Workshops

A New Deal for Youth is a youth-led, youth-centered effort advocating for the creation of new systems, policies, investments, and structures that reimagine life for young people in America. New Deal for Youth Changemakers consist of young leaders between the ages of 14 and 32 from across the country who advocate and organize across a range of issues facing their communities. In this conversation, you will learn more about New Deal for Youth and our Environmental Justice policy demands from three Changemakers.

Last year, Changemakers developed a set of Environmental Justice policy demands. Recognizing the disproportionate environmental burden marginalized communities bear, our demands work towards the just distribution of decision-making and resources to foster authentic community-oriented solutions. We advocate for Indigenous self-determination, shifting power to marginalized communities, holding corporations accountable, healing-centered culturally responsive physical and mental health care, and the creation of quality green jobs. This year, ND4Y Changemakers are working on making these demands happen through federal legislative advocacy, federal administrative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and public awareness.

During this one-hour conversation, our Changemakers will share their own environmental justice advocacy journeys and discuss how young people can drive policy change. Changemakers will share advice for other young leaders and activists hoping to get more involved in environmental justice advocacy. This panel will be informal and conversational – we look forward to engaging with the audience and answering your questions! 

In this presentation, we will examine the historic contexts of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST) from conception to the present and describe one of the largest and most complex efforts undertaken by the National Park Service (NPS) to document and list a historic property in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Stepping in time through six distinct historic periods beginning with the outdoor recreation and the hiking club movements of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and the initial promotion of a long-distance hiking trail along the Appalachian Mountain Range, we will trace the evolution of the Appalachian Trail from initial concept through what is today the world’s best-known long distance hiking trail, highlighting noteworthy places, people, and events. We will cap the presentation with an update on the current status of this multi-year project and discuss how a NRHP listing serves to inform trail management decisions and strengthen protection of resources.

We will run though some gentle exercise routines designed to promote flexibility and balance, great for before and/or after hiking.

How conservation groups are working in partnership to help protect the greater scenic and ecological landscape that surrounds the AT, which keeps the lands and the AT experience wild.

Hiking the A.T. is a wild experience right now. The landscape around the AT is a climate resilient "green corridor" that helps wildlife as well as people move, but much of those lands are unprotected, and development pressures are high. Learn what conservation groups---from federal funds and national nonprofits to county-focused volunteers---are doing to protect the greater AT landscape.

We will lead a discussion based on the necessary gear needed to hike anywhere from one mile to the entire AT. We will touch on tents, sleeping bags, Backpacks, stoves, and everything else.

This presentation introduces the basic components of physical preparation and training needed to help you hike further and longer than you have before. Emphasis is on simple, enjoyable, and flexible training that will help you reach higher peaks and longer multi-day trips. Workshop will include exercise instruction, demonstration and practice.

No one stays in a position forever. They can leave suddenly or give you advanced notice. Learn what steps to take to include sucession planning in your volunteer management.

Note: This session is a continuation from the W0606. This session will likely go into lunchtime.

A seasoned ridge runner, volunteer patroller and group camping manager on the Southern New England portion of the Appalachian Trail, Adam shares his experiences helping to manage trail use and hikers during a typical year.

A brief workshop for hikers and outdoors-people who are interested in learning more about the technology and science behind some of their favorite shoe models from Merrell.

A volunteer powered organization must constantly recruit - whether it is for episodic volunteers, roles with on-going but few hours per year, or positions with responsibility. Any position with volunteer management responsibilities is involved with recruiting whether making the ask or filling a position with someone who is interested. No single recruiting method works best to fill every volunteer position. What works for recruiting many people for the same job is different than recruiting for a trail leadership position. This interactive workshop will include case studies and role playing that will help you recruit quality volunteers.

Please join the Wild East Women in a lively conversation with women leaders from ATC and trail clubs up and down the Appalachian Trail. Together we will explore successes, challenges, and promising approaches to encouraging more women to rise up as adventurers, trail stewards, and leaders.

Join ATC for a discovery session on the ways in which individuals (like you!) can volunteer to care for and support the Appalachian Trail. Intended to help participants explore how to match your interest, skills, and available time, with ways that support the A.T. This session is intended for emerging volunteers, anyone interested in becoming part of the A.T. volunteer family. The session includes an introduction to the A.T. Volunteer Engagement Platform and the legacy of civic engagement in A.T. stewardship.

We will run though some gentle exercise routines designed to promote flexibility and balance, great for before and/or after hiking.

Mobilizing and sustaining a network of volunteers takes work! This session will identify systems and support for leaders that help optimize the volunteers they engage and offer ideas for preparing future leaders.  Discover adaptive and systematic ways that honor each unique individuals contributions, interest, and skills. This session is intended for volunteer leaders, or individuals interested in leading volunteers, to gain the tools they need to lead A.T. volunteers for optimal results.

The Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve, starting just 30 miles north of Manhattan, contains some of the most beautiful scenery in the entire Hudson Valley. The park has an extensive network of over 70 miles of trails, almost none of which are "easy." The park includes the scramble up Breakneck Ridge which is thought to be the most heavily visited day hike in the Northeast and which even has its own Metro North train station at the trailhead for easy access from New York City. This talk gives an overview of the park and then focuses on caring for and maintaining the northern section of the park. The New York New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC) maintains the hiking trails in close cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. We describe NYNJTC's Stewards program for hiker education at busy trailheads such as Breakneck. NYNJTC also coordinates and trains Americorps teams of trail builders which build improvements such as stone steps and better drainage to the existing network of trails to make them more sustainable. We also describe the roles of NYNJTC's volunteer maintainers and supervisors in routine trail maintenance as well as a recent re-bazing effort in conjunction with a map update to simplify the trail network.

The history, evolution and current state of privies along the A.T.

Elements of photography relevant to hikers

Bear canisters are the food storage method with the most surety and flexibility for camping anywhere along the A.T. Find out why.

This workshop will give you insight into the work done by the large number of volunteers who maintain the AT and will serve as an introduction for those who are interested in becoming trail maintainers. Find out about the techniques and tools used by individual maintainers to keep the trail corridor clear of overgrowth, maintain blazing, and deal with water problems on the trail. I will also discuss the techniques used by trail crews to clear fallen trees, build puncheon and simple boardwalks, and repair or replace stream crossings.

Learn about the World Trails Network, an internationally representative association of the world’s leading trails and trail destinations. As a globally active network of diverse and engaged trails, we each work in our own regions to further the interests and sustainability of trails for the benefit of all. This workshop will explore opportunities to connect, such as the upcoming international trails film festival, the international conference, and the Hub for the Americas - doing work along the A.T.!

Visitor Use Management (VUM) is one of the six focus areas in ATC's new Strategic Plan. Find out what VUM is, why its important, and how it will enhance A.T. management.

Interested in learning about what types of plants are growing in our region's natural areas? Want to know how to spot some of the common and emerging invasive plants that are threatening our forested parklands? This guided hike will provide you with the skills and eye for basic plant identification including the key features of some common native and invasive trees and shrubs. You will also be introduced to and can practice using some really helpful and easy-to-use nature ID apps along the way. It's the perfect way to take your nature experience to the next level and learn about the diversity of life along the trails.