Honoring the Life, Vision, and Legacy of William Ruskin: Pioneer of Volunteer Trail Stewardship

WHEREAS, the American Hiking Society (AHS) community, its Board of Directors, and hikers across the nation mourn the passing of William "Bill" Ruskin; and

WHEREAS, Bill Ruskin was a visionary outdoor planner and pioneer who recognized that the true power of trail stewardship lies in the hands of everyday volunteers – a core belief that continues to drive American Hiking Society's mission today; and

WHEREAS, Bill’s deep commitment to public lands was forged in his early outdoor career, serving as a USFS smokejumper jumping out of Cave Junction, Oregon, working on trail crews in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, digging firelines on USFS Hotshot crews, and serving as a U.S. Army Combat Engineer officer and NATO winter warfare ski instructor; and

WHEREAS, in 1971, while serving as an Open Space Planner in Colorado Springs, Bill Ruskin founded the National Hiking & Ski Touring Association (NAHSTA) to help everyday Americans enjoy hiking, ski touring, and outdoor recreation; and

WHEREAS, in 1974, utilizing Public Law 92-300 (Volunteers in the National Forests Act), Bill Ruskin launched the Volunteer Conservation Corps (VCC), establishing the nationwide model for mobilizing civilian volunteer crews to build and maintain public trails; and

WHEREAS, Bill was a driving force behind NAHSTA’s visionary "Fun on Foot" campaign – a pioneering initiative that championed simple, accessible walking and hiking as an essential, low-cost way for all Americans to connect with nature, stay healthy, and unplug; and

WHEREAS, NAHSTA merged with the American Hiking Society in its formative years, and Bill Ruskin’s Volunteer Conservation Corps evolved into AHS’s flagship Volunteer Vacations program, which has dispatched tens of thousands of volunteers to trail projects across national forests and parks over the past five decades; and

WHEREAS, Bill served as a dedicated historian for the origins of NAHSTA and AHS, meticulously preserving and donating an extensive historical inventory of files, original correspondence, project reports, media, and organizational archives to ensure the foundational history of national trail stewardship would be preserved for future generations; and

WHEREAS, Bill lived the mission of stewardship, proving through his work that volunteers are essential partners in preserving and enhancing America's 180-million-acre National Forest System; and

WHEREAS, as the American Hiking Society celebrates 50 years of volunteer stewardship, we recognize that the enduring strength of the Volunteer Vacations program and the broader trail volunteer movement are the direct legacy of the vision planted by Bill Ruskin half a century ago;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the American Hiking Society, convened on this 17th day of August, 2026, hereby expresses its deepest gratitude for the life, leadership, and lasting legacy of William "Bill" Ruskin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board extends its profound condolences to the Ruskin family, sharing in their grief while celebrating a lifetime dedicated to public lands, conservation, and service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors officially dedicates the American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacations program for the remainder of this year to the memory of Bill Ruskin, carrying forward his pioneering spirit of volunteerism; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be entered into the permanent historical archives of the American Hiking Society, and that a copy be presented to his family as a symbol of the organization’s eternal appreciation.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of August, 2026, by the Board of Directors of the American Hiking Society.