Home | Join | Contact Us | Guest Book | Privacy Policy
  THE 3 PILLARS OF THE AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY  
  Our work is inspiring and challenging, and is built on three pillars:

 Policy & Advocacy: American Hiking Society works with Congress and federal agencies to shape public policy and legislation affecting hiking. Our efforts ensure funding for hiking trails, the preservation of natural areas and the protection of the hiking experience. American Hiking’s Hike the Hill: Trails Advocacy Week brings trail leaders to Washington, D.C. each year to advocate for trail funding. Our Western Public Lands Initiative promotes and protects trails and natural, cultural and recreational resources of the Bureau of Land Management’s 26-million acre National Landscape Conservation System. 
 
 Volunteerism and Stewardship: American Hiking Society organizes and coordinates Volunteer Vacations and National Trails Day® – nationally recognized programs that help keep our trails open, safe and enjoyable. The thousands of volunteers we mobilize and the increased awareness our programs provide have benefited tens of thousands of trail miles. Our National Trails Fund is the only national private grants program that helps trail-maintaining organizations across the United States build and improves hiking trails and galvanizes volunteers to ensure the long-term sustainability of our nation’s trails. 
 
 

Outreach and Education: American Hiking Society is committed to increasing Americans’ participation in and enjoyment of hiking and conducts outreach through events, resource materials and communications and partnerships with other recreation and conservation organizations. Our outreach and support extends to trail groups, hiking clubs and others through our Alliance of Hiking Organizations. Our Southeast Trails Program, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, strengthens the region’s hiking constituency to build and conserve foot trails and protect the hiking experience.

 
 
 
Download the following program fact sheets:
Volunteer Vacations
National Trails Day®
National Trails Fund
Southeast Trails Program
Western Public Land Initiative
Policy & Advocacy
 

Policy & Advocacy : Our efforts help protect the trails and places you love to hike Learn more.

 
 

Volunteer Vacations : Looking for a rewarding and fun vacation? Check out our 2009 Volunteer Vacation

 
 

Western Public Lands Initiative : Protect and hike the National Landscape Conservation System, 26 million acres of beautiful, unique western lands. Learn more.

 
 

National Trails Day®: National Trails Day 2008 Final Report now available. Contact BSankey@AmericanHiking.org.

 
© American Hiking Society 2007. All Rights Reserved. www.AmericanHiking.org