ADK strives to provide all of our volunteers with a positive and rewarding experience while giving back to trails. Since its inception in 1986, the Supervised Volunteer Trails Program has paralleled the professional trail crews in adopting sound techniques and methods of trail maintenance. Volunteer projects are inherently educational, allowing participants to not only learn the skills associated with trail work, but also the natural history of the area and Leave No Trace backcountry ethics.
Volunteer trail work is truly at the heart of ADK since the "Trails and Shelters” committee was established in 1923. Over the years, ADK’s role has changed from building trails to making current trails sustainable through sound layout and long-lasting trail structures. ADK Trail Volunteers get great satisfaction from contributing to a high-quality trail project. Volunteering is also an opportunity to meet some great folks.
2012 Volunteer Accomplishments
Over 300 volunteers participated in our supervised trips, and contributed over 4,500 hours of volunteer labor for trails.
The Supervised Volunteer Program is made possible by the support of the Cold River, Genesee, Laurentian, Niagara Frontier, Saratoga-Glens Falls, and Schenectady ADK chapters.
