Mission & History

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Mission Statement

ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) works to protect New York State wild lands and waters by promoting responsible outdoor recreation and building a statewide constituency of land stewardship advocates.

About Us

Based out of the Adirondack Park in New York State, ADK is a leader in providing outdoor education, promoting responsible recreation, and organizing stewardship experiences. Since 1922, the organization has worked to increase access to the backcountry by building trails, conserving natural areas, and developing a stewardship community that supports the ethical and safe use of New York’s outdoor spaces. A member, donor, and volunteer-supported organization, ADK reaches across New York through its 27 chapters to inspire people to enjoy the outdoors ethically. 

ADK is a private nonprofit 501(c) 3 registered New York State charity. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by staff, which include our executive director, chief financial officer, department directors, and more. ADK is funded through a combination of membership dues, private individual and business donations, and foundation and government grants.

You can learn more about the organization and its bylaws here.


Our Work

Education and Outreach

ADK equips you with the knowledge needed to have a safe and low-impact experience in the outdoors. We offer dozens of programs each year covering topics ranging from map and compass basics to rock-climbing skills. There is something for everyone on our roster of classes, from novices to experts, as well as school-based programs.

ADK staffs and manages the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program, which plays an integral role in protecting fragile alpine plants and their ecosystems on the state’s highest peaks, like Marcy, Colden, and Algonquin.

ADK’s definitive guidebooks and maps, written and designed by accomplished outdoors people, help you find your way along just about any trail in the Adirondacks and Catskills.

Professional Trail Work

ADK is New York’s leader in modern, sustainable trail design. With a century of experience under our belts, our professional and volunteer trail crews have the tools to create a more sustainable future for all to explore the outdoors.

Conservation

From collaborating with state and local groups to alleviate the impact of high use on the most popular trails, to combatting invasive pests such as hemlock wooly adelgid, our advocacy team works tirelessly to conserve wild lands and waters and promote ADK’s mission.


Get Involved

We could not do any of the work without the support of our dedicated volunteers, members and donors. Read below to learn more about how you can support ADK and give back to the Adirondack Park.

Volunteers greet campers at our campgrounds, help maintain our lodges, build trails, educate hikers on mountain summits, and more.

Members support ADK with affordable annual membership dues. In addition to supporting ADK’s work, joining ADK gives you all sorts of benefits: discounts on lodging, educational programs, ADK guidebooks and maps, logo merchandise, parking, as well as our free member magazine, Adirondac, group trips and more. Plus, you get to be part of a community of folks who enjoy some of the same activities as you. You can join one of 27 regional chapters or be a member-at-large.

Two girls doing trail work

Donors go above and beyond to support ADK’s work. No donation is too small or too large, and all are accepted with deep appreciation.

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