Programs: Outdoor program centers - the amc manages more than 40 outdoor program centers and backcountry facilities, including lodges, mountain huts, full-service camps, cabins, shelters and campgrounds. These amc facilities serve as a base for 4-season recreational activities, nature and environmental education courses, programs, scientific research, outdoor artistic pursuits, and other conservation-related activities. Visitors and overnight guests enjoy a broad range of walk-on programs, guided naturalist activities, outdoor recreational safety and skill building workshops, and backcountry activities to choose from. Amc facilities are managed to reduce environmental impact by providing environmentally sensitive septic systems, composting, public *refer to schedule o, page 46 for continuation*outdoor program centers (continued):drinking water, and overnight accommodations (some near treeline and in sensitive alpine areas) in areas where camping would have severe effects on the alpine plant life. Amc facilities provide information and education on the local environment, recreational opportunities, outdoor safety, trails, and emergency shelter. Amc staff also participates in search-and-rescue efforts throughout the white mountains of nh and other regions. In 2014, amc provided more than 162,000 overnight guest accommodations at its facilities and information and other services to more than 2,000,000 visitors.
membership - amc members provide the grassroots network through which the amc delivers its programming on a local level throughout our 11 state region. The more than 100,000 members, advocates and supporters of the amc provide a base of volunteers for trail projects, local clean-up and conservation projects, outdoor how-to and safety instruction. These members and volunteers organize and lead thousands of recreational outings, and provide the local governance structure for 12 local amc chapters. Member dues and participation in the above mentioned activities provide a critical base of support for carrying out the amc mission.
conservation research and policy - the amc actively promotes the protection, enjoyment and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters and trails of the appalachian region including critical areas of the four-state northern forest, the mid-atlantic highlands of pa, nj, ny, and ct, and maine's 100-mile wilderness region. The amc's research and policy program conducts analyses of natural ecosystems to guide its efforts to protect these areas. This includes studying changes in land cover and land use and the impact on ecological and recreational resources; monitoring air quality and climate change impacts on northeastern mountain ecosystems; analyzing in-stream flow criteria and hydroelectric dam operation impacts on river ecosystems and*refer to schedule o, pages 46-47 for continuation*conservation research and policy (continued):recreational resources; developing methods to reduce recreational user impacts on the region's mountains; and studying the benefits and impacts of different transportation options and energy sources, including renewable energy, on the ecosystems of concern to the amc. Achievements are exemplified by the development and successful implementation of the recovery plan for an alpine plant formerly listed on the federal endangered species list, publication of a national award winning "ecological atlas of the upper androscoggin watershed", adoption by states of elements of amc's wind power siting guidelines and amc's successful citizen science mountain monitoring program, mountain watch. The amc's research and policy program also works with conservation partners and local communities to build grassroots support for priority conservation projects. The research and policy program participates in and comments on formal resource management programs and decisions at the local, state, and federal level; consults with industry and land owners to find equitable solutions to environmental problems; advocates for state and federal land protection, clean air and energy policies, and trails funding, and facilitates member and public participation in local, state and federal environmental issues and policy.
1. Education program - the amc works with approximately 50,000 young people each year through guided and self-guided programs designed to make the outdoors and the environment accessible and meaningful to youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The programs range from overnight school programs (grades 4-12); walk-on activities offered to families coming through amc's huts and lodges, weekend long skill based trainings, to 1-3 week outdoor summer adventures for teens. Guided programs include our a mountain classroom, teen wilderness adventures, youth opportunities, leadership training, and destination-based naturalist programs. Amc has recently launched a new program called outdoors rx which gives healthcare professionals the dedicated resources for prescribing regular outdoor physical activity to children at risk of obesity and other health issues. Through intensive, hands-on training, participants learn how to enjoy the outdoors and minimize their impact in the backcountry. Amc is a national provider of master educator training in leave no trace principles. Amc serves young people in urban and rural areas through its youth opportunities program by training leaders in various youth agencies located in those regions. 2. Trails program - amc staff and over 4,000 volunteers are engaged in on-the-ground recreation management and trail maintenance on 1,800 miles of trails, including over 300 miles of the appalachian national scenic trail (at) in five states. Many of these trails are on public lands, including the white mountain national forest, delaware water gap national recreation area, acadia national park, and state parks throughout the region. Amc offers a broad range of trail volunteer opportunities, including an adopt-a-trail program, teen trail crew programs, and volunteer vacations for adults interesting in giving back through trail stewardship. Amc alpine stewards educate hikers on how to care for fragile alpine areas. Amc is collaboratively planning a trail network that will protect and connect the ecological, historic and recreational assets of the pennsylvania highlands and create "close-to-home" outdoor recreational opportunities. The pennsylvania highlands trail network will extend the highlands trail (currently 130 miles in new york and new jersey) along the length of the pennsylvania highlands, from the delaware river at rieglesville, pa south to the maryland border in south-central pa. Encompassing roughly 1. 9 million acres, the pennsylvania highlands includes portions of 13 counties. The appalachian mountain club and the trustees of reservations are collaborating to lead the bay circuit alliance in the completion, enhancement, and long-term care of the 200-mile bay circuit trail and greenway. Our goal is to promote the trail as a vital resource for walking, hiking, and biking for the 4 million people who live in the greater boston area. The bay circuit alliance is a collaboration of more than 50 cities, towns, and land trusts, as well as hundreds of dedicated volunteers, working in support of the bay circuit. Under this collaboration, amc's primary responsibility will be to support the trails management advisory committee, while the trustees will focus on land protection coordination and planning. Both organizations will work with the alliance to promote the bay circuit as a close-to-home recreational resource and raise funds to ensure the long term future of the trail and greenway. As congressionally designated stewards of the new england national scenic trail (net), which runs from the new hampshire border to long island sound, amc and the connecticut forest and parks association collaborate on protecting and enhancing recreational opportunities on the net. 3. Publications/communications - through a variety of publications, the amc encourages safe and responsible outdoor recreation and stewardship of the region's natural resources. Amc's member magazine, journal, books, and maps seek to inspire the public to get outdoors in all four seasons. Each publication also stresses safety and stewardship and encourages volunteerism. Amc's magazine, amc outdoors, features recreation and conservation news around the northeast, and offers columns on outdoor skills, gear, fitness and nutrition, and natural history, as well as features on issues such as climate change, ecology, and the challenges of getting young people outdoors. Amc's website (www. Outdoors. Org) is an online resource for members and non-members seeking the latest local outdoor trips, trip ideas, backcountry conditions, and volunteer opportunities. Amc's appalachia, published biannually since 1876, is the longest running journal on mountaineering and conservation. Amc books publishes a variety of recreation guides on walking, hiking, biking, skiing, canoeing, kayaking and other outdoor activities in our region including the white mountain guide -- the premier hiking guide for new hampshire's white mountains for over 100 years. Amc's on-line guide is a leading on-line interactive mapping tool featuring comprehensive trail information, customize route building functionality and the ability to share trip reports and current trail conditions.
