“Our fearless Clipping Brigade tackled several trail sections in Morristown National Historical Park to clip back invasive barberry and multiflora rose (all with many stickers) to widen the trail,” reports Trail Chair/Crew Leader Estelle Anderson. “Their efforts were rewarded with many brownies!” The volunteers, still smiling after all that work, from left: Trail Chair/Crew Leader Bob Jonas,
The Trail Conference has been awarded a $250 Corporate Sponsorship from ExtremeTerrain in support of National Trails Day. ExtremeTerrain had previously awarded $250 in 2019 from their Clean Trail Grant Program. The $250 sponsorship will contribute to our Trail Building & Maintenance Fund. As we celebrate National Trails Day and welcome the arrival of summer, we
Why do we donate to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference? There are many reasons, but let my dear wife Dr. Katy Elwyn and I, Georg Budenbender, just share a few important points. We have been hiking and enjoying the great outdoors for decades. Katy’s hiking goes back to her grandmother, who hiked or “tramped” as
While the Neversink River Unique Area has become a popular hiking destination in recent years, the stone ruins found in the area date back to the 1800s. Trail Conference volunteer, Nancy Bachana, along with Henry and Gordon MacAdam of the One Room School Houses project, have been working to unearth the history behind the ruins, old roads,
Meet Charlie Gadol, Trail Conference volunteer, Board member, and race organizer. He’s hiking the Long Path this summer in support of our mission. As an active participant in advancing the Trail Conference’s mission, Charlie Gadol has decided to put his feet to the test—hiking 375 miles of the Long Path—to benefit the organization. This summer,
This Trail Walker is about people—the people of the Trail Conference, and the people we serve. When I think about this organization, I am astounded by the dedication of our volunteers, staff, Board, and supporters. And when I think about outdoor recreation these days, I am blown away by the number of people I see. There are
Trail running has exploded in popularity, providing a new way for people to fall in love with trails. Those of us who are not runners may be pleasantly surprised to learn just how much hikers and trail runners have in common. Both groups share a deep love of nature, passion for adventure, and that physical
New Board members Deanna Culbreath and Mary Ann Villari were appointed to the Trail Conference Board of Directors in April. Deanna Culbreath was elevated to head coach of Sarah Lawrence College’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams in 2017. She previously served as assistant coach upon her arrival in 2013. An avid trail runner, Deanna’s many accomplishments
There is no roadmap that makes an organization more diverse, equitable, and inclusive overnight, but we will continue to put in the effort to make real improvements. In January 2020, the Trail Conference Board approved the organization’s first formalized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy. In June, we further acknowledged the need to make our
Update April 13: On April 12, Premium Energy Holdings withdrew its hydroelectric proposal for the Ashokan Reservoir after strong opposition and concern about the impact of the project. Our congratulations and thanks go out to everyone who helped to stand up against this threat to the Catskills. However, our work is not finished. Premium Energy
Who doesn’t love shopping at Target? Now you can shop + support the trails you love! We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to
Volunteers are our superheroes. Every day, we celebrate their passion, dedication, and leadership that make the trails we all love possible. The Trail Conference community faced the challenges of 2020 with determination and resilience. They provided inspiration and hope during a time when we desperately needed it. When parks and trails began to face record-high use with millions of people seeking respite outdoors, our volunteers, service members, and
