Committee Reports

See what our committees have been up to over the last couple of months.

A.T. Management

Most recent A.T. Committee meeting: 2023-Nov-06 ✧ Next A.T. Committee meeting: 2024-01-09 ✧ Wildlife transects and corridor monitoring - ongoing ✧ Hazardous trees removed at several overnight sites ✧ Annual volunteer recognition gathering scheduled for 2024-Jan-27 at Lee Middle/High School (9:00 AM) ✧ Lisa Taylor has agreed to be our new Secretary ✧ 2024 season will include 2 Greenagers projects ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs: natural heritage monitors, corridor monitors, shelter coordinator

Bicycling

Attended the Western MA Chapter's Annual Business Meeting on behalf of the Bicycling Committee (2023-Nov-02) ✧ Bicycling budget was approved for 2024 (2023-Nov-13) ✧ By the end of January, will have reached out to bike trip leaders to begin planning for the 2024 season ✧ By mid-March, will have a draft calendar of early spring rides on the AMC Western MA Chapter's Bicycling web page and listings on ActDB

Communications

Facebook: 19 posts (top post: Story Walk at Noble View promotion – reach: 992 accounts) ✧ Instagram: 18 posts (top post: Tuesday hiking trip in Northfield on 2024-Nov-18 – reach: 228 accounts) ✧ Newsletters: 1406 messages sent ✧ Website: Created draft flip book "Walking the NET in the Pioneer Valley" with Pat Henry (in review); created National American Indian Heritage Month interactive map; created Western MA timeline; consolidated ExCom volunteer positions with activities; created MVL slideshow; conducted semi-annual maintenance

Family Programs

Had a successful Natural Holiday Decorations Workshop at Noble View, with a great turn out of local folks and a contingent of students from URI who were staying in the cabins ✧ New StoryWalks^® installed in collaboration with the Hilltown Family Center were The Apple Pie Tree (October), We Are Grateful (November), and The Mitten (December). StoryWalks^® are found on the Link Trail at Noble View Outdoor Center ✧ Research started to make more substantial signage for the StoryWalk^®, similar to AMC Cardigan Lodge ✧ Met with AMC Volunteer Relations representative and other FallFest volunteers to follow up on the FallFest 2023 successes and ideas for improvement ✧ Represented Family Programming at Western MA Annual Meeting ✧ The Family Programs schedule for Winter and Spring 2024 is nearly complete. Planning continues for new and ongoing collaborations and initiatives

Hiking

Trips: 10/01 Riverwalk with Alice; 10/03 NET with Debi; 10/06 thru 10/08 Women's weekend hikes with Dawne and Kathy; 10/10 Anniversary Hike with Peggy; 10/17 Mt. Monadnock with Margot; 10/24 Mt. Tom with Patty; 10/31 Granville State Forest with Kathy; 11/07 Mt Toby with Dave; 11/14 NET with Debi; 11/21 Noble View, planned by Laura and led by Kathy and Dave; 11/28 Pittsfield State Forest with Trish; 12/02 DAR State Forest with Margot; 12/05 Monument Mountain with Debi; 12/12 Horse Mountain with Jan ✧ Recent activity and plans: Welcomed Debi Garlick as new Hiking Chair in December

Paddling

Previous meeting: 2023-09-26; next meeting: 2024-Feb-06 ✧ Deb attended NH Paddling Committee annual meeting on Nov 5 as we collaborate with this chapter on whitewater instruction trips ✧ Deb joined NH Canoeing Subcommittee to plan and assist with a 2-day moving water canoe instruction event in April. That subcommittee is focused on skills needed for wilderness canoe tripping and will offer additional skill-building trips ✧ In need of more paddle leaders and committee members ✧ Planning continues for 2024 whitewater and flatware paddling events

Training and Education

Training completed: In-Person Training (2023-Oct-15) and two Applications (role plays) days (2023-Nov-12 and 2023-Nov-18) ✧ Completed 7 new leader candidates ✧ Approved new member of the committee (Kayla Crowe) ✧ Invited to OLDC Chapter Leadership/Education Chair Meeting scheduled for 2023-Dec-14 ✧ Reviewed changes/updates to WFA courses: 2024 options are SOLO and WFR ✧ Facilitating MHFA training at AMC's 148th Annual Summit