Committee Reports

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

20s/30s

The 20s/30s+ WhatsApp group has over 180 members! ✧ Recent events: Gym Night w/ Mountaineering (10/01), Mineral Hills Conservation Area (10/02), Pemberton Memorial Forest and Butter Hill Wildlife Sanctuary (10/07), Apple Picking Social (10/19), Sunset Hike @ Mt Toby (10/21), Mike's Maze Social (10/26), Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary (10/28), Quabbin Park/Winsor Dam (11/01), Interchapter Social w/ Worcester and Naragansett 20s/30s (11/01), Mindfulness Walk @ Burleigh Park (11/22), and Night Hike on the AT (12/01) ✧ Upcoming events: Winter Hiking Discussion & Walk, Wednesday Night Skiing, Winter Weekend @ Cardigan Lodge, XC Skiing @ Notchview, and Backpacking the Appalachian Trail

A.T. Management

The most recent A.T. Committee meeting was November 3 ✧ Seasonal project work has finished for the year ✧ David Cohen has taken the reins from Steve Smith as the leader of our Cultural Resources group ✧ Wildlife transects have been scheduled; wee the Outdoor Connector for details ✧ Planning for the committee's annual Gathering of Volunteers on Saturday February 7, 2016 in Dalton is underway ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and three coordinators: shelter, communications and group outreach ✧ The next A.T. Committee meeting is Monday, 1/5/2026

Bicycling

The Bicycling Committee continues to work on 2026 goals, including training new leaders and developing relationships with a bike shop and a community organization to partner in sponsoring rides ✧ Our ride schedule will resume in April

Communications

The Chapter's social media accounts continue to gain new followers - 17 on Facebook and 28 on Instagram since the September report ✧ Started a Facebook group for the Chapter so leaders and participants can share photos of Western MA trips ✧ Facebook (28 posts) with a total of 10,067 views. Top post: The Tuesday Hikers hike in Cummington and Worthington ✧ Instagram (15 posts) with 9,452 views. Top post: Membership discount ✧ The website saw another record-setting month: views (6,009) increased by 106%; users (4,478) increased by 234% ✧ The webpage with the highest views (after the home page) was Chapter activities

Family Programs

StoryWalk^® "The Berry Song" by Michaela Goady continues to be open to Noble View visitors ✧ 20 attendees participated in Tom Condon's Naturalist Walk at Noble View for Scouts troop ✧ Laura attended the Western MA Annual Meeting and staffed the name tags & sign-in table ✧ Planning continues for a rock climbing outing, the Condon's Owl Prowl hike, and the Plein Air Painting Program

Hiking

Led 135 outings (hikes, walks, etc) ✧ We successfully completed the A.T. MA and RFT series ✧ We continue to collaborate with the 20/30s committee, the Tuesday hiking group, and the Worcester Chapter regarding events and training ✧ Backpacking was initiated and revitalized with 1 trip; at least 2 are planned for spring 2026 ✧ We purchased the following for our lending library: New England Trail Map & Guide, AMC's Best Day Hikes in the Berkshires, Massachusetts Trail Guide, Massachusetts Trail Map, Southern New Hampshire Trail Guide, AMC's Best Day Hikes in Central Massachusetts, and the Southern New Hampshire Trail Map

Membership

New memberships are 50% off until 12/31 ✧ On January 1, we're starting the AMC 150 Challenge; let's see how many of our folks we can get involved in doing 150 miles worth of activity before 10/31/26 ✧

Paddling

The Paddling Committee last met on 09/30 ✧ Committee purchased 1 whitewater paddle, 1 throw bag, 4 dry bags, 4 carabiners and 2 z-drag pulleys for safety and loaner gear to be used on AMC trips ✧ Deb is involved in planning a second Canoe Camping Workshop with AMC NH Canoe Committee for January 18 ✧ Committee purchased 1 whitewater paddle, 1 throw bag, 4 dry bags, 4 carabiners and 2 z-drag pulleys for safety and loaner gear to be used on AMC trips. Deb is involved in planning a second Canoe Camping Workshop with AMC NH Canoe Committee for January 18 Upcoming scheduled and posted events: AMC150 trip on the Westfield River (May 24, 2026 - Class 1), AMC150 trip on the Connecticut River (May 27, 2026 with All Out Adventures), AMC150 trip on the Connecticut River in VT (July 11) ✧ Currently working with the Westfield Wildwater Race committee to organize training for safety volunteers for a whitewater race on April 18, 2026