Previous AHS Diversity Statements

Adopted April 13, 2019

American Hiking Society (AHS) affirms the value of a diverse hiking community. By enhancing diversity—philosophically and operationally—AHS maximizes the benefit to its individual members and to the hiking community.

Diversity speaks to a richness of resources, perspectives, and experiences. A diverse hiking community is more insightful, responsive, and dynamic than one that is homogeneous. We use “diversity” as encompassing variety in race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, creed, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, education, socio-economic status, political affiliation, or parental status.

AHS therefore commits to:

  • Proactively recruiting individuals of broadly diverse backgrounds for its staff and board of directors.
  • Vigorously and proactively rejecting prejudice and stereotyping wherever it is encountered in the hiking community.
  • Being a good ally by actively promoting justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JEDI) in the hiking community. To that end, AHS will promote the work of and collaborate with individuals and groups with expertise in JEDI and led by and/or primarily consisting of people from groups historically disenfranchised in the outdoors.
  • Ensuring that our marketing, messaging, images, advocacy, and other content feature and promote JEDI.
  • Recruiting diverse crews for our volunteer programs.
  • Constantly assessing how we are doing against these commitments, being transparent about that progress, and seeking to do better.

Adopted October 22, 2016

The American Hiking Society (AHS) affirms the value of a diverse hiking community.   AHS is committed to serve, employ, and be governed by individuals of broadly diverse backgrounds representative of the hiking community we serve and society as a whole.

The diversity among humans speaks to a richness of resources, perspectives, and experiences. A diverse hiking community is more insightful, responsive, and dynamic than one that is homogeneous. Diversity today generally refers to variety in race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, creed, religion, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, education, class, political affiliation, or parental status.

By enhancing diversity—philosophically and operationally—AHS maximizes the benefit to its individual members and to the hiking community. Hence, the ability of AHS to serve society as a whole. AHS must vigorously and proactively reject prejudice and stereotyping wherever it is encountered in community, while actively promoting a diverse community, now and in the future. A diverse membership, board, and staff will establish an environment that is more inviting to potential new AHS members and the hiking community it serves, enhancing AHS’s growth and potential for advancement.