Category Archives: Volunteering
Help Build Lean-tos in the Catskills
Text and photos by Peter Senterman Ever wonder what it takes to build a lean-to? The Trail Conference, with the cooperation of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is building two lean-tos on the grounds of the … Continue reading
New Trail Opens at Catskill Interpretive Center on National Trails Day
By Jeff Senterman, Board Member Good things sometimes do take time, and that was the case as we celebrated the opening of a new 0.5-mile nature trail at the Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center (CIC) this National Trails Day. … Continue reading
How to Build a Sturdy Dry Stone Trail Structure Using Stones That You Find Right on the Trail
The techniques used in building dry stone walls can be applied during the construction of a number of trail features, including water bars, steps, armoring, and crib walls. By guest blogger Peter Welch, president of The Stone Trust. Illustrations by … Continue reading
Trail Blazing at Mills-Norrie State Park Continues this Spring
By Georgette Weir, Volunteer Trail Supervisor Volunteers from the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference have been out reblazing trails at Mills-Norrie State Park in a project that began this past winter and, as of mid-March, was expected to be completed … Continue reading
Long Distance Trails Crew Chief Chris Reyling Named ATC Mid-Atlantic Volunteer of the Year
By Members of the Long Distance Trails Crew Congratulations to Long Distance Trails Crew Chief Chris Reyling, who was named Appalachian Trail Conservancy Mid-Atlantic Volunteer of the Year! Long Distance Trails Crew (LDTC) members submitted the nomination of their crew … Continue reading
Advocacy, Lobbying, and a Call to Action in New Jersey
By Adam Page Taylor, Trail Conference Volunteer On Jan. 11, my volunteer work for the Trail Conference led me to Trenton. The flags atop the State House snapped briskly as I walked up to the building’s front entrance. Members of … Continue reading
Ask a Trail Builder: Understanding Grade Reversals
By Erik Mickelson, Field Manager The trail I maintain has issues with water channeling down the tread. What can be done to fix this? It sounds like your trail has a lack of grade reversals. A “grade reversal” is not … Continue reading
Improving the Long Swamp Trail, One Hike at a Time
Eagle Scout could earn another prestigious Hornaday Conservation Award for his efforts combating invasive species in Sterling Forest By Zachary Kunow, Trail Conference volunteer I am a 16-year-old Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 21 of Suffern, N.Y., and have … Continue reading
My Experience Interning at the Trail Conference (I Didn’t Even Need Hiking Boots!)
By Elissa D’Aries, Former New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Intern As a not-outdoorsy literature major who would admittedly rather be sitting inside rereading Jane Eyre than hiking Bear Mountain, I never imagined interning at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. … Continue reading