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Supervised Volunteer Trails Program

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 Program has paralleled the professional trail crews in adopting sound techniques and methods of trail maintenance.

Elderhostel volunteers

Above, Elderhostel volunteers sidecut a ski trail on the ADK property at Heart Lake.  Below, a National Trails Day volunteer clears blowdown in the Catskills.

National Trails Day

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 in trails has changed from the building of 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.

2008 Volunteer Accomplishments
  • 20 rock steps
  • 6 rock waterbars
  • 5 step stones
  • 5 bog bridges
  • ½ mile of new trail/sidehill bench
  • 39 miles of sidecutting
  • 113 blowdowns removed
Get Involved!
  • Click here for the 2009 schedule for Volunteer Trail Projects.
  • Click here to learn more about other stewardship opportunities.
  • Interested in working as a paid volunteer trail crew leader? Click here for job posting or click here for an application.

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.