American Hiking Society is celebrating 40 years of trail stewardship through its Volunteer Vacations program and invites you to join the party on a once-in-a-lifetime volun-tour trip. They have just released their 2016 Volunteer Vacations schedule, offering 50+ trail-building and maintaining vacations to iconic recreation destinations across the country, including two amazing opportunities to volunteer at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.
The Volunteer Vacations program was founded forty years ago out of a commitment to assist understaffed and underfunded land management agencies with the rapidly growing backlog of trail maintenance and building projects on our nation’s public lands. “Today, the program continues to provide vital volunteer assistance and resources to public land managers across the country, while providing individuals of all walks of life the opportunity to get out and give back to the trails they love.” comments Gregory Miller, President of American Hiking Society.
Whether you need a push to organize your next outing, are eager to meet others who share your passion for the outdoors, or are interested in traveling to a new hiking locale, let American Hiking Society do the dirty work of planning your next trip! These week long volun-tour trips do not require any special skills or prior trail maintenance experience, just a willingness to get a little dirty.
From the mountains of Alaska, to the beaches of California, to the serene lakeshore of Indiana, American Hiking’s exciting line-up of 50+ volun-tour destinations offers incredible, diverse opportunities to give back in backcountry wilds as well as in urban retreats. If you want to stay close to home, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Volunteer Vacation in Indiana is an ideal opportunity to give back in your own backyard. Two trips, starting on March 13 and April 17, offer volunteers the exciting opportunity to aid in new trail construction in the Hobart Prairie Grove. The new trail will open to the public in June 2016, so volunteer assistance is vital to keep this project on schedule. The Hobart Prairie Grove is a critical part of the Oak Savanna habitat of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the new trail will be an important supplement to the existing bike path.
Your trail crew will consist of 6-15 volunteers and include the guidance and supervision of an experienced crew leader. Food, park entrance fees, camping sites and tents, tools and a one-year membership with American Hiking Society are all included in the $325 registration fee, making the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Volunteer Vacation an affordable way to adventure travel.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities in Indiana and the 2016 Volunteer Vacation’s trip schedule, visit www.AmericanHiking.org or contact Libby Wile, at LWile@AmericanHiking.org or (800) 972-8608 ext. 704.
Volunteer Vacations are made possible by the generous support of our sponsors – REI, The Explore Fund, Vasque, and Backpacker's Pantry, as well as our Federal Public Land Partners – the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Founded in 1976, American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. To learn more about American Hiking Society and its mission and programs, visit www.AmericanHiking.org or call (800) 972-8608.
