Committee Reports

From club-wide strategizing and event planning to trip leadership, outdoor training, and DEI efforts – here's what our committees were up to last month.

A.T. Management

Most recent meeting: 04-Nov-2024 ✧ Committee members met with NPS-APPA wetlands and floodplain specialists regarding the Hop Brook Tyringham Project. Volunteers cleared a rough path for the trail relocation part of this project ✧ Wildlife transects are on going ✧ Corridor monitoring and maintenance are done for the season ✧ Three committee leaders inspected the roughly 2.5 miles of trail affected by the Butternut Fire. As I write this, DCR has yet to reopen the trail in the fire area ✧ A trail corridor encroachment south of Dalton involving ATV usage and an illicit campsite was discovered. The NPS ranger was notified through ATC ✧ As part of our 3-year plan for the Mohhekennek Fund we are securing quotes for repairs to Upper Goose Pond Cabin ✧ Our committee is exploring the possibility of renovating the Stillwell Property into a year-round facility for hikers and education ✧ Our annual Volunteer Gathering will be held Saturday 08-Feb-2025, 9:00 AM at the Cheshire Town Hall in Cheshire, MA ✧ Volunteer recruitment needs include natural heritage monitors, trail maintainers, corridor monitors, shelter coordinator, and a communications coordinator ✧ Next meeting: 06-Jan-2025

Communications

All data points on the Chapter's social media accounts increased significantly in November. The Indigenous Voices on the New England Trail post went viral with over 22,000 views. Newsletter data also showed increases in every category except clicks, which is likely due to fewer links in the message. ✧ Facebook: 22 posts (top post: Indigenous voices on the New England Trail) ✧ Instagram: 19 posts (top post: Report on the Great Barrington fire) ✧ Newsletters: 4254 messages sent ✧ Website: Ongoing updates (activities, WM Exchange, conservation news, monthly maintenance)

DEI

Volunteered as part of the Western MA AMC paddling committee with All Out Adventures at Benedict Pond for kayaking on the pond in October ✧ Hosted Speaker Marian May Perez for their October Speaker Series presentation "Normalizing Diversity in the Outdoors with Marian May Perez" ✧ Coordinated with the AMC Western MA Paddling committee to purchase a kayak chariot to house at and share with AOA. This along with the transfer bench purchased in the spring will allow us to accommodate for various mobility needs on the water next season ✧ Participated with Laura Stinnette at the Richardson Zlogar Cabin on the NET in celebration of Native American Heritage Month and Veteran's Day, organized by Miriam Maistelman and Jay Levy ✧ Participated with the MA Office of Outdoor Recreation to form a Trail Access Working Group to identify barriers to access to the outdoors for those with disabilities and seniors and to make recommendations for state, local, and private programs, policies, and investments focused on adaptive trail design and outdoor recreation. We joined with accessible trail advocates (with leadership of Meg Bandarra, founder of (Unpaved Trails for All), state officials including Senator Jo Comerford, AMC's Western MA chapter, New England Mountain Bike Association, trail users and outdoor enthusiasts at the new All Person's Trail at Noble View in Russell to announce and celebrate the formation of the working group and our collective commitment to growing access to the outdoors for all ✧ Provided 4 points of feedback to AMC Trails staff on improvements to increase accessibility for all at Noble View ✧ Implementation of the DEI Roadmap facilitated by DEI Outdoors continues

Paddling

Most recent meeting: 25-Sep-2024 ✧ Kayak Chariot purchased through Creating Ability has been received. It will be shared between our Paddling Committee and All Out Adventures and will be stored at All Out Adventures in Northampton ✧ Planning for 2025 whitewater and flatwater programs is underway