The Western MA Exchange

The AMC Western MA 20s/30s community is designed for young adults who want to get outside, build skills, and form meaningful connections. We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive space where people feel comfortable showing up as they are. Whether you're new to the outdoors, new to the area, or just looking to meet people who also love being outside, you'll find a place here. We organize outdoor activities throughout western MA and beyond — from local hikes in the Connecticut River Valley and the Berkshires, to paddling on the Deerfield River, skiing and snowshoeing in winter, and weekend adventures in the White Mountains. Our activities range from relaxed and beginner-friendly to more challenging outings for those looking to stretch themselves. It's been a busy summer for the 20s/30s! We've continued the weeknight hike tradition and also gained a plethora of knowledge about our local ecology through exploratory tree identification treks and hikes guided by Tom Wessels's New England Roadside Ecology. Embracing our social dynamic as a group has brought us together for local gear swaps and book club hikes. We look forward to continuing the fun and community feel through the rest of the summer and into the fall by taking on the Deerfield River for some whitewater rafting fun, getting out for a few short backpacking trips in Monroe State Forest and beyond, and hitting the road by bike throughout the region. We are always looking for ways to expand our offerings and recognize the diverse ways our members enjoy the outdoors! Learn more about the 20s/30s Committee, join the WhatsApp group, and browse upcoming activities.

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So far this season, Adoption Program volunteers and AMC Volunteer Trails staff have logged: 3,766 hours of work, 3,403 drainages cleared, 1,834 blowdowns removed, 629 blazes painted or installed, 101 new or rebuilt cairns, and 97 miles of trail brushed. We have over 250 trail maintenance volunteers right here in Western MA working hard to maintain the Appalachian Trail and the New England Trail. Learn more about Adopt-A-Trail. MORE PHOTOS »

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is a volunteer-driven organization. Most AMC trips and activities are led by trained volunteers who enjoy helping others get outside safely, responsibly, and confidently. If you're interested in becoming a leader with the AMC Western MA Chapter, there is a clear, step-by-step process, which is now easier than ever with the addition of the online training. While details vary by activity, all new leaders follow the same general pathway — and leaders continue to receive support long after they are approved to lead. You are not expected to figure things out on your own. Becoming a leader means joining a welcoming, experienced community of volunteers who support one another. Here's the process: Step 1. All new leaders begin by completing Outdoor Leader Fundamentals, AMC's required online leadership training. This self-paced course introduces the core responsibilities of leading AMC activities. Register here. Step 2. After completing the online training, you'll work with the AMC volunteer committee that supports the type of activity you want to lead, such as hiking, paddling, bicycling, or mountaineering. Step 3. Before leading trips on your own, you'll gain experience by assisting or co-leading trips with experienced AMC leaders. If you have any questions about the leadership training process, please reach out to us at info@amc-wma.org. We'd love to help you get started on your leadership journey!

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And this is a great time to remind you about our weekly email message sent out on Monday mornings that provides the Chapter's activities for the following two weeks. Subscribe here.

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Join AMC staff on the next guided hike of Mt Tom on September 9th at 9 AM! MORE PHOTOS »

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August Camp is an AMC-led camp that is traditionally held somewhere in the northwestern United States. Each year, it brings together AMC members from chapters around the country for a week of hiking, adventure, good food, and community. This year's location in the Northern Cascades provided an incredible backdrop, with dramatic mountain peaks, expansive valleys, and views of glaciers around nearly every corner. The weather and wildfire smoke did provide a few challenges. Smoke from fires in eastern Washington forced us to change several hiking plans, but the flexibility of the camp leaders allowed us to find alternative adventures and make the most of the conditions. On the clearer days, the mountains were spectacular, and the views were well worth the effort. For me, August Camp has begun to feel a little like going home. Although I am still a relative newcomer to the camp, there is something special about returning each year and recognizing familiar faces, reconnecting with old friends, and meeting new ones. There is always someone eager to head out on another hike, share a story around the fire, or sit down for a conversation after a long day on the trail. That sense of community is one of the things I enjoy most about August Camp. The mountains provide the setting, but it is the people who make the experience memorable. I was especially happy to share the experience this year with Deb and Margot as hike leaders and to have such a strong Western MA AMC presence. After a week of mountain peaks, smoky skies, glacier views, campfire conversations, and miles on the trail, I returned home already looking forward to the next August Camp.

This was a successful first time campout for more than half the families. One mom reported that their 4-year old was persistently asking if they could go camping again! Thank you Dawne Piers-Gamble, a Family Programs volunteer, for organizing it! MORE PHOTOS »

The group hiked 1.5 miles to the staging area then organized, cut, and carried the lumber about a half mile to the tent site. Many thanks to the volunteers who worked so hard to help with this project! Work will continue into the fall to build the structures. Stay tuned for details or check the Outdoors Connector for new postings. MORE PHOTOS »

You are invited to join Mass Audubon and the New England Forestry Foundation for a webinar on Wednesday, September 9th from 12-1 PM to learn more about a unique funding opportunity available to landowners with forested properties in northwest MA. Would you like help implementing some of the recommendations that your forester offered in your forest stewardship plan? Landowners often find that taking the next steps with their forest management plan can be overwhelming and expensive. The Forest Climate Resilience Incentive pilot program is designed to help landowners pay for these next steps and provide technical assistance during the planning process. If you have 10 acres or more of forested land in the Woodlands Partnership region of northwest MA and have an approved stewardship plan, you likely qualify for this unique program. Funds will be available until they are exhausted, however all practices much be completed by June 2028. To learn more or to receive a direct invitation by email with the meeting details, please contact climateforestry@massaudubon.org. REGISTER »

This course is great for people of all experience levels and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You'll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions. You'll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments! This is a fast-track, two-day course that certifies you in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. REGISTER »

This is a women-only event that uses an inclusive definition of women. We respectfully welcome all women including non-binary, gender non-conforming, transwomen and individuals who identify as a woman as the best expression of themselves. The cottages at Noble View are no longer available for use or lodging, so we have moved the fun to the Scout camp giving folks the option to stay in a bunkhouse cabin or camp in their own tent. You are welcome to settle in on Friday night to catch up with old, or make new friends over a light dinner. Saturday will be packed with a variety of traditional and non-traditional outdoor activities, 3 delicious meals and camaraderie. The fun and food will continue until the early afternoon on Sunday. If you have joined us before, you know the transformational calm that comes about from a weekend well spent with good women. If this is your first time, we welcome you. Just click below to register. REGISTER »

After the hike, Jeannette's cousin Dave Pierce, opened the historic Chester Railway Museum for a private tour. Dave is president of both the Chester Foundation, which operates the museum, and the Friends of the Keystone Arches. Dave shared so much about the construction of the bridges including that they were designed and built by George Washington Whistler, the husband of Whistler's mother of the famous painting. Dave was instrumental in getting the bridges and the museum added to the list of US Historic Landmarks, putting them in the same category as Mt. Rushmore! The group also viewed the caboose which is available to rent for overnight stays, and the recent addition of the famous dining car from the former Bernie's restaurant in Chicopee. The dining car was moved from Chicopee last December and can be rented for events. Thank you Dave for sharing your impressive expertise with us! MORE PHOTOS »

The AT Committee has a few more projects on the schedule for you to join: 22-Aug-2026: Drainage Improvements to UGPC Access Road (contact at@amc-wma.org for more info) 23-Sep-2026: Crystal Mountain Campsite Privy Work 26-Sep-2026: Complete Crystal Mountain Privy Work

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New volunteer Lori Duga shared the experience with her first trail maintenance day and her wonderful photos! Here's what she had to say: "I found my dream volunteer role: crushing rocks! In all seriousness, trail maintenance! Digging, leveling, building hiking trails and meeting people with the same interest as me. Today we began building a stone staircase on the NET: New England Scenic Trail, section 2 in MA. It will probably take all of next season, but camping platforms and a privy are to be built as well. I just learned so much today! I love that!!!" Thanks Lori, the other volunteers, and Connor and Audrey for working all day in the heat to make our trails better and safer! FACEBOOK »