Kathryn on the section of Trail she maintains on Sinking Creek Mountain

Photo by Molly Hagan

Kathryn on the section of Trail she maintains on Sinking Creek Mountain
Photo by Molly Hagan

This year, Kathryn Herndon-Powell, the ATC’s education and outreach manager in the Central and Southwest Virginia Regional Office was chosen for myriad reasons — all of which demonstrate her dedication to the ATC and its mission. “Kathryn is a sparkplug for cooperation and collaboration,” says Andrew Downs, the ATC’s Central and Southwest Virginia regional director. “She builds and maintains strong relationships with the clubs, agency partners, and fellow staff members through her constant cooperation and great attitude. She leads by example: her responsiveness and positive demeanor make her a pleasure to work with and inspires others to go above and beyond,” affirms Marian Orlousky, the ATC’s northern resource management coordinator.

Kathryn’s passion for the Trail is infectious. Those who work with Kathryn observe that she is always warm, welcoming, and super enthusiastic. This makes her very approachable and both a great team player and a leader. Anyone who sees her in action, whether working on a Trail relocation, teaching a Leave No Trace course, or reaching out to a new community has observed her ability to make all feel welcome and included, and that their voice is important.

Like many ATC employees, Kathryn, eats, sleeps and breaths the A.T. Her dedication to volunteerism began after she thru-hiked the A.T. in 2006, when she joined a local A.T.-maintaining club and soon adopted a section of Trail to take care of, which she does to this day. She also volunteered on the ATC’s Konnarock Trail Crew. In 2008, she joined the ATC as a seasonal staff member in positions with increasing responsibility. Her trail skills and education background made her a natural for the ATC’s education and outreach position in the Virginia office in 2013.

Though she can swing a pick mattock with the best of them, Kathryn works with a light touch and inspires a lot of laughter. She quickly puts people at ease and enables groups with varying age, experience, and backgrounds to work well together. Her teaching style is popular and effective; and she can educate without being preachy. Her goal is to provide the best experience for the spectrum of A.T. users from day visitors to thru-hikers, while engaging an ever-expanding group of volunteers to ensure the long-term protection of the A.T. In many ways, Kathryn sets a great example for the younger generation of emerging Trail stewards.