Trail Scholarship Recipient Reactions

 

I spent a lot of time in my childhood, teens and twenties tromping around the trails of Maine and New England, finding challenge amongst the rocky terrain, and quiet solitude in our dense, pine-covered woods. I felt like it was time to express gratitude, an offering of my thanks and respect to a place that has been many things for me in the first two plus decades of my life. The Maine woods have been my escape, my therapy office, my playground, and my backyard. I was excited about the opportunity to spend a week working with the trail crew up in the 100 Mile Wilderness as a chance to give back some of the gratefulness I feel after spending so much time there.

My volunteer group was a mixed bag of age and gender, some folks with extensive experience lopping saplings and improving trails, others (like me) having never worked on a trail. The trail crew, led by a skilled AMC employee, was patient in guiding and giving directions. All the volunteers were eager to put their energy to good use, and the trail crew did an excellent job in taking advantage of all the extra hands! We spent several days constructing two separate sets of steps along a trail just outside of Gorman Chairback Lodge. There was always something to do – aiding in felling of trees, lopping overgrown branches to widen trails, moving rocks, and removing bark from trees that we meticulously measured and turned into steps.

My experience volunteering in the Maine woods was unforgettable. I came home covered in black fly bites, my body as sore and spent as I wanted it to be- a testament to the hard work we all put into the trails. Every hike I have gone on since doing trail work has been a different experience. I no longer run up wooden or rock steps without wondering whose hands made my adventure that much easier or noticing the deliberate and intentional craftsmanship of any well-cared-for trail. I am so grateful for the opportunity to receive the Peter Roderick Trail Work Award and would not have been able to do this work without it! It was truly a gift to spend a week with my fellow volunteers and the hardworking AMC trail crew.   Robin Kerber

I was a recipient of the Peter Roderick Trail Work Award in May 2019. My trail work experience with AMC in the North Maine woods was incredibly rewarding and enjoyable. This trip was not only about maintaining and working on the trails, Peter took the time to explain the motives behind each action, from cleaning out the water bars properly to building a new bog bridge (my favorite part). By the end of the weekend, I had enough skills and knowledge to confidently work on trails independently, and I was inspired to do so.

Additionally, the camaraderie that occurred over the weekend was amazing to see. People from all walks of life bonded together because of a shared love of the outdoors. I am incredibly grateful for this introductory experience with trail work and look forward to volunteering on the trails more in the future.  Adeline Casali 

I received the Peter Roderick Trail Work Award in the Fall of 2019, an endlessly enjoyable experience I highly recommend. I came to volunteer with the AMC with only a few trail work skills – I can effectively use a pair of loppers and am excellent at following directions. I was intimidated by the prospect of joining this group, understanding the trip is often filled by people who have worked together on such projects for a long time. Would I bring anything of use to the table? Would I feel like an awkward outsider? What I found far exceeded even the best case I could have imagined. My worries were easily dismissed – all skill and endurance levels are effortlessly accommodated in an easy, “Aren’t we all so lucky to get to do this together?” atmosphere. The emphasis on relationship extended through every moment. I quickly felt part of the group. But, beyond that, passion for the Maine Woods is palpable and completely contagious. As a result of this scholarship, I’ve built trail to wild and beautiful places. I’ve bushwhacked the boundaries of the AMC’s land, sometimes in spots only animals have seen for decades. I have shared these moments with volunteers and professionals who have taught me the history of the land and the noble work of preservation and have shown me that true community forms as we experience the woods and the work together.   Katie Sawyer

Trail work encompasses the type of work I can’t get at my regular job.  My mind is set free as I dig a tread surface with a pickmatic, swamp brush into the woods, or paint a blue boundary line.  Trail work provides my body with the optimal workout I can’t get at the gym.  I get a high step count hiking in the forests with a total body burn that makes me sore but happy and hungry for dinner.  On your hike out from your job site you can see your accomplishments right in front of you.  This provides the ultimate satisfaction after a day of volunteering.

The workday is a perfect length of 9am to 3pm leaving time for exploration, relaxation and socialization.   The shared experiences of the day result in what the Danish define in the word “hygge”.  It may be a winter word, but it also applies to a summer or fall trail work experience.  It is defined as “the creation of a warm atmosphere while enjoying the good things in life with good people.”  This Maine AMC group is full of wonderful people, many of whom are at or near retirement age. They have extensive knowledge and experience in how to enjoy the Northeast outdoors year-round.  This is a lifestyle I wish to emulate starting now in my 40’s so that by the time I do retire it comes as naturally to me as it does to them.

I highly recommend and encourage others to try giving back to conservation and maintenance of the Northern woods by volunteering for Maine AMC.  The Peter Roderick Trail Work Award is an excellent opportunity.  Be Outdoors.  Josh Barlow, PRTWA Recipient 2018

---

When I first drove up to Maine’s AMC lodges for a weekend of volunteer trail work, I was nervous and apprehensive. I didn’t know anyone there, had very little experience doing trail work and had no idea what to expect. What I found that weekend was more rewarding than anything I had imagined and has kept me coming back ever since. I was the youngest and newest member, but volunteers of all ages and abilities welcomed me so warmly that I felt part of the group right away. Of course, doing fun and gratifying trail work while enjoying Maine’s vast wilderness is enough to make this an enjoyable trip, but the conversations, stories and friendships are what keep me coming back. Everyone you meet is there to work hard and give back to AMC and the land, but they are also a rare community with collective wisdom, unmatched passion for the outdoors, and desire to get to know more people who would like to spend a weekend in the woods. Stephanie Lynch

 When I first started volunteering for AMC, I was 12 years old and here I am at the age of 20 still volunteering. My dad had signed us up for the Columbus Day weekend trip in October and I remember him explaining to me that we were going to be doing trail work. At the time I wasn’t sure what to expect but I left that weekend having one of the most memorable times up North. I am a Rhode Islander so going up North is a trip for us. The first time we stayed at Little Lyford and it became a favorite for us, the camp gives you a homey feel and is situated right by the Roach Ponds. In subsequent years we have stayed at Medawisla which is right on one of the Roach Ponds and has been newly constructed so it is favorable to those who may be new to the outdoors. Doing volunteer trail work for AMC is a great experience, you are truly immersed in the woods, giving back to those who use the trails and if you go in the fall, you enjoy some beautiful foliage! Over the years, I have truly come to appreciate the work we do for AMC and work that other volunteers do as well. I look forward to years of continued volunteering for AMC and I would say the most rewarding aspect of it is knowing that others are going to benefit from your work or even I can come back and hike the trails I maintained!

P.S. it is also nice staying at the lodges, they serve amazing food, they have awesome staff and there is nothing more peaceful than early morning paddles on the pond!  Sam Read

 

The best part for me was seeing the enthusiasm of the youngest among us!   It gave me such great hope for the future!  Carla Dow