Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Wow! There's something in the air ... all of the upcoming activities and volunteer needs are telling me that we're warming up and ready to do more with the trails, the trees, the greenery, the views, the waterways, the campsites, the flora and fauna, the sun and clouds. Hard to choose from the various National Trails Day activities on June 1st, but I will make that tough choice and be open to discovery and growth. We're excited to see you at the Laurel Day festivities, so please come up to our table, or while we're engrossed in the surrounding beauty, to say hello! And drop us a line anytime to chat about any volunteer opportunities that grab you, at info@amc-wma.org. What am I talking about? Please read on for the delicious details! No mystery here, just fresh air, engagement, and fun. See you Outdoors! Diane Jones, Western MA Chapter Chair

Laurel Day Celebration at Noble View

Come celebrate the beautiful mountain laurel blossoms with us on Saturday, June 8, 2024 (rain date June 9th) at the AMC Noble View Outdoor Center from 3:00-7:00 PM. Celebrating the laurel blossom season is a tradition at Noble View going back to 1930. We'll keep the tradition going with some guided hikes, a chili cook-off hosted by the Chapter and the Noble View Stewards Council, strawberry shortcake, and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. And if camping is your thing, consider reserving one of our tent sites for the night (call 603-466-2727 to reserve). Register here!

Celebrating National Trails Day

National Trails Day is celebrated every year on the first Saturday of the month. You can come out to TrailsFest at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA for a fun-filled day of guided activities for all ages and abilities in the morning followed by food, music, demonstrations, and information from the partners, including the AMC, in the afternoon. Another option closer to home is the Hike For All event at the universally-accessible trail at the Fort River Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Hadley, Massachusetts. Unpaved Trails for All, in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club, will be hosting a guided hike at the universally-accessible trail to raise awareness for the need for more accessible trails. We also have a natural heritage monitoring event on Monday, June 3 and a hike on Sunday, June 2, both at Mt. Greylock. We hope you can join us at one of these events to celebrate our beloved trails!

Volunteer Opportunities for Everyone!

As we mentioned in last month's message to our members, the entire Western MA Chapter is run by volunteers. And now that warmer weather is here, the need for help is even greater. We have many opportunities to get involved in some fun and rewarding volunteer activities including maintaining trails, repairing campsites, monitoring wildlife, removing invasive species, and serving on the executive committee as Hiking Chair or Vice Chair ... something for everyone.