AMC sees increase in teen and adult participation over three years

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES – 17th March 2010 – The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has greatly benefited from growing interest in its one-to-four week teen and adult volunteer trail crews, with an estimated 38% increase in volunteer hours and 17% increase in volunteers over the past three years. To help maintain hiking trails in scenic New England locations, the AMC is further expanding its volunteer trail vacation opportunities this summer and fall to include 39 trail vacations running from June through October.

Each trail volunteer vacation is set within a spectacular natural setting, including Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, and the Moosehead Lake region in Maine, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the Berkshires in Massachusetts. Among these locations are trail projects on Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S.; on the AMC’s newly conserved 66,500-acre Maine Woods conservation property; and based at the AMC’s Madison Spring Hut, part of the oldest hut hiking system in the U.S.

Expanded and newly added 2010 AMC volunteer trail vacation crews include:

* More teen crews, with 25 White Mountain and Berkshires crews exclusively for volunteers ages 15-19, including more two-week crews and a new four-week crew. Teens seeking community service credit are eligible for 40 service hours per week.

* More adult crews, for a total of 14 crews located in the White Mountains, Acadia National Park, and Baxter State Park, including a “50+ Older and Boulder” crew based at the AMC’s full-service Highland Lodge as part of 50+ Adventure Camp for ages 50 and older.

* New, two Maine Woods week-long adult trail crews to help build and maintain the new trail network on the AMC’s Maine Woods property, located in the Moosehead Lake region. The crew starts and ends at the AMC’s Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins.

For the 2010 volunteer trail vacation schedule, including details of specific projects and types of trail work, visit www.outdoors.org/volunteer.

Volunteer vacations include a range of formats, from crews that spend all of their time in the backcountry to crews that do day trips based out of a roadside lodge or campground. Downtime on work days gives volunteers plenty of chances for recreating or relaxing in 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.

To see news, updates, and photos from the AMC’s professional and volunteer trail crews, visit the AMC Trails blog at www.outdoors.org/blogs.

Rates and reservations
The AMC’s one-to-four-week volunteer vacation crews for teens and adults start at $215 for non-members ($195 for members). Fees vary by program and help defray the cost of food, shelter, and leadership for the volunteer crews. To register, call Alex DeLucia at 603-466-2721 x8128.

The AMC’s five-night “50+ Older and Boulder” crew starts at $705 for non-members ($495 for members) and includes lodge accommodations, freshly-prepared meals, guided day hikes, yoga, post-work social hours, massage, and free use of the lodge’s L.L. Bean gear room.

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.

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