paddle, or gather at AMC events along the way to share the journey and celebrate this milestone.
Explore the Route
See where the relay is headed—and where you can step in. Join a leg, attend an event, or follow the pennant live as it travels from Virginia to Maine.
Explore the Route
See where the relay is headed—and where you can step in. Join a leg, attend an event, or follow the pennant live as it travels from Virginia to Maine beginning in March.
Discover Community Stories
From first outings to lasting friendships, the AMC community is shaped by shared experiences outdoors. Read the latest stories from members across the region, then add your own and be part of the legacy.
Transformed by the Trail
By Jeannette Balantic
At the time of our first AMC trip, I was a single mom of two young boys, Finn and Eamon—12 and 10 at the time. I knew I wanted my kids to experience the magic of the outdoors, but I didn’t feel I had the skills to venture much beyond local car camping and short backpacking trips. So, we registered for an AMC Family Hut-to-Hut trip to Mizpah and Lakes of the Clouds, and later the AMC Summer Echo Lake Camp in Acadia. Both experiences were transformative—for my kids and for me...
Becoming an American at age 15
By Peter Hoenig
My parents were Holocaust survivors, recent immigrants from Europe. I grew up in the shadow of WWII, watching my mother learn to make PB & J sandwiches from the neighbor; appreciating my father reading the rules of baseball from a borrowed library book prior to umpiring my 11-year-old baseball birthday party. Their interrupted childhood left them longing for the Alps, Czech dumplings, lost friends and family...
Adventure Begins When Plan Falls Apart
By Neil Mello
It’s hard to say when exactly our family’s love of AMC adventures began. The official start, of course, was marked by our three-year old daughter Cordelia’s arrival at the Zealand trailhead in 2019. We took her meandering scramble up and over every climbable object on the trail for that (tedious) first mile as a positive sign...
Family Adventures at August Camp
By Ross M. Lanius
When I arrived at AMC August Camp at Abol Pond Katahdin in 1957, I found there was only one other college-aged person there, Polly Greist. Her father was the canoe trip leader and her brother David was on the crew. Polly didn’t want to go to August Camp and miss time from a good paying job at the Yale Biophysics Department, but her mother would not leave her alone for a week...
Limited Edition AMC 150 Gear
Celebrate the journey with AMC 150 inspired keepsakes, created for the trail, the road, and everything in between and only available for a limited time. Every dollar supports our mission to get more people outdoors and protect the places we play.
150th Anniversary Partners
AMC 150 is generously supported by
Support our biggest celebration yet.
As the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the U.S., with nearly 90,000 members, our 150th Anniversary is a milestone event offering unparalleled visibility and alignment with a legacy of outdoor adventure and stewardship.
Brand Sponsors
Reach an engaged audience of passionate outdoor enthusiasts. Sponsorship opportunities may include segment & event sponsorships, in-kind contributions and more.
Get In Touch
Media Inquiries
AMC welcomes local, regional, and national media to share the story of our 150th anniversary celebration. Please reach out to media@outdoors.org for press inquiries.
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