American Hiking Society Offers Budget Friendly Volun-tours
SILVER SPRING, MD – American Hiking Society has just released their 2015 Volunteer Vacations schedule, celebrating nearly forty years of volunteer trail stewardship in America, offering 60 trail-building vacations to iconic recreation destinations across the country. “These voluntour trips combine trail conservation, crew camaraderie, and nature exploration within a week’s time,” noted Gregory Miller, President of American Hiking Society, “allowing outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to get out and give back to the environment while enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure.” Whether you need a push to organize your next outing, are interested in traveling to a new hiking locale, or are eager to meet others who share your passion for the outdoors, let American Hiking Society do the legwork in planning your next trip!
Trips offer a range of difficulty levels and accommodations and do not require any special skills or prior trail maintenance experience. From the mountains of Maine to the beaches of California, American Hiking’s exciting line-up of 60 voluntour destinations offers a full range of outdoor experiences. These include:
- Assist park rangers with coastal trail conservation in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. You will have plenty of time to explore the San Francisco Bay Area- full of culturally and naturally beautiful sites including Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Presidio;
- Learn to use survey maps and a compass to aid in vital boundary work on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Urban noises and light pollution are a distant memory here, as loon cries and moose bugles echo across the water under starry skies; or
- Use hand tools to restore and preserve hiking trails in the iconic Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana. Considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of the wilderness preservation system, this area provides volunteers some of the best wildlife viewing in America. On your “free-day” get up early and hike to Heart Lake or sleep in and relax along the creek!
Whether you are 18 or 80, are an experienced trail builder or just eager to learn, there is a meaningful, fun and rewarding Volunteer Vacation that is right for you!
Your trail crew will consist of 6-15 like-minded volunteers and include the guidance and supervision of an experienced crew leader. Food, park entrance fees, campsite or cabin accommodations, tools and a one-year membership with American Hiking Society are all included in your registration fee of $295, making American Hiking’s Volunteer Vacations an affordable way to adventure travel.
To learn more about the 2015 Volunteer Vacation’s trip schedule contact volunteer@AmericanHiking.org or (800) 972-8608 ext. 704.
Volunteer Vacations are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors – Vasque and Backpacker’s Pantry, as well as our Federal Public Land Partners – the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
About American Hiking Society
Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, visit americanhiking.org or call (800) 972-8608.
