Parker (myself) holding the AMC 150 Relay Flag.

As I write this, I am in an empty campground along the Delaware River in a folding chair that I got off the curb last night. Today’s cyclists followed a ‘gravel’ trail up the Delaware River. Unlike the backroads of Iowa, where I once resided, this path isn’t covered in white limestone but is, rather, the old path where mules once pulled barges along the canal. Just off this trail, I found myself in Lumberville getting lunch with the day’s relay riders.

We met at a small-town general store, where I got a roasted beef loin sandwich with caramelized onions and goat cheese—well worth the price I paid. Between bites, I was regaled with stories of past trips and old friends questioning the accuracy of their buddy’s stories. One woman asked her husband, “Do you remember when that woman in our group went skinny-dipping while backpacking?” Her husband responded, sharing how he was sitting next to her when she casually started to disrobe. He said, “I remember I didn’t know where to look, and I didn’t have my glasses on, so I wasn’t really sure what was happening.” He leaned over to me and said, “I’ve got contacts now, so I don’t miss anything anymore.”

Car camping setup along the Delaware River. Photo by Parker Depond.

I am one month into this six-month journey, and I have more memories and stories than I know what to do with. The typical demographic of mid-week activities is the retired population, and this demographic holds a lot of wisdom. I will share some wisdom that I have gleaned here.

The Appalachian Trail (AT) backpacking section in Virginia started at a beautiful B&B. The couple that runs the place heard about the relay and volunteered to host. They let people stay the night, stage cars, and they even put out tea and sweets for everyone in the morning. I was supposed to do a ‘short’ interview with them, but their stories were too enticing to stop. Senator of Virginia, Tim Kaine, hiked this section of the AT and stayed in their house. They told me how they got a call from a restricted phone number asking if there was room for the night. They also told me how he got his trail name, “Dog Bowl.” I’m going to keep that story to myself and let your mind wander and ponder.

AMC 150 Relay participants gathering to embark on backpacking a section of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia. Photo by Parker Depond.

One beautiful spring day, as the relay made its way toward DC, I got stranded next to alfalfa fields and grazing horses in the Virginian countryside. I wish I was stranded under better circumstances. A motorcyclist was killed. The parking lot where I was had a blind turn to get to it. No cars were allowed out as the police recorded evidence and attempted resuscitation. No ambulance was called. Some people walked up the road to see what was going on—mostly dads doing that dad thing—watching with their hands perched on their hips, telling people, “You don’t want to see.” After a few hours, we were let through, silently passing the draped white sheet and broken glass. One of the day’s riders knew the biker from the community.

Further down the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, which once connected commerce between the two regions, I found myself at the junction with the Potomac River. The canal starts at the Potomac River, where there is a gate to control water—a water gate—after which the Watergate Hotel is named, and the namesake of the Nixon Watergate scandal.

Participants walking from Lincoln Memorial to the AMC 150 Relay event at the Capital in Washington, DC. Photo by Parker Depond.

The following day, the relay walked through DC, and I found myself parking at the Watergate Hotel and renting an electric scooter. I scooted through DC to the Lincoln Memorial, where a walk began toward the Capitol. Not a march! Just a walk.

This was quite the change of pace, to quote AMC’s CEO, Nicole Zussman: “Being in the halls of Capitol Hill—it’s something else.” Two weeks prior, I was a backcountry caretaker in New Hampshire, skiing for work. I felt out of place as I filmed senators and congressmen.

Parker filming the AMC 150 Capital event in Washington, DC. Photo by AMC Staff.

I found myself more in my element when we left the city. The section between DC and Baltimore was less urban, but still densely populated.

Just outside of Baltimore, I found myself staying at a hotel across from a Northrop Grumman Corporation campus. A 10-foot barbed-wire fence and roaming armed guards watched me pick up my Afghani kebabs across from their compound. A bold rental decision from that restaurant owner.

I have eaten a lot of takeout on this journey and have treasured the home-cooked meals I’ve been offered. The community that I continue to find along the way is truly inspirational. Communities to which I am only tangentially related adopt me for a short time. They share with me their community, home, trails, and excitement. The joy they express is contagious. They rant about their favorite hikes, how long they have been visiting those lands, the politics of change, how the weather is affecting usage, etc.

Parker with AMC 150 Relay participants on a biking leg in New Jersey. Photo by AMC Staff.

Staying with an AMC member, I learned that Bradley Cooper lives close by—something I doubt I would have learned at a hotel. This host was particularly notable, not because she knows where Bradley Cooper lives, but because she was a previous AT thru-hiker. Racking up the on-trail miles on my journey north, I’m inspired by the stories of those who have done the same. She gave me a tour of her home and made me feel comfortable in a way that only a thru-hiker could.

When you hike a long trail like the Appalachian Trail, you encounter ‘Trail Magic/Trail Angels’—people who open their homes to you, sharing their food, showers, and stories.

She granted me permission to do whatever I wanted and made it clear that it came with no judgment—just a shared understanding that her home was mine as long as I needed it. It was clear that she learned the art of hosting strangers by being the stranger, and by having been hosted by many trail angels before.

I hope I can gain some wisdom and knowledge from my trail angels as this journey continues.

One month, 471 miles done—five months, 1,629 miles to go.

Follow along AMC’s 150th relay journey and join me for a day on the trail.

Join the Relay

The post Dispatches from the AMC 150 Relay: One Month In appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

After attending the AMC Youth Climate Ready Jobs Workshop on Friday, I realized that there are endless opportunities for me to work in the environment right in my own community. Being on the opening panel allowed me to share with everyone my efforts within the Environmental Action Club and show other kids that they can get involved, too.

Calla (middle right) with fellow classmates and their teacher in front of the Highland Center. Photo by Calla Battenfelder.

The field trip turned into an eye-opening experience on the amount of support in the Mount Washington Valley. Throughout the different sessions and the table fair, my group and I got to do soil testing and climate scenarios while learning about the environmental impacts of our actions and how each organization is striving to aid different problems, but together they all overlap with the same mission of reducing climate change.

Students conducting soil testing. Photo by Calla Battenfelder.

We were amazed at how many organizations want help and how many people are passionate about helping the world. The AMC opened up chances to intern and develop my ideas with specialists. The other kids in my group also felt the same; they loved being able to sign up for newsletters and thought that the keynote speech at the end was inspirational.

Youth Climate Jobs Workshop, April 10th, 2025 at Highland Center

We learned how impactful the factors impacting climate change are individually and all together. We realized the importance of educating youth voices and how influential we, as the coming generation, can be in the future of climate change.

The post AMC’s First Youth Climate Summit appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

More than 100 conservation partners are working together to advance the Protect Water and Nature Initiative, a proposal that would dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenue from sporting goods to outdoor recreation and conservation. If passed, it would generate an estimated $100 million each year to conserve land, expand recreation, and protect water quality across the Commonwealth.

Nature for Massachusetts Coalition event at the Massachusetts State House. Photo by Amanda Garza.

Together with the Nature for Massachusetts Coalition, AMC is helping bring the measure directly to voters as a ballot question in November 2026.

What Is the Protect Water and Nature Ballot Initiative?

At its core, this effort is about investing in the natural resources that sustain us and bring us joy.

If passed, the ballot question would direct a portion of existing sales tax revenue—from items like camping gear, golf clubs, fishing equipment, and other sporting goods—into a new, dedicated Nature for All Fund. This funding would support:

• Protection of forests, farms, wetlands, and open space
• Improvements to parks, trails, and outdoor access
• Safeguards for clean drinking water

A public oversight board would guide how funds are spent, ensuring transparency and accountability.

AMC Professional Trail Crew in Baldplate State Park. Photo by Amanda Garza.

Other states, including Virginia, Georgia, and Texas, have taken similar approaches and created reliable, long-term funding streams that invest hundreds of millions of dollars annually into conservation and outdoor recreation.

The vision in Massachusetts is clear: everyone, and every community, deserves access to clean water, green space, and the benefits of time spent outdoors.

Why This Moment Matters

This isn’t just another policy proposal. It’s a time-sensitive opportunity.

Across Massachusetts, we are in the middle of a major generational transfer of land. Farms, forests, and undeveloped parcels are changing hands as landowners retire or sell. In each case, there is a choice: conserve the land or develop it.

That decision happens once.

Conservation tools like easements and land acquisition only work at the moment of transfer. Once land is developed, the opportunity to protect it is lost. A dedicated, consistent funding source is what allows conservation organizations and communities to act when it matters most.

At the same time, shifting federal priorities have made state-level investment more important than ever. With uncertainty around federal conservation funding, Massachusetts has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to lead.

AMC Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, Massachusetts. Photo by Jamie Malcolm-Brown.

How You Can Get Involved

To put the Protect Water and Nature Initiative on the November 2026 ballot, supporters must collect 21,000 signatures from registered voters this spring.

This is the final step in a process that has already shown strong public support, with more than 90,000 signatures collected last fall. The next phase runs May 8^th through June 14^th, and it will take a strong, statewide effort to reach the finish line.

It’s a tight window, and it’s a moment in which showing up can make a real difference. Here’s how you can get involved:

Volunteer to Collect Signatures

This is the most immediate need. No experience needed! You’ll receive everything you need: training materials, fact sheets, FAQs, and even a recorded 20-minute training to get started. You can also sign up for an upcoming virtual training.

Spread the Word

Stay connected by signing up for the email list. Share the information you learn with your family, friends, and neighbors. Let your community know that this is a moment worth paying attention to, and what’s at stake.

Looking Ahead

AMC Noble View Outdoor Center in Russell, Massachusetts. Photo by Jamie Malcolm-Brown.

Opportunities like this don’t come around often. With broad support, a clear path forward, and real momentum, Massachusetts is closer than ever to securing long-term funding for conservation.

If the required signatures are not collected by June 14^th, the next opportunity to bring this issue to voters would be 2028. That delay would come at a cost—lost time, lost opportunities, and landscapes that may not be recoverable.

The choices we make today shape the landscapes we’ll have tomorrow. Now is the time to act.

Learn More and Get Involved

The post $100 Million a Year for Nature in Massachusetts appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

If you’re planning an overnight trip into New Hampshire’s Pemigewasset (Pemi) Wilderness, there’s an important update to keep in mind before you head out. Beginning May 1, 2026, all overnight visitors will be required to use a bear-resistant food canister to store food, trash, and scented items.

This change, announced by the U.S. Forest Service, comes in response to a rise in human–bear interactions, most often tied to unsecured food. It’s a step toward keeping both people and wildlife safe and preserving the experience of being in one of the Northeast’s most treasured backcountry areas.

What This Means for Your Trip

Starting May 1, if you’re camping overnight in the Pemi Wilderness, you’ll need to store all food and scented items in a hard-sided, bear-resistant canister certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). This includes everything from meals and snacks to toiletries and trash.

Except when you’re actively cooking or eating, these items should be secured in your canister at all times.

Traditional food hangs will no longer be allowed in this area, as they’ve proven less effective. The only exception is at Thirteen Falls Tent Site, where bear-resistant food storage boxes will still be available.

Why This Change Matters

The Pemi is a place many hikers return to again and again for its rugged terrain, remote feel, and interconnected trail network. In recent years, increased visitation combined with improper food storage has led to more frequent bear encounters.

When bears gain access to human food, they can become conditioned to seek it out. That shift in behavior puts people at risk and can ultimately threaten the well-being of the bears themselves.

Requiring canisters is a proactive way to reduce these encounters, protect wildlife, and support a safer experience for everyone on the trail.

USFS Map of Bear Food Storage Container Requirement in the Pemigewasset Wilderness

Where the Requirement Applies

This requirement applies within the boundaries of the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountain National Forest. If your trip includes an overnight stay within that boundary, even if you’re only passing through, you’ll need to carry a compliant canister.

Outside the wilderness boundary, canisters aren’t required, but proper food storage is always encouraged wherever you travel.

Visiting AMC Huts Near the Pemi

If your trip includes a stay at AMC’s Greenleaf, Zealand Falls, or Galehead huts, it’s helpful to keep this new requirement in mind. While these huts sit just outside the Pemigewasset Wilderness boundary, many common routes to and from them travel through wilderness areas where bear-resistant canisters are required for overnight use.

If you’re passing through the Pemi on your approach or departure and are planning on an overnight stay in the Pemi wilderness, be sure to carry and use a compliant canister to store any food, trash, or scented items along the way.

Planning ahead for your full route, not just a night at a hut along the way, can help ensure a smoother trip and support responsible travel throughout the region.

Planning Ahead

Here are some tips for a smooth trip this season:

• Bring an IGBC-certified bear-resistant canister
• Make sure it fits all food, trash, and scented items
• Use food lockers at Thirteen Falls if you’re camping there
• Plan ahead if you don’t own a canister

The White Mountain National Forest offers a free bear canister loan program at select ranger stations and trailheads, including Lincoln Woods, Campton, Conway, and Gorham. Availability can be limited during busy seasons, so it’s best to plan ahead.

The post Bear-Resistant Canisters Required in the Pemigewasset Wilderness appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

There’s a moment I come back to again and again: the end of a day outside. Boots off, shoulders a little sore, the kind of tired that only comes from moving through the woods or along a ridgeline. You look around, and whether you’re with longtime friends or people you just met that day, there’s a shared sense of we did this.

That feeling, of connection, of belonging, is what we set out to capture with Grow Outdoors, our new partnership with Sloop Brewing Co.

From the beginning, this partnership was grounded in shared purpose. We set out to create something that lives within the outdoor experiences we value most, something that brings people together while also supporting the work to protect and sustain those places for the long term.

Grow Outdoors isn’t just something you enjoy after a day outside. It’s part of a larger story about community, stewardship, and belonging.

To learn more about how Grow Outdoors came to life, I spoke with Sloop founder Adam Watson about the brewery’s roots, the inspiration behind the beer, and what this partnership means.

Tell me a little bit about Sloop. How did you get your start? What makes you excited about the work you do?

Sloop started the same way a lot of good things do: small, scrappy, and driven by passion. We founded the brewery in 2011, brewing out of a garage in Poughkeepsie and selling beer at local farmers markets around the Hudson Valley. What still excites me most is that we get to build community through beer. At its best, beer is social, welcoming, and part of people’s real lives. Whether you’re embarking on a backyard hang, a concert, or a post-hike pint, Sloop has a beer that’s a perfect fit. That’s always been the heart of Sloop: making great beer that people actually want to drink and share.

Why did Sloop choose to partner with AMC?

AMC felt like a really natural fit for us because the values line up in a real way. They’ve spent 150 years helping people connect with the outdoors while protecting the places that make those experiences possible. That mission is something we genuinely admire. AMC highlights that its partners help sustain programs, advocacy, and outdoor engagement, so this wasn’t just about slapping two logos on a can, it was about working with an organization that’s doing meaningful work. For us, the best partnerships are built around shared purpose. We wanted to create something that celebrates adventure and community, but also gives back. Grow Outdoors does that in a tangible way, with a portion of proceeds supporting AMC’s mission. That made this collaboration feel bigger than beer.

Tell me about Grow Outdoors. As someone who loves a good beer after a big hike or paddle, I get why a juicy IPA would appeal to the outdoor community. But what makes it special? What inspired you when you started brewing?

What makes Grow Outdoors special is that it was designed to complement the adventure, not dominate it. We wanted a beer that feels right after a hike, paddle, or long day outside: flavorful enough to be interesting, but approachable enough that you want another sip. It has that bright, juicy character people love from Sloop, but in a lighter, more easygoing format that fits spring and summer really well.

From the start, the inspiration was simple: make a beer that feels like the outdoors. Fresh, bright, easy to enjoy, and best when shared. We weren’t trying to make something overly technical or overbuilt. We wanted something that could live equally well at the trailhead, around a campfire, or back at home with friends after a day outside. And the fact that it supports AMC makes every can feel like it has a little extra purpose behind it.

So, how are you going to enjoy this beer? What’s your outdoor activity of choice?

This is a classic “earned it” beer. I’d reach for it after a long hike, sitting outside with friends, ideally still a little dusty and tired in the best possible way. There’s something about that first cold beer after being out all day that just hits different.

Hiking is probably my go-to, especially any of the scenic trails in the Hudson Highlands. Hiking is a great opportunity to unplug, and has that perfect mix of effort, scenery, and reward at the end. Grow Outdoors feels built for that exact ritual.

Do you have a favorite place to explore outdoors?

Being based in the Hudson Valley, I’m always going to have a soft spot for this region. There’s so much access to incredible trails, rivers, overlooks, and small towns that all feel connected to the kind of community we care about at Sloop.

Anything else you want to say?

At the end of the day, I hope Grow Outdoors reminds people that great beer can do more than taste good. It can bring people together, celebrate the places we love, and help protect them too.

The post Grow Outdoors: Why This Partnership Matters appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

Getting involved can look a lot of different ways: maintaining and repairing public trails, leading trips, sharing your expertise, speaking up for conservation, or contributing to community science. Hands-on opportunities exist in every corner of AMC, and each one plays a role in protecting and connecting people to the outdoors. And while every role gives back to the places we love, volunteers often find they get just as much in return. It’s a chance to deepen your connection to the outdoors, build new skills, meet people who share your passion, and be part of something bigger.

Read on for a guide to volunteering at AMC. 

Photo by Paula Champagne.

Nature, History, & Outdoor Education

Volunteer Naturalist

Share your knowledge and passion for the outdoors by leading evening programs and nature walks at AMC lodges and huts. As a Volunteer Naturalist, you’ll help people connect to nature and deepen their understanding of the outdoors. 

Best for: Educators, curious minds, natural history buffs, lifelong learners 

• Location: Maine Lodges & New Hampshire’s White Mountain Huts  
• Activity Level: Gentle (Maine) or Strenuous (New Hampshire) 
• Areas of Interest: Local ecosystems, wildlife, geology, flora, cultural history, outdoor skills 
• Season: Year-round (varies by location)  
• Time Commitment: 32 hours/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years
• What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, retail discounts, million-dollar views on every outing, and the chance to share what you love and spark curiosity for the outdoors in others. 

Email To Learn More

Alpine Stewards

Help protect fragile alpine environments by engaging hikers on Leave No Trace, alpine ecology, and safety high above treeline. Alpine Stewards also monitor fragile ecosystems and practice light trail work. 

Best for: Hikers who are passionate about protecting the places they love and want to help other people have a great experience  

• Location: Franconia Ridge & Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire 
• Activity Level: Strenuous  
• Areas of Interest: Conservation, stewardship, outdoor recreation, education 
• Season: Summer / Early Fall  
• Time Commitment: 2 weekends/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years 
• What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, quality time spent in the alpine zone, meaningful conversations, and the satisfaction of protecting some of the Northeast’s most fragile landscapes. 

Email To Learn More

Evening Speakers

Got a passion for White Mountains natural history? Bring it to life for AMC guests through engaging evening programs.  

Best for: Storytellers & subject-matter experts 

• Location: Highland Center & Pinkham Notch Visitor Center  
• Activity Level: Gentle  
• Areas of Interest: Education, storytelling, public speaking, culture 
• Season: Year-round  
• Time Commitment: Flexible 
• What’s in it for you: Free meals and lodging, retail discounts, and a platform to share your passion, connect with audiences who want to learn, and turn your expertise into memorable experiences for others. 

Email To Learn More

Archives Volunteer

Help preserve AMC history with on-site collection, care, and data entry, or remote transcription of handwritten journals and audio recordings. Your time helps make our history more accessible to the world.  

Best for: History buffs 

• Location: New Hampshire or remote 
• Activity Level: Gentle  
• Areas of Interest: Outdoor History 
• Season: Year-round  
• Time Commitment: Flexible 
• What’s in it for you: A behind-the-scenes look at AMC’s rich history, and the chance to preserve stories that will inspire future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. 

Email to Learn More

Volunteers doing trail work on the Bay Circuit Trail in Massachusetts. Photo by Paula Champagne.

Conservation & Trails

Trail Volunteers

Work alongside AMC staff, volunteer leaders, and other members to build, maintain, and repair trails, and grow your skillset alongside a welcoming community at AMC’s Trail Skills College. A hands-on way to give back while protecting the places you love. 

Best for: Doers, builders, and anyone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty 

• Location: Throughout AMC’s region (Maine to Virginia) 
• Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous (requires hiking and some heavy lifting) 
• Areas of Interest: Conservation, stewardship, outdoor work, tradesmanship 
• Season: Spring through Fall  
• Time Commitment: Day projects to ongoing involvement 
• What’s in it for you: New skills, free training, a like-minded community, a sense of accomplishment, the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on the trails you love. 

Adopt-A-Trail

Adopt your own section of a trail and enjoy free access to AMC’s training, tools, and safety equipment, as well as free AMC lodging and food while on work trips. Our trail adopters make 2-3 maintenance visits a year on a schedule that works best for them.

• Location: White Mountains, Nobel View, Cardigan, Maine
• Season: Year-round
• Time Commitment: Two work trips a year plus initial training
• What’s in it for you: Learn new skills, make new connections, and enjoy free AMC lodging and food while on work trips. 

Apply to Adopt a Trail

Chapter-led Trail Work Events

Join a chapter-led volunteer trip and collaborate with fellow outdoor enthusiasts to care for the trails you love.

• Location: Virginia to Maine
• Season: Year-round, depending on location
• Time Commitment: Flexible

Sign Up for Chapter-Led Trail Work

Trail Work Parties

Fun, community-centered opportunities to help revitalize and build trails, engage in conservation activities, and work alongside fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

• Location: Virginia to Maine
• Time Commitment: One day

Find a Trail Work Party Near You

Photo by Madelyn Wood.

Advocacy & Community Science

Engage with AMC’s conservation, advocacy, and community science initiatives. Write letters to elected officials, participate in cleanups and invasive species removal, or record community science observations. 

Best for: Environmental advocates and anyone passionate about science-backed policy and research 

• Location: Throughout AMC’s region (Maine to Virginia) 
• Activity Level: Gentle to Moderate (depending on activity) 
• Areas of Interest: Conservation, policy, advocacy, environmental science & research 
• Season: Year-round 
• Time Commitment: Flexible 
• What’s in it for you: A direct role in shaping the future of the outdoors by contributing to on-the-ground research, supporting conservation policy, and turning your voice into impact. 

iNaturalist Observer

Record alpine plant sightings on a free app using your phone or tablet.
Record Alpine Plants with iNaturalist

Community Snow Observer

Help AMC researchers capture snow depth data with a ruler or avalanche probe and a smartphone app.
Record a Community Snow Observation

Conservation Action Network

Sign up for AMC’s Conservation Action Network (CAN) newsletter to receive advocacy updates and invitations to contact your elected officials.
Sign Up for CAN Alerts

Outdoor Recreation, Leadership Education, & Community Building

Volunteer Trip Leaders

From local day hikes to international trips, Volunteer Trip Leaders lead outdoor adventures ranging from local lunch walks to international expeditions. Train as an AMC leader and become a Chapter Trip Leader, Adventure Travel Leader, or VCC Trip Leader. The possibilities for trips and meaningful community experiences are endless!

Best for: Leaders, planners, adventurers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts 

• Location: Across AMC’s region & international 
• Activity Level: Varies  
• Areas of Interest: Leadership, recreation, & community-building 
• Season: Year-round  
• Time Commitment: Flexible (trip-based)  
• What’s in it for you: Get outside more often, grow your leadership skills with AMC’s leadership training, and build a community of adventure partners and new best friends. 

How to Become a Volunteer Leader

Information Volunteers

Be the go-to resource for guests, offering trail tips, gear advice, outdoor insights, and a warm welcome to AMC spaces.  

Best for: Friendly outdoor enthusiasts who love helping others get outside 

• Location: Huts, Lodges, and Visitor Centers in NH, NY, and NJ 
• Activity Level: Gentle to strenuous, depending on location 
• Areas of Interest: Helping hikers, education, community engagement, and promoting AMC’s mission 
• Season: Year-round at Pinkham and Highland; summer/fall at other locations 
• Time Commitment: 32 hours/year + initial training, with a commitment of at least 3 years 
• What’s in it for you: Free lodging and meals, retail discounts, and the opportunity to learn new things, meet people who love the outdoors, and be the reason someone feels confident stepping onto the trail. 

Email To Learn More

Volunteer-led Camps & Cabins

Collaborate with other volunteers to help manage and operate AMC camps and cabins, supporting everything from guest services to site opening, closing, work parties, and operations. 

Best for: Team players who want to create welcoming outdoor spaces and get outside while doing 

• Location: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Western US
• Activity Level: Gentle to Moderate  
• Areas of Interest: Hospitality, Operations, Community-building, Outdoor Access 
• Season: Year-round (varies by site)  
• Time Commitment: Ongoing / Seasonal 
• What’s in it for you: A connection to a special place in the outdoors, a tight-knit community of fellow volunteers, and the rewarding experience of creating welcoming spaces for others.  

Email To Learn More

Social Activity Leaders & AMC Ambassadors

Bring people together and help AMC meet the world. Whether you’re hosting chapter socials or representing AMC at events, this role is all about building connections and growing our outdoor community. 

Best for: Social connectors, community builders, outgoing personalities, and AMC enthusiasts  

• Location: Chapters & community events across AMC’s region 
• Activity Level: Gentle  
• Areas of Interest: Community-building, outreach, events, storytelling, membership growth  
• Season: Year-round  
• Time Commitment: Flexible. Tabling could be just 1-2 hours per commitment.
• What’s in it for you: Expand your network, meet new adventure partners, and be the spark that helps others discover AMC.  

Find Your Chapter & Volunteer

Chapter Committees

Help guide the future of AMC by lending your voice, expertise, and perspective to committees and leadership groups that shape programs, priorities, and impact. Chapter Committees are responsible for local leadership, oversight, and coordination, ensuring the chapter operates in alignment with AMC policies and priorities. Typical responsibilities include stewarding chapter finances, supporting volunteer leaders, overseeing chapter activities and committees, providing guidance and advice to chapter volunteers, representing chapter perspectives to the Board, and recommending policies related to chapter operations.   

Best for: Strategic thinkers, leaders, and those passionate about organizational impact  

• Location: Chapters across AMC’s Region 
• Activity Level: Gentle  
• Areas of Interest: Leadership, strategy, governance, policy, risk management, community-building, outreach, events, storytelling, membership growth
• Season: Year-round  
• Time Commitment: Between 5-30 hours a month
• What’s in it for you: The ability to help shape the future of AMC, expand your leadership experience, and make a lasting impact at an organizational level. 

Find Your Chapter & Volunteer

AMC Highland Center in the White Mountains, NH. Photo by Corey David Photography.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here?

Browse the AMC Activity Guide for All Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

The post Which AMC Volunteer Opportunity Is Right for You? appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

These moments are reminders that the places we love need ongoing care to stay safe, welcoming, and accessible for all. 

At the Appalachian Mountain Club, we know what it takes to uphold that responsibility. As stewards of nearly 130,000 acres and more than 2,000 miles of trails, we know that protecting the outdoors means investing in it—for today and for the future. That’s why we were proud to help secure the Legacy Restoration Fund in 2020, and why we’re coming together once again to support its renewal. 

2009 AMC Photo Contest Entry from Ammonoosuc Ravine Traill. Photo by Dan Stone.

A Proven Solution: The Legacy Restoration Fund 

From the rolling hills of Shenandoah to the dense forests of Maine, America’s public lands connect millions of people to the outdoors each year while also supporting critical habitats for wildlife. Yet across these landscapes, an estimated $40 billion in maintenance needs has built up over time, putting both visitor experiences and natural resources at risk. 

The Legacy Restoration Fund has been a powerful step forward in addressing the challenges our public lands face. By investing in essential repairs and improvements, the program helps ensure that trails are passable, facilities are functional, and public lands remain open and inviting. This funding has supported an array of projects at visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, water and wastewater treatment facilities, roads, bridges, tunnels, parking lots, employee housing, monuments, and more.  

In the White Mountain National Forest, the Legacy Restoration Fund, through the U.S. Forest Service, supported critical work on the Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail. Sections of the trail, once routed along the river, had become severely eroded due to increasingly frequent flooding. With this investment, AMC completed a substantial relocation—moving the trail farther from the river, improving safety, and creating a more sustainable route that will serve hikers for years to come. 

White Mountain National Forest. Photo by Corey David Photography.

This work has been happening across the country. In just five years, the Legacy Restoration Fund has delivered: 

• $9.5 billion invested in critical repair and maintenance needs on public lands 
• More than 1,500 projects funded nationwide 
• Over 50 Department of Interior projects from Virginia to Maine 

When the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law by President Trump, it authorized the Legacy Restoration and secured a historic commitment to the parallel—and equally important—Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

Together, these programs ensure public lands are both preserved and continually cared for. While the Land and Water Conservation Fund addresses land protection and recreation access needs on our public lands, the Legacy Restoration Fund directs funding to address maintenance issues through four bureaus of the Department of Interior—the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Indian Education—as well as the US Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.  

For information about how the Legacy Restoration Fund has directly served your community: 

• See fact sheets highlighting what the Department of Interior Legacy Restoration Fund program has done in your state   
• Explore an interactive map from the U.S. Forest Service showing all of their projects – including nearly a dozen in the White Mountain National Forest. 

Protecting the Places We Love, Together 

The work isn’t finished. The Legacy Restoration Fund expired last year, putting this momentum at risk. Now, bipartisan legislation in the Senate, called the America the Beautiful Act, offers a path forward by extending this impactful program for eight years and investing billions more in public lands.  

AMC Family Adventure Program at Delaware Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey. Photo by Paula Champagne.

America’s public lands system is world-class. It sets a global standard for how we protect critical landscapes while supporting the many ways people live, work, and recreate outdoors. Yet as visitation grows and infrastructure ages, sustained investment is more important than ever. 

The strong bipartisan support behind the America the Beautiful Act speaks to something powerful: the outdoors brings people together. It connects us across communities, experiences, and perspectives. At a time when division can feel front and center, that shared connection matters. 

Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund through the America the Beautiful Act is a practical and meaningful step forward. It supports conservation, strengthens vital outdoor recreation economies, and ensures sustainable outdoor access for hikers, hunters, anglers, paddlers, campers, and more.  

2012 AMC Photo Contest Entry from Baxter State Park in Maine. Photo by Watson Betts.

Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment and secure a lasting legacy of stewardship for America’s public lands. Together, we can care for the places we love and ensure they remain a source of joy, connection, and opportunity for all. 

Add your voice in support of the America the Beautiful Act and help protect the future of our public lands. 

Take Action for Public Lands

The post How the Bipartisan America the Beautiful Act Protects Public Lands appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

AMC Lonesome Lake Hut, Franconia Notch State Park, White Mountain National Forest, NH. Photo by Chris Shane.

Jean Camuso’s connection to AMC’s High Mountain Huts started over 40 years ago, when she took her two young sons on a hike to Lonesome Lake. From early adventures (including a memorable mid-trail “strike” that was swiftly resolved with peanut butter and jelly) to watching her youngest return years later as Zealand Hut’s naturalist, the huts have been a constant thread in her family’s story.  

Jean became a familiar face at Zealand during that season—so much so that she was encouraged to become a volunteer herself. For the next ten years, she returned one or two weekends each summer to volunteer at huts like Zealand, Madison, and Greenleaf. Along the way, she found herself welcomed as part of the Croo, even spending one memorable weekend with an all-female team and earning the affectionate title of “hut hostess” from guests.  

AMC’s Jenny O’Connell sat down with Jean to talk about what the huts mean to her, and how they’ve become so much more than a place to visit. 

Explore the Huts

Jenny: Do you remember your first hut trip? 

Jean: My husband was a family physician, so his time was very limited, but I was determined to get the kids outdoors. Nate was four, so his older brother Jared must have been seven or eight. I had read about the huts and I thought, I think I can do this. 

We hiked up to Lonesome Lake, and when I got up there, the place was filled with mothers and their kids. At dinner, the kids all sat together, the moms sat together. We just talked about how we all wanted to try this out. 

Jenny: If I’m doing the math right, that was over 40 years ago! How did your family’s connection to the huts grow from there? 

Jean: There were a few more times I went with my husband and the boys, but then there was a gathering around New Year’s and we were with all our friends, and I just sort of threw it out to the universe: “Let’s hike hut to hut.” They were all in. 

There were maybe 15 of us. That was the time we went from Zealand to Galehead and forgot to stop to give Nate a snack. He went on strike and almost sat down in the fragile alpine area. But I loved the atmosphere at the huts for the kids. They played games, they talked to other people. It was just a great environment. 

The “kid crew” on one of Jean’s early hikes with friends.

Jenny: What kept you coming back? 

Jean: The camaraderie. There’s something special about everybody sitting at dinner. No matter how hard it was to get to the hut, they’d all gotten there, and it was this shared experience. 

Jenny: I had the same feeling on my first hut trip. There’s a really special community up there. How did you start volunteering at the huts? 

Jean: My son Nate came back to the huts as a naturalist in college. I visited him a lot that summer, and an info volunteer finally said, “You’re here so often—you should just volunteer.” So, I did. I trained the next year. It was a five-hour drive from Maine, but I’d go at least once a summer, sometimes twice. I did it for about ten years. 

Jean with her sons Nate (left) and Jared (right), who surprised his brother by wearing a tuxedo to Zealand Hut, where Nate worked as a naturalist.

Jenny: It’s so cool to hear how the huts made it into your family culture. What impact have these trips had on your family’s relationships to each other? 

Jean: When Nate was in elementary school, I remember hearing him talking to his best friend one day. She said to him, “You can come to my house and we’ll bake cookies with my mommy.” And he said, “Well, if you come to my house, my mommy’s going to march us up a mountain.” 

But he continues to hike. His best friend’s son is two and a half, and they are already planning to go to the huts…that would be a third generation hike. 

Jenny: Looking back now, what do the huts mean to you? 

Jean: They hold a lot of fond memories. I’ve done a fair amount of hiking in Maine and I’ve hiked Katahdin quite a bit. There’s something pretty special about Mount Washington and all of the different weather systems that come together and wreak havoc. It can be terrifying. It can awe-inspiring. 

Jenny: Do you think you’ll go back? 

Jean: I wonder in the back of my mind when I’m going to go back. I’m going to be 77 in September. I’d like to, I really would. Maybe I’ll see you out there. 

Bring Your Family to AMC’s High Mountain Huts

The post “Mommy’s Going to March Us Up the Mountain”: Jean Camuso on Her Family’s Lifelong Love of the AMC Huts appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

AMC Lakes of the Clouds Hut, White Mountain National Forest, N.H. Photo by Amanda Garza.

It’s my first time at an AMC High Mountain Hut and I’m standing in the middle of Lakes of the Clouds dining hall, soaking it all in: the sweeping views of the White Mountains, the bright wooden tables where people quietly read their books, the cozy corner where a family plays a board game, the mouthwatering smell of sautéed onions and split pea soup as the Croo—the hut’s seasonal staff—chops vegetables and stirs sizzling pans in the kitchen. Two young girls are bouncing around the hut with Junior Naturalist books, trying to check off as many activities as they can. 

Lakes of the Clouds is the biggest of all of AMC’s Huts, with 10 Croo, 1 AMC Research staff, 4-14 thru-hikers per night, and the capacity to sleep 92 guests. (If bigger groups aren’t your thing, there are eight huts and each one has its own personality.) Perched between Mt. Monroe and the massive, sloping shoulder of Mt. Washington, the hut opens to alpine lakes on one side and a sweeping view of the White Mountains on the other. With composting toilets and solar panels (part of AMC’s pathway to net zero), alpine research projects happening just outside the hut door, and AMC’s signature hospitality courtesy of the joyful and hilarious Croo, it feels like a true slice of what AMC has to offer. 

At the hot drink station, I get a lesson on the appropriate hot chocolate powder to water ratio from Cora, one of the Junior Naturalists, whose own hot chocolate is so thick she’s eating it like pudding, with a spoon.  

Cora and her Dad, Neil Mello, flying a kite outside of Lakes of the Clouds. Photo by Jenny O’Connell.

Outside, it’s the golden hour before sunset and the wind is picking up. My friend Josh, who I’ve dragged on this adventure—the same friend who, two minutes up the trail, turned to me and said, “Did I ever tell you I don’t actually like hiking?”—is enjoying himself despite himself, stretched out in the sun on a rock by the lakes. To get here, we hiked through rambling deciduous and pine forests, criss-crossed a mossy waterfall, and then rose above treeline where the mountains stretched out for miles, a panorama of hazy green and blue. The verdict’s still out on how he feels about hiking, but he can’t take his eyes off the view. He seems to be warming up to the idea, which is a good thing, because we’re going to have to hike down.  

After watching a few adventurous souls cold plunge into the icy water (even in August it’s freezing), we head back over to the hut, where Cora and her dad are flying a kite another hiker brought for exactly this occasion. He’s been coming to the huts for decades and always packs something for the kids. Near the hut entrance, a Croo member straps on a wooden and leather packboard in a demonstration of how food is transported into the huts. Non-perishables like rice and flour are flown in by helicopter in late spring, and the rest is up to the Croo to haul in themselves.   

A Croo member carries a packboard outside of AMC’s Madison Spring Hut, White Mountains N.H. Photo by Paula Champagne.

My friend Eli is on the Croo at Greenleaf this year, and he’s in the best shape of his life from hiking in groceries and running up and down mountains to visit friends at other huts on his days off. It’s a high energy job. Croo members cook all meals, hike out trash and pack in food twice a week, give hikers directions, educate the public on the unique landscape of the White Mountains, and welcome guests. But what really defines Croo life are the tight friendships that form when you spend your summer in such an extreme place—the inside jokes, goofy skits, invented games, and late-night jam sessions. Though the days can be long and exhausting, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience, and it stays with you long after it’s over.  

Eli (4th from right) with his 2022 hut Croo mates outside of AMC’s Lakes of the Clouds Hut. Photo by Corey David Photography.

I can see the Croo’s joyful influence spilling into the community experience of Lakes of the Clouds Hut as we sit down for dinner around long wooden tables and start swapping stories with people we’ve just met. It’s a fantastic and surprising spread—green beans, soup, chickpea masala with rice, fresh naan, and a huge slice of cake for dessert—all served by a rainbow-and-cheetah-print costumed Croo, complete with a song and a dance. 

The first-time hut guests talk about where they came from and how they arrived, and the challenges and surprises of the trail. The way the returners talk about the huts borders on mythic. For most of them, it was love at first sight. It’s as if the huts have called them back and they answer over and over again, scaling mountain trails in all kinds of weather to arrive here, at the top of the world. 

A Croo serves dinner at Madison Hut. Photo by Corey David Photography.

After dinner, Josh and I catch the naturalist talk on lichen as the sunset turns the sky a hazy orange. We tuck into our bunks, watching the stars out the window. We’re sharing our bunk room with a rad group of women who met working at a restaurant and now go hiking together every year. They’ve climbed 22 of the 48 4,000-footers, and they love the huts because the all-inclusive hospitality means less time spent on planning and logistics, and more energy to enjoy the adventure. They’re cracking jokes and bantering with each other, and we laugh ourselves to sleep. A handful of wayfaring travelers will come in late, shaking the beds as they climb to the top bunks. There will be snoring. Someone will have to pee in the middle of the night. But it’s all part of the experience. Maybe it’s the mountain air, or the effort it took to get here, but come dawn, I’ve gotten a much better night’s sleep than I expected.   

Our morning wake-up call comes courtesy of a Croo member with a guitar singing “Here Comes the Sun.” Breakfast is served by…birds? (Actually, though.) The Croo, dressed in colorful homemade bird costumes, wheel around the dining hall on scooters in an elaborate skit about Leave No Trace.  

As I sit and eat my pancakes with a group of septuagenarians planning out their day’s hike, I am struck by the magic of how it all comes together. The camaraderie. The food. The joy of being in the mountains. The deep care for the alpine habitat. No matter who you are or where you’ve come from, you’ve hiked the same trail to get to this spot, to sit looking out at the view with a steaming mug of hot cocoa, swapping adventure stories at an AMC hut. As Huts Manager Bethany Taylor said, “If we are culturally experiencing a loneliness epidemic, Lakes very well may be the cure.” 

Book Your Stay at AMC’s High Mountain Huts
 

Jenny O’Connell and Josh Mitts, who officially likes hiking now, watching the sunset from Lakes of the Clouds Hut.

The post Hiking the White Mountains? Here’s What Staying at an AMC Hut Is Really Like appeared first on Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC).

Author Ed Kane and Marty Wallace

Perhaps the most iconic stretch of the Appalachian Trail is the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine, where resupply is not easily available to the thru hiker. As an experiment, I wanted to explore whether someone in the last quarter century of their life could possibly section-hike this portion of the A.T. without having to spend a night in the woods. Lest the purists go apoplectic, I wish to point out that I served as an Army infantry officer during the Vietnam War, and I have spent many nights in the bush with an M-16 rifle tied to my belt with a shoelace. When I was younger and healthier, I paid my dues. As they say, hike your own hike.

Most thru hikers view the 100 Mile Wilderness as an obstacle to overcome. They want to get it behind them as quickly as possible and blast through in as few as five days. Northbound hikers think of it as the last major obstacle before the climb up Katahdin and the finish. Southbound hikers, having just started, do not wish to dwell here long as they want to get into the main body of the trail. However, slackpacking—a style of long-distance hiking where gear is sent ahead and hikers carry light backpacks—provides a different perspective: that this portion of the A.T. is something to be enjoyed, and possibly even savored.  

AMC 100 Mile Wilderness. Photo by Jamie Malcolm Brown.

The 100 Mile Wilderness is mostly located within the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Woods Initiative. This project protects the only major intact boreal forest in the United States. The ponds and lakes along the trail contain 95% of the native brook trout in America. Its remoteness is unique, and a hiking trail like this exists nowhere else in this country. In this writer’s opinion, the 100 Mile Wilderness should be on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.   

Having been involved with AMC for many years, during my hike I also wanted to demonstrate that use of the three AMC Maine Lodges nearby—Little Lyford, Gorman Chairback, and Medawisla—can be enormously useful to the A.T. slackpacker, providing showers, warm dinners and breakfast, and comfortable beds at night. In fact, before being rerouted, the A.T. went very close to Little Lyford and right through the Gorman Chairback facility. AMC staff provided advice, encouragement, and excellent assistance while I was conducting my slackpacking experiment. It could not have been done without their support, and the significant help, guidance, and meaningful assistance from my wife and experienced hiker, Marty Wallace, who did every mile that I did.   

We began the journey on Route 11 just north of Monson in May of 2024. The several stream crossings were difficult but not impossible. We had staged a car at the trailhead parking lot about eleven miles north. Having to hike an additional 1.4 miles from the AT to the Little Wilson Falls Trail parking lot revealed a downside to the plan. Camping just off the trail would have avoided these additional empty miles for an already exhausted traveler, but we were staying at a lodge. Having to do those empty miles again the next day was equally painful.  

Interestingly, after hiking northbound on day one, we hiked about the same distance, southbound on day two back from the same parking lot. Perhaps this was indicative of the irony of slackpacking in that after only two days we had already reversed direction to fill in the miles, which in A.T. parlance is known as flip-flopping. 

However, an advantage of slackpacking the 100 Mile Wilderness soon became apparent. Not all of the hikes needed to be exhausting for a 76-year-old, nor did they all require staging a car at the end of the trip. We were able to find a short in-and-out trip of two-and-a-half miles, resulting in a pleasant five-mile round trip off the Jo Mary Road to the Cooper River Bridge near Mud Pond, where we had ended an earlier hike. There was another short trip of four miles from the parking area off Wadleigh Pond Road along Crescent Pond and the magnificent Pollywog Gorge, returning by rejoining Wadleigh Pond Road and walking back to the car. For these short trips, we stayed at AMC’s Little Lyford Lodge several nights, which, while not the most convenient to those hikes but it was the only lodge open at that time of the year. Needless to say, the wonderful food, showers, hospitality, and warm beds were much appreciated in otherwise cold and rainy conditions. 

AMC Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins, Maine Woods, Maine. Photo by Paula Champagne.

The 100 Mile Wilderness is intercepted by two gated dirt roads that require check in—the KI Road and the Jo-Mary Road. These well-maintained gravel roads allow excellent access to the middle portion of this part of the A.T. and play a key role in slackpacking, section hiking, and flip-flopping. The issue of access to the A.T. on the south side of Rainbow Lake required some creativity, as the distance from Wadleigh Pond Road to the Abol Bridge, the northern terminus of the 100 Mile Wilderness, is about eighteen miles with no intersecting roads. This distance exceeded the outer limits of what I could reasonably do in a single day. The solution was to divide the trip in half and use a float plane to fly us from a dock at AMC’s Medawisla facility to a small beach on Rainbow Lake and bushwhack to the A.T.  

While hiking these sections of the A.T., I was surprised by how many hikers that we met were, like us, hiking only the 100 Mile Wilderness. They viewed this portion of the A.T. as a concise and separate challenge in and of itself. I was equally impressed when I encountered a woman who was doing the 100 Mile Wilderness without wearing shoes—only socks.   

Another memorable experience occurred on the trail while descending from Little Boardman Mountain to Johnson Pond Road. Approaching the location where we had staged our car, my wife and I decided to give our extra food to thru hikers. We asked two hikers with the trail names Pigeon and Dragon—most A.T. thru hikers end up with a colorful name by the end of their journey—if they would like leftover ham sandwiches, since we were ending our trip and didn’t need them. I explained that they contained mayonnaise and should be eaten soon, as it was quite hot. They consumed the sandwiches right away on the trail. We gave them “trail magic”; it was a gratifying experience. 

Ed Kane and Marty Wallace slackpacking the 100 Mile Wilderness. Photo by Nicole Zussman.

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