Committee Reports

From planning and leading recreational activities to seasonal trail work – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

The most recent A.T. Committee meeting was May 5 ✧ Seasonal project work is in full swing. Projects since the last report include a survey of the potential layout of the new Shaker campsite, blowdown clearing on Mt Greylock, brush clearing at Tyringham Cobble, corridor boundary maintenance in Tyringham, and corridor infringement monitoring ✧ Upper Goose Pond cabin was opened with a caretaker on Sunday, May 11 ✧ Work on the Upper Goose Pond cabin chimney was completed in early May ✧ Seasonal project work is ongoing; see the Outdoor Connector (OC) for details on upcoming A.T. projects and how to volunteer ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include trail maintainers, corridor monitors, a shelter coordinator, and a communications coordinator ✧ Next meeting: August 25, 2025

Bicycling

April events: The warm-up ride on 04/12 was cancelled due to weather; the 04/26 warm-up ride has been rescheduled for 04/27 ✧ Upcoming May and June bike rides are posted on the OC: (05/24) Warm-up ride in the Berkshires; (06/07) National Trails Day (NTD) - Berkshire Rail Trail Ride

Communications

Our social media accounts continue to gain new followers. All Facebook data points decreased this month despite an increase in the number of posts, while Instagram showed mixed results. Both data points on the website increased slightly in April ✧ Facebook: 29 posts (top post: National Volunteer Week) ✧ Instagram: 19 posts (top post: Spring Warm-up Ride posted on 4/17) ✧ New this month on the website: an interactive map for NTD and an activities calendar, which downloads from the OC every six hours ✧ Ongoing webwork includes activity postings, updates to the Western MA Exchange, and site maintenance

Community Engagement

Planning continues for a Women+ Juneteenth Reflection Hike, a successful outing last year ✧ Karen Foster from our partner, All Out Adventures (AOA), presented trip planning and preparation for folks with accessibility needs on 05/01 ✧ We're planning hikes on the New England Scenic Trail (NET) with Miriam Maistelman, to be led with AOA as part of a grant received by AMC ✧ Visit Sign Up Genius to volunteer with AOA ✧ The Western MA Paddling Committee will have a transfer bench for use on the NTD paddle in the Berkshires ✧ We are continuing to reach out to folks about "An Act Expanding Access To Trails For People Of All Abilities" (MA Bill S.548). Sign our group support letter to the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources or use this form to send a letter to your state Rep and Senator ✧ The Interchapter Community Engagement Committee meets bimonthly

Family Programs

Held the "Family Vernal Pool Hike" with Nancy Condon and The Naturalist Club on 04/06 ✧ April's StoryWalk^® was "Its Spring" and continues through May 15^th ✧ Future StoryWalks^® have been secured with our collaborator, Hilltown Community Health Center, through contact with the new Hilltown Family Center director ✧ Utilized the HillTown Families marketing platform for "An UnderWater World: Creatures & Critters in the Stream" ✧ Scheduled the Wildflower Walk and Fairy House Creation Display for Sunday, May 18, 2025

Membership

Obtained AMC Western MA business cards and other literature ✧ Currently distributing AMC-branded cards to chapter chairs to share w/leaders ✧ Attending Tuesday hikes to meet leaders and other AMC members ✧ Planning continues for our NTD tabling event at Diane's Twist on the Ashuwilticook Trail in Cheshire (06/07/2025, 10AM-2PM). See all Western MA NTD events on the OC

NET Management

NET adopters, trail runners, and DCR staff gathered to do trail maintenance on Section 7 before the Seven Sisters Trail Race. Volunteers contributed over 60 hours at this 3^rd annual partnership event ✧ NET adopters participated in Adaptive Hiking Training with AOA at Noble View ✧ The NET Committee is providing updates for the new edition of the AMC MA Hiking Guide, which includes the NET and is updated every 5 years ✧ The NET Committee is working with the Membership and Communications chairs on NTD activities, which include staffing a table and a hike on the NET ✧ Wendell State Forest Shelter project planning continues with another site visit, acquisition of a building permit, and an update of material costs. We will remove and replace existing roof shingles and rotting structural beams ✧ NET adopters have reported almost 200 hours of volunteer time since the April 14 NET Committee report ✧ The next NET Committee meeting is scheduled for May 19, 2025

Paddling

The Paddling Committee last met on 03/19; committee goals and plans for 2025 were discussed ✧ Ann Gillard is working with Leigh Eubank of Hampshire College to borrow whitewater kayaks and equipment on AMC trips. Working through Aaron Gorban of AMC's Risk Management Office, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hampshire College has been signed and a Certificate of Insurance has been obtained ✧ Ann Gillard is developing a whitewater leader training curriculum with input from Deb and others ✧ Find upcoming trips on the OC