Leadership Opportunity to Care for the Appalachian Trail

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The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is a unit of the National Park system. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the Trail is managed under a unique approach known as the cooperative management system that has 31 A.T. maintaining clubs, land management partners, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) working together as a "three-legged stool" to manage and protect a treasured trail that covers a patchwork of lands along the spine of the Wild East landscape.

A Trail Chair works under the local A.T. maintenance club to ensure that the Trail and its volunteer stewardship opportunities remain open for all.

Overview: Specific responsibilities and organizational structure varies with each A.T. maintaining club, but generally responsibilities as a Trail Chair for the Allentown Hiking Club will include the following:

• Perform and/or coordinate the general maintenance of the Allentown Hiking Club’s section of the Trail, which goes 10.3 miles south from Bake Oven Road in Germansville, PA. Tasks could include:
  • Visiting, monitoring, and/or maintaining the assigned section of Trail, 2-3 times per season. These sections can vary with vegetation type, terrain/elevation, etc.
  • Clearing overgrown vegetation from around the Trail.
  • Removing litter and ensuring the proper maintenance of the Trail treadway and any other associated areas (i.e. trailheads, shelters, campsites, adjacent/side trails, etc.)
  • Cutting and removing fallen trees and limbs laying across the Trail. Large limbs and trees may require a chainsaw. Only volunteers who are trained and certified sawyers may operate a chainsaw/crosscut on the Trail and adjacent A.T. lands. Chainsaw use is not mandatory, as certified sawyers within your respective club will be willing and able to assist.
  • Clearing out debris from erosion control structures, helping water to drain from the Trail and decreasing erosion.
  • Maintaining the symbolic 2x6 painted white blazes of the A.T. that mark the footpath.
• Coordinate the reporting of any significant damage, erosion, large trees down etc. promptly by club volunteer section maintainers (titles vary within each club).
• Monitor and repair the club’s two shelters, any campsites, privies or other structures that may be present on the club’s section of assigned Trail.
• Coordinate the club’s annual maintenance hike and picnic.
• Establish and maintain appropriate storage for club tools and supplies.
• Establish/maintain connections with locally designated A.T. Communities.
• Coordinate and/or serve as a volunteer manager.
  • Promote volunteer opportunities to the A.T. Volunteer Engagement Platform on the ATC website and the local community.
  • Interview and connect interested participants to appropriate tasks/opportunities.
  • Provide new volunteers with a welcoming and supportive experience.
  • Provide training opportunities and opportunities for growth (i.e. into leadership positions).
  • Allow volunteers to offer feedback/evaluation on their experiences.
  • Recognize the work of volunteers.
• Work with the ATC to complete the necessary paperwork and coordination of projects.

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule.
• Time in nature.
• Pride in being an essential part of the work that keeps the A.T. alive.
• Supporting a social community centered around caring for the Trail.
• Provide positive volunteer opportunities for individuals to care for an iconic trail.
• Work alongside federal and non-profit conservation professionals.
• A variety of trainings available
  • Opportunity to take a free Leave No Trace awareness course, or significantly discounted 2-day Leave No Trace trainer course.
  • Opportunity to attend the ATC Volunteer Leadership Meeting, as well as a potentially take a Field Leadership course.

Qualifications:

• Willingness to learn and follow work standards, techniques, and safe working procedures.
• Previous hiking, trail work, campsite/structure maintenance, or volunteer management experience desirable.
• Eager to take personal responsibility for one’s work.
• Familiarity with the Appalachian Trail and experience with non-profit/environmental organization committees preferable.
• Capable of hiking over variable terrain, in changing weather conditions preferred, but not required. Please see ATC’s ​Essential Eligibility Criteria​ on hiking and stewardship activities.

Requirements:

• Must be self-motivated and responsible.
• Comfortable working without supervision in the outdoors.
• Ability to serve in an administrative and supervisory/leadership role.
• Must have reliable transportation to trail sections.
• Strong communication skills with reliable email.