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Supervised Volunteer Trails Program Chopping a blowndown tree

ADK strives to provide all of our volunteers with a positive and rewarding experience while giving back to trails. Since its inception in 1986, the Supervised Volunteer Program has paralleled the professional trail crews in adopting sound techniques and methods of trail maintenance.

Volunteer projects are inherently educational, allowing participants to not only learn the skills associated with trail work, but also the natural history of the area and Leave-No-Trace backcountry ethics.

Volunteer trail work is truly at the heart of ADK since the “Trails and Shelters” committee was established in 1923. Over the years, ADK’s role in trails has changed from the building of trails to making current trails sustainable through sound layout and long-lasting trail structures. ADK Trail Volunteers get great satisfaction from contributing to a high-quality trail project. Volunteering is also an opportunity to meet some great folks.

Stepping stonesAbove: A teen volunteer chops a blown down tree on the Lyon Mountain Trail. Left: Some of the 28 stepping stones that were installed by a weeklong high school volunteer trail crew on the Ore Bed Trail in the High Peaks Region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Volunteer Accomplishments

Over 320 volunteers participated in our supervised trips, and contributed over 4,000 hours of volunteer labor for trails.

  • 35 miles of trail “patrolled” (all drainage cleared, all blowdown removed) with 175 blowdown removed

  • 544 feet of new drainage ditches

  • 50 earthen water bars built

  • 358 feet of bog bridging and 272 feet of boardwalk built

  • 23 miles of side cutting completed

Get Involved!

  • The complete schedule of ADK's 2012 volunteer trail opportunities is available here.
  • Join us as we head south to work on the network of trails in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, Feb. 18-25, 2012. Details here.
  • Click here to learn more about other stewardship opportunities.
  • Interested in working as a paid volunteer trail crew leader? Click here for job posting or click here for an application.

The Supervised Volunteer Program is made possible by the support of the Cold River, Genesee, Laurentian, Niagara Frontier, Saratoga-Glens Falls, and Schenectady ADK chapters.