Volunteer Spotlight: A.T. Management Committee

Each month we highlight one of the committees in the Western MA Chapter, to showcase who our volunteers are and what they do, and to highlight Chapter programs, recreational activities, and volunteer opportunities. This month we're featuring the A.T. Management Committee. This Committee of the Western MA Chapter is charged with the maintenance and management of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in MA, including many of the associated side trails. The 14 volunteers on the Committee work with the National Park Service and Mass DCR on this effort, coordinating and supporting the efforts of around 100 individual volunteers. Opportunities for volunteering are available in many different areas:

• Regular trail maintenance: Clearing pathways, clipping brush, painting blazes, mowing, etc.
• Overnight facilities maintenance: Monitoring and maintaining camps, shelters, campsites, privies, etc. along the Trail.
• Corridor monitoring and boundary maintenance: Keeping the boundary of trail lands marked and monitoring for any misuse.
• Natural resource monitoring: Visiting more than 50 sites to document the presence of rare, threatened or endangered plants and the habits of wildlife.
• Cultural resource monitoring: Visiting, researching and documenting the remains of historic structures and sites on Trail lands and monitoring them for any changes.
• Supporting A.T. Communities along the Trail: North Adams, Cheshire, Dalton, Lee, and Great Barrington.
• Connecting with sponsored or organized groups using the Trail and its overnight facilities: Providing information about group use regulations and best practices.
• Working with land managers and other staff: Proposing and designing major maintenance and repair projects on damaged or eroded sections of the Trail.

We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work the A.T. Committee volunteers put into maintaining the incredible and beautiful Appalachian Trail in MA! Learn more about the A.T. Committee and find upcoming projects to join.