Trail Tramps Crew Chief Mary Dodds reflects on their 2017 season on the trail. It’s been a while since you heard from the Tramps, and I know you are curious to know what we have been up to. Changes We dropped Westchester from our crew name and are now just plain old “Trail Tramps.” This
The 34-mile Lenape Trail connects the best of Essex County outdoors by connecting 12 communities. On the evening of Nov. 2, the Trail Conference hosted the first Lenape Trail Gathering, held at the Robert J. O’Toole Community Center in Cedar Grove, N.J. The event, co-sponsored with the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural
The Trail Conference’s Invasives Strike Force strategically combats invasive species in our region with the help of our volunteers and partners. Have you ever walked down the trail and noticed a fallen tree covered in vines? Have you walked through the woods only to see a thick cover of thorny plants under the trees? Nearly anywhere you
As founder, president, and chief executive officer of the Morgan Duke Conservation Society, James Sullivan is passionate about protecting the Catskills. The Morgan Duke Conservation Society is a volunteer organization and Trail Conference partner that works to protect natural resources and wildlife habitat throughout the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve lands. Walden, N.Y., resident James Sullivan is the
Volunteers are our superheroes. Every day, we celebrate their passion, dedication, and leadership that make the trails we all love possible. Trail Conference volunteers make incredible commitments to the trails and lands they love. With more than 2,400 people donating their time and energy to our mission, there are many award-worthy volunteers in our ranks.
Great news: The Trail Conference has received the highest ranking from Charity Navigator, again! The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. This is our fifth consecutive 4-star rating as a charity. This highest ranking indicates that we adhere to sector best
The Trail Conference hosts female-focused trail building workshop on the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain State Park. No matter who you are, trail building can sound like an intimidating task. While double jacks and grip hoists aren’t part of everyone’s tool vocabulary, giving back to the trails you love is something we can all do
By embracing all trail uses and users, we are creating exciting new experiences and creating new volunteers, new members, and new advocates. The Trail Conference, founded in 1920 to create a network of marked trails for the public to enjoy the region’s parklands, recently adopted a new Trail Use Policy. In sync with our mission of ensuring that
Trail Conference staff and volunteers will be meeting with New York State representatives about the importance of trails and trail lands. Our voices are one of the most powerful tools we have in ensuring trail lands remain protected, open, and safe for all people to access. That’s why Trail Conference staff and volunteers are heading
The repaired stone arch bridge over Seely Brook greatly improves safety and trail experiences in Goosepond Mountain State Park. Starting last January, the Long Distance Trails Crew took on the task of repairing the severely damaged stone arch bridge over Seely Brook in Goosepond Mountain State Park. Over 30 work days, 43 volunteers gave a total of 2,493
A new bill in Congress, H.R. 1349, threatens the future of Wilderness areas. No matter your approach to adventure, trail lovers everywhere can agree that true wilderness is something to be protected. For over 50 years, the Wilderness Act of 1964 has protected Wilderness areas designated by Congress from machines of all types. This has
Multi-use trails in Sterling Forest State Park are blazing new adventures and bringing trail users together. Ask people returning from a journey on the new trails at Sterling Forest State Park about their experience, and you’re likely to catch their excitement: “fun and flowy,” “special,” and “my new favorite trail” have become common descriptions. The new and
