Individuals who commit to serving on the Trail Conference Board of Directors are deeply dedicated to the mission, proper governance, and long-term wellbeing of our organization. Each Board member brings a unique set of qualifications, which allow us to make informed decisions on a wide range of issues. They give freely of their time and take their…
The Trail Conference entered 2020 full of ambition and excitement, ready to mark our 100th birthday and make the year one of our best ever. It is with deep gratitude to all our volunteers, members, and supporters that, despite the challenges this year has presented, we close 2020 as one of our best ever. That…
In March, life as we knew it changed for the greater New York metropolitan area. The pandemic created unprecedented circumstances and challenges for the trails and our service community. As the world grappled with a new reality, we closed our headquarters and decided to put safety first, suspending all volunteer activities from March to May and delaying…
On Nov. 7, I spent a very pleasant Saturday with members of the Trail Conference blazing the new reroute of the Hasenclever Iron Trail in New Jersey’s Long Pond Ironworks State Park. The idea for this unique trail and the initial layout of the trail route came to me and my fellow Long Pond volunteer Martin Deeks in…
MEVO (Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization), in partnership with the Trail Conference, recruits college students to serve on a seasonal trail crew working in Northern New Jersey. This season’s MEVO Crew, emerging from uncertain times, embodied resilience. Half of the crew commuted from South Jersey, driving an hour-plus each way. They were tossed from isolation into a social…
The New Jersey Park Service is revitalizing the trail network at the former Jungle Habitat in West Milford. The project will improve trail conditions and connectivity, as well as contiguous trails in Long Pond Ironworks State Park and northern Norvin Green State Forest. Project partners include the Trail Conference and the Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA). The Trail Conference will work…
Thanks to a recent land acquisition, the Trail Conference has now preserved more than 1,000 acres in total in this area of the Catskills. A forested, 50.4-acre parcel in the Town of Durham, Greene County, N.Y., was the last piece of the puzzle in the Trail Conference’s 30-year effort to completely protect this stretch of…
Through last year’s Subaru Share the Love Program, Liberty Subaru was able to direct over $41,000 to the Trail Conference! Your participation in the program this year can help raise even more funds for great trails and healthy parks. Plans to buy or lease a new car? During Subaru of America’s annual Share the Love event, Liberty Subaru in Emerson,…
As we enter our second century of service, we are in many ways entering a new era. This has been a year of unprecedented challenges, but when thinking about our Centennial, I see the strength of this organization. I see hope. I see the remarkable ways we have adapted to provide great trail experiences to the millions of people…
Celebrating the Trail Conference at 100. On Oct. 19, the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference turns 100 years old—a special occasion for any organization. Yet there will be no cake, no gala—not this year, circumstances considering. It is certainly not how we envisioned our Centennial celebration in the years leading up to this moment, but…
ent loop hikes, these improvements have also included strategic new trail connections that opened up expanded hiking possibilities. In areas seeing spiking visitation and persistent issues with lost hikers, these changes have helped keep novice trail users safe while providing more opportunities for veteran outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a win-win for everyone. This year, additional trail networks are receiving similar attention. Based on…
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) has been found in New York and New Jersey—and you need to be aware of the threat it poses to our region. First discovered in Berks County, Pa., in 2014, these planthoppers are native to China, India, and Vietnam. They are thought to have arrived in the States as egg masses on…
