Fun, Fabulous, and Free Trailwork for Beginners

Posted
January 1, 2022

Posted in

Plan now for doing trailwork this summer.  AMC members who have never done trailwork are invited to apply for a scholarship that will cover all costs for food and overnight lodging during one of four multi-day trailwork opportunities in AMC’s Maine Wilderness Initiative (MWI). 

The Peter Roderick Trail Work Award (PRTWA), named to honor a longtime Maine Chapter trail volunteer, will cover the cost of a multi-day volunteer trail work outing in AMC’s 78,000-acre MWI area outside of Greenville, Maine.  The goal of this program is to encourage first-time trail volunteers to participate in multi-day opportunities in the MWI to learn trailwork skills and experience the satisfaction of giving back.

Designed for first-time trailwork volunteers and Young Member volunteers, up to twelve PRTWA scholarships may be awarded for use during any of the four volunteer trips during 2022.

Here are the volunteer trip and scholarship details.

Past participant reactions (click here)

Volunteer Trip Details. 

The four volunteer trips during 2022 are the following:

  • May 27-30 at Little Lyford Lodge and Cabins,
  • June 24-27 at Medawisla Lodge and Cabins,
  • * June 24-27 at Gorman Chairback Lodge and Cabins, and
  • October 7-10 at Medawisla Lodge and Cabins.

* This year we’re welcoming young members (and young at heart) to join the Gorman Chairback June Trip: Friday June 24 to Monday June 27.

Each trip begins with 6pm dinner and an overnight in the bunkhouse at one of the three AMC lodges outside of Greenville, Maine, and ends after lunch on the final day.  Accommodations and all meals during that time cost $130.  PRTWA recipients get free accommodations and meals and incur no other charges.

PRTWA Scholarship Details

Who may apply.  The PRTWA is open to any new or current AMC member who has the desire to work outdoors in the Maine woods—on projects such as building or improving foot trails and bog bridging, stacking firewood, gardening, and marking boundaries—under the supervision of a volunteer leader. If you are not currently an AMC member, please join before applying for the award.

How to apply. Complete the PRTWA Scholarship Application. The application is designed to gain an understanding of the applicant such as their prior experience with volunteering, with trail work, and with AMC.  Applicants should rank their preference for trip dates. 

Deadline for applications.  Applications may be submitted between January 3 and April 22, 2022.  Awardees will be notified by April 29.

 

2019 trailwork trip at Little Lyford Lodge

“The Maine woods have been my escape, therapy office and playground…to spend a week working with the trail crew in the 100 Mile Wilderness is a chance to give back.” – Robin

Questions? Contact MWI Committee Chair John Mullens at [email protected] for answers to specific questions.

Not for You?  The Maine Chapter offers other no-cost one-day trailwork opportunities in Maine.  For more information email [email protected]