American Hiking Society Offers Outdoor Service Vacations

American Hiking Society has just released their 2015 Volunteer Vacations schedule, celebrating nearly 40 years of volunteer trail stewardship in Americ. The advocacy group is offering 60 trail-building vacations to iconic recreation destinations across the country.

Trips offer a range of difficulty levels and accommodations and do not require any special skills or prior trail maintenance experience, says AHS.

“These voluntour trips combine trail conservation, crew camaraderie, and nature exploration within a week’s time,” noted Gregory Miller, President of American Hiking Society, “allowing outdoor enthusiasts an opportunity to get out and give back to the environment while enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure.”

From the mountains of Maine to the beaches of California, American Hiking’s exciting line-up of 60 voluntour destinations offers a full range of outdoor experiences. These include:

 Assist park rangers with coastal trail conservation in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California.　 You will have plenty of time to explore the San Francisco Bay Area- full of culturally and naturally beautiful sites including Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Presidio;

 Learn to use survey maps and a compass to aid in vital boundary work on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.　 Urban noises and light pollution are a distant memory here, as loon cries and moose bugles echo across the water under starry skies; or

 Use hand tools to restore and preserve hiking trails in the iconic Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana.　 Considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of the wilderness preservation system, this area provides volunteers some of the best wildlife viewing in America.　 On your “free-day” get up early and hike to Heart Lake or sleep in and relax along the creek!

Trail crews will consist of 6-15 like-minded volunteers and include the guidance and supervision of an experienced crew leader.　 Food, park entrance fees, campsite or cabin accommodations, tools and a one-year membership with American Hiking Society are all included in your registration fee of $295, making American Hiking’s Volunteer Vacations an affordable way to adventure travel.

Contact Libby Wile, at LWile@AmericanHiking.org or (800) 972-8608 ext. 704.